New Project, Need Ideas

[Pyro]

I'm starting a new project, and I'm currently in the designing stages.

What I need is some ideas to design my platform around.  I don't really have many ideas at this point in time.  Currently I'm considering a military-type surveillance bot, but that's just really the only idea I have.

I'm open to pretty much everything (with a low/moderate budget in mind), so lemme know what you guy's got!  It can be as crazy as you wish, as long as it's somewhat practical



Thanks,

- Jesse

[Pyro]

Also, does anybody know of any places to purchase Metals and Plastics in Canada?  If not, are there any places outside of Canada that have cheap shipping?  www.OnlineMetals.com has everything I'm looking for, but shipping costs more than my order

[MangoBot]

http://www.mcmaster.com/# has everything for mechanics.  Line follower, sumo robot, flying, battlebot, boatbot are some ideas, look at robot kits for ideas and other robots.

[yann]

Hi, try to make it as autonomous as you can! There are some good software algorithms to try! maybe some navigating system?

[Pyro]

That's what I'm hoping for!  I'm working on a few different designs right now. Money's tight, so it's staying in the design stages until I can afford to get building.

[definitionofis]

http://www.metalsupermarkets.com

has locations in Canada where you can visit and skip shipping costs.

This guy has a list of suppliers near Toronto, ON.
http://www3.sympatico.ca/doc/robotone/suppliers.html

[borg]

I don't know what moderate budget equals, can you be more specific in your price range, it could be from 100-10,000 depening on your bank account.

As for ideas, there are some off the shelf toys that are surveillance radio control type "robots" that you could start with if you know what your trying to create.  It depends on whether or not you want it autonomous and or vision-enabled.

More information is needed!