Help for a Robotic Turrent: Part 1

[Flame3230]

I am trying to create an automatic tracked turret, but I know that I will need some help. I am going to work on the robot in parts, and first I want to get a treaded base made. I wish to have it about 1~2 feet long, and preferably less than 8 inches tall. The main part I need help with is making a control board to house in the base, where it can control the motors, read the sensors, and other commands. I'm expecting to go with an arudio, I'm not very familiar with most electronics, but I can learn quickly. I don't know if this will help, but in the end product, there will be 4 motors (but there will be 2 pairs, with each in the pair running the same as the other.), one output to fire the gun, a place to read rfid signals, 2 camera input ports, and an additional input port (some type of radar/echolocation/ultrasonic device). I do have many supplies for the base construction, though; I have a ready supply of sheet metal and wood, I have motors for the bot (gutted from a powerwheels, they have a decent amount of power.), and I have basic experience for engineering, programming, and electrical systems (ie. lego robotics). Any help is greatly appreciated.

almost forgot, I will have a radio controller to operate the turret at first, and then use it later to activate different programs.

[SmAsH]

first off, i would recommend the roboduino instead of the arduino...
it has many more features that will help you in your project...
if you search the forum, razor concepts has a thread about a tracking turret he made that uses a scanning servo with the gun and a sharp i.r mounted on top of it. are you looking at using servos or dc motors?

[Flame3230]

I have dc motors I believe, I don't know how to tell the difference though. I will also look around at the roboduino, I had presumed the aruduino just because I heard it in electrical projects so much

[Razor Concepts]

If you have easy access to soldering tools and connectors, go for the Roboduino, you will have nice, solid connections.

If you don't, use the Arduino with a breadboard.

Here's the link to my turret
http://razor.narobo.com/turret.html

[Flame3230]

very nice, and i definitely think that I will go with the roboduino board. As for the motors:



these are the motors themselves



and here are all of the connectors on the wire. I need to figure out how to rig the two motors to go off of the same connector that's attached to the robodunio. I am still working on getting another set of these, but I also have the gearboxes, which I will proboably use because it gives it a lot more torque (can carry about 60lbs at walking speed for about 2 hours). If one of ya'll can tell me what the connectors name is, I'll go search for it at radioshack or something.

[galannthegreat]

Sounds like an intersting project, but I would go with some servos. You'll have an easier time with them because they are position control, unlike the motors that require a complicated feedback system, and not to mention a larger number of I/O need for it.

P.S. Razor, are you going to be constructing a Portal turret body for your sweet @$$ turret?

[SmAsH]

those motors look like they don't have gearboxes, you will need gearboxes unless you want your motors going 100mph... you will also need a motor controller...
i would also suggest looking into servos and weighing up pros and cons...
some pros:
servos have built in gearbox.
servos have built in motor controller.
servos have built in feedback control if not modified.
servos are plug in and play, nothing else required.
if you use dc motors you will have to buy a gearbox and motor controller at a minimum...
consider these thoughts...

[madchimp]

I also have the gearboxes, which I will proboably use

Did you read the whole thread smash? or even the post you were responding to?

[SmAsH]

ahh, crap... sorry... i did read the thread but i must've forgotten or something.
my bad.

[Flame3230]

Yeah, I just didn't take pictures of the gearboxes because I hosed them off and they were drying. But, I figured that I could just put some new connectors on to the wire so I can plug it into the Roboduino. Plus, I plan on using servos for the feedback on the turret, but it is not as much as an issue with the base. I'm gonna program it to seek out people and avoid running in to stuff, so feedback is not as much of an issue 

And btw, would I be able to rig up a small radar with a radius of about 10 feet? Enough to getect obstacles and approaching people

[SmAsH]

beware not to plug the motors into the roboduino though... remember a motor controller... fried roboduino does not smell too good.... although it doesn't smell at all...
for "Radar" you can mount a ping or something similar and have it scan the area and record the distances...

[Flame3230]

I didn't realize that ping was the technical term But I'll defiantly look into a motor controller.

[SmAsH]

well, "ping))" is a brand i think? a very common one for sonar sensors. so when most people say ping on this forum just think sonar