rc lawn mower

[epicjr77]

  This is my first "robot"  not sure if it is considered a robot because it is rc.  It is my senior design student for mechanical engineering. It has a saber tooth 2x25 motor driver right now.  I would like to make it autonomous but I dont know anything about micro controllers or porgraming.  I was thinking just a bumper with switches to turn around and line following.  What  brand micro controller would you recommend for a beginner for these applications to get started?      Thanks -John

[Steve Joblin]

If you don't know much about microcontrollers and programming, I would strongly recommend Parallax... you can buy their "BOEbot kit" and/or their "What's a Microcontroller" which offer great tutorials.

[ed1380]

you could also try the arduino. pretty powerful and has a great use base that can help. they're at www.sparkfun.com

[epicjr77]

ok thanks for the help here is a better video with the cutter on

[Private Reid]

lol

lovely

next video, could you try it on grass...

Be careful with ur programing (when you get to it) you don't want it to suddenly speed up onto ur leg!

[Private Reid]

I was thinking just a bumper with switches to turn around

by the time the bumper switch it activated, it may off already sawed of half ur leg!

IR
Sonar

I would recomend for now

[Steve Joblin]

nice vid!  what are you using to do the cutting?  Is it a weed wacker or a fixed blade?

[epicjr77]

I live in Boston so grass testing wont be until this weekend.  I just bought the parallax BASIC Stamp Discovery Kit - Serial (With USB Adapter and Cable) and 9v power supply, I think it will come in next week.   I am sure I will  need some help since I a a mechanical guy.  In this video I am using a blade of off a robotic lawn mower, I think it was the lawnbot, but I also plan on testing with weed whacker string, a regular mower blade, and maybe even a reel mower blade depending on what works best. Below is a picture

[Steve Joblin]

interesting!  let us know how it goes!

[epicjr77]

I am currently havening problems with glicthing and range. I only can get about 6 feet from it.  I understand my motors are producing electrical noise, is there any way to cover it up?  Some one suggested warping them in AL foil.  Will this work?  Any ideas?  Thanks   

[ScorpIon]

What do you mean? It doesn't really need to see any farther than the distance needed to stop.

[epicjr77]

Its not fully robotic yet, I am having troubles because it is still remote controlled

[Admin]

I am currently havening problems with glicthing and range. I only can get about 6 feet from it.  I understand my motors are producing electrical noise, is there any way to cover it up?  Some one suggested warping them in AL foil.  Will this work?  Any ideas?  Thanks

Put some ceramic caps across your motor leads -> 10uF, 1uF, 100nF

Keep the motor wires short, too.

Make sure your transmitter batteries are fully charged.