Flying robot

[SmAsH]

ya ok

[airman00]

uhh i've read it..hence me posting in it.

Garriwilson was referring to your useless post

ya you owe it to your name to build one

SERIOUSLY GUYS , keep the crap out

[KaweS]

hi,
let's back to the topic ;]

i'm new to robotics as well. my advantages are that i can program in C [for computers, but someone already did mention it will take me a day to learn in] and i can spend a bit more ;p
my disadvantage is that i didn't even build a $50 robot ;p
i built just a 'vehicle' based on 2 CDs, polyester body and a DC motor form my ex-CD-ROM ;] it can go forward and even backward if i change connections ;ppp
i know that's nothing, but i'm a bit ambitious and i learn really fast if i want to learn something

once again - let's get back ;p
i'd like to build a robot which can fly [preferably with wings - not rotors] [see:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5hGYWVdzVk

] but definitely not r/c but autonomous. i want it to fly around me and avoid obstacles.
i guess i'll need lots of sensors and quite good ic.

ok - now the questions ;p
how can i tell the robot where am i? satnav or what? ;p i don't expect to come to me hundreds of miles, but let's say from my room to kitchen ;p i want to put for example plan of my flat and use wavefront algorithm - is that a good idea?
what kind of ICs could i need? i think lot's of memory and fast processing time - maybe 8 bit is not enough?
what materials can i use? what for body/wings?
what about flying time? i don't want it to run just for 5 minutes... i know - more power - heavier batteries
what about costs... i know i cannot expect too good news regarding this point ;p

to be honest i'm thinking already about version 2, but for now that's enough ;p

thanks a lot for any help and ideas ;]

cheers,
Karol

[garriwilson]

Please don't take this the wrong way but I think you should make your own thread. Include the building progress and stuff there.

i built just a 'vehicle' based on 2 CDs, polyester body and a DC motor form my ex-CD-ROM ;] it can go forward and even backward if i change connections ;ppp
i know that's nothing, but i'm a bit ambitious and i learn really fast if i want to learn something

You mean the 2 CDs are the wheels, a DC motor is geared to the axle and you use a battery pack with a switch and little connectors that you clip on to your motor?

I actually did a very similar car just this semester in my engineering club. It is considered a very beginner project but it helps with mechanics if you are new.

Good luck on your flying robot.

[KaweS]

maybe that's a good idea
so... can i ask a moderator or an admin to create a new thread or at least remove this one and i'll create a new one ;p

ps. my 'vehicle' is exactly like you describe. i'll try to post a vid of it in couple of days ;]
ps2. please, forgive my english, cause it's not my native lang ;p
cheers

[airman00]

just make a new thread yourself in Mechanics and COnstruction , title being Building a Flying Robot

I have a lot of ideas , so post the thread and ill reply there

[Admin]

So summing things up . . . someone wants to make a flying robot (or any difficult robot) with the experience of building a robot before.

Let me tell you what I am doing to build my biped . . . the problem I have is that I want to build a small biped that can run crazy fast . . . but its crazy hard to do . . . so instead of tackling the 'build a biped' problem, instead I am taking a modular approach doing the 'build the modules' problem instead. I am designing just the controller, then just the power system, then just the foot, then just the leg, etc.

For example, instead of build a flying robot, make your goal something like:
find a good airplane motor with propellor
get the $50 Robot to control a fan motor (with motor driver)
get the $50 Robot to control the fan motor with an accelerometer
control four fan motors with $50 Robot controller
build a light weight chassis with four motors and $50 robot controller
measure power draw
select battery
etc.

Just go down that list, breaking up the large problem into little problems, using what you already have and know as a starting place. It's the engineering approach, really

remember to CAD it first and keep the weight low.

oh and I highly recommend using carbon fiber:
http://www.societyofrobots.com/materials_carbonfiber.shtml

[garriwilson]

Thank you! I hope this post doesn't get deleted by the time I have enough experience to build one of those. However, I think you should put that post here: http://www.societyofrobots.com/robotforum/index.php?topic=3098.0;topicseen

Seems like someone got an inspiration from my post. 

[airman00]

GREAT NEWS GUYS!

I just got ~500 bucks to spend towards a flying robot

Now my goal right now is to make it hover in the same position without crashing

First , what design do I do ? A quadracopter or a tricopter?

then we'll carry on from there

[Admin]

A quadracopter or a tricopter?

The heaviest part of your robot will be the motor, but each motor supplies thrust to lift your bot.

So if each motor gives you .1 lb net thrust, then 4 motors would allow your robot to weigh .4lb. Additional motors will make it more stable too.

If you have the money, why not use 6 motors and carry something heavy!

(food for thought)

[airman00]

I'm assuming the 6 motors would have to be in a ring, right?

meaning the motors on the sides and no motors in the middle


also the motors on the helicopter would be regular DC motors , but would it be better to modify these servos ? http://www.helihobby.com/html/helicopter_servo.html

[KaweS]

i always divide problems into modules [i'm a kinda programmer] ;p but not only in solving such kind of problems. i use it every day when i just live - that's my natural behaviour and i need to say that is very useful.

and ammm... well... sorry to say that, garriwilson - you didn't inspire me. i was really bored at my work and i was thinking what can i do with my free time what will take me probably some years and could be useful.

airman: i love those servos - they're so... so... helicopterful ;]

[airman00]

yes but can I use those servos?

[Admin]

I'm assuming the 6 motors would have to be in a ring, right?

nope, just weight balanced

[KaweS]

uh... don't ask me - i just started to learn those things, but i don't see any obstacles to not

[SmAsH]

those servos may work if you can balance them properly but why six? do you need to lift a heavy load?

[skatj]

A quadracopter or a tricopter?

Quadcopters are a lot easier to drive than tricopters.

Quadcopters can simply use differential thrust to steer, while tricopters require adjustable pitch rotors to steer, which is infinitely more complicated.

Read the Wikipedia article on quadrotors, its helpful.

btw, did you just ask if you should use modified continuous rotation "helicopter" servos for the main rotor?

[SmAsH]

yes he did..these http://www.helihobby.com/html/helicopter_servo.html

[hemanth]

http://www.societyofrobots.com/member_tutorials/node/46
It says Acess Denied. ???Can anyone help?

[Razor Concepts]

It has been deleted because it was not finished.

[SmAsH]

yes, there are a fair few tutorials that were unfinished that admin deleted...
check this topic http://www.societyofrobots.com/robotforum/index.php?topic=7579.0