Author Topic: have you built the $50 robot? (Read 72133 times)

SciOlyStudent · « **Reply #30 on:** February 13, 2008, 11:20:30 AM »

I've completed the 50$ robot tutorial and it was great! I actually built the circuit for a competition, I gave it a body that doesn't allow it to turn (you get points in the competition for how straight it travels) once I figure out how to program what I want, I'll put some pics and maybe a video on! Thanks for the great tutorial Admin!

SgtToad · « **Reply #31 on:** February 26, 2008, 07:11:23 PM »

I finally get some video of my 50$ robot.
[youtube]rIwnzzO7kzQ[/youtube]

Trumpkin · « **Reply #32 on:** February 27, 2008, 08:12:25 AM »

thats crazy cool!

Imnothere · « **Reply #33 on:** February 28, 2008, 10:20:17 PM »

awesome job SgtToad i think I'm going to use a design like that for mine well ill be building mine soon ill post a pic of it or something video

oliverj4455 · « **Reply #34 on:** April 10, 2008, 06:10:01 PM »

Just ordered all the parts. I am a computer science student in the UK, so naturally I paid UK prices

It cost me about £50 in total, which is about $100, but I was expecting that because prices in the UK are about double, especially for electronic components and stuff.

I will be making this (my first robot) as soon as the parts arrive and will post some pictures and stuff once I get it built!

Webbot · « **Reply #35 on:** April 10, 2008, 06:26:32 PM »

Am also in the UK so can also recommend suppliers I use for HDPE for chassis etc as that is not covered in the 'old' supplier stuff on the site.

Anoroc · « **Reply #36 on:** April 11, 2008, 08:28:34 AM »

I too, just ordered my parts (yesterday). I havent started anything because I want to get correct measurements on everything for my laser cut pieces.

Ill show some photos of my progress once I get something worth sharing

Private Reid · « **Reply #37 on:** April 14, 2008, 07:33:42 PM »

no1name.zoomshare.com

This has a few pictures of my robot.
But they are a little out of date, due to the fact I have now bought most of the parts and began applying them to my board...

Infact these pictures don't even have back wheels...hmmmm

I will upgrade them soon, and eventually post a video.

As for advice... I can only offer it if you live in Australia

1 Buy your microcontrollers off the internet. (don't bother trying to find them in a shop) I bought a pack of 5 atmega8 for $10

2 Expect your $50 robot to be $100, mine isn't even finished and i have already spent $78

3 Advice for anyone Try not to use a breadboard! unfortunately my chasi was found on the side of the rode and had a built in breadboard, but plz try to avoid. They (from my experience) are very hard to use (due to the fact of how they are wired up underneath the holes) you can still do it, but with more difficulty.

koolboarder007 · « **Reply #38 on:** June 16, 2008, 11:44:33 AM »

Hey guys! Just finished my $50 robot and wanted to upload for everyone to see. I setup an erector set and mounted the battery pack and circuit board on top. I hope you guys like it! Check out the video below

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDkXXpCU7AI[/youtube]

- Will

airman00 · « **Reply #39 on:** June 16, 2008, 11:53:10 AM »

a cool thing to do now is to take in into a dark room and use a flashlight to control it remotely. Just point a flashlight on the left photoresistor to turn left, etc.

ishka · « **Reply #40 on:** June 17, 2008, 07:38:52 AM »

Cool.

Just got the last pieces today so I'm going to start my 50€ robot next week-end ( exam on friday

)

pomprocker · « **Reply #41 on:** June 18, 2008, 08:35:25 PM »

I'm putting this post up of pics of my $50 robot (about time)

I'll be modifying it as I get more content for you guys.

edit: I just made the album public so you can click on the thumbs for larger images.

Private Reid · « **Reply #42 on:** June 19, 2008, 03:34:18 AM »

ok seriously! could someone plz plz plz (im begging) post me two hitec 311 servoes!!! i beg beg beg!
it's frigin $60 for four over here!
I just don't have that kinda money! out of the blue!

im seriously starting to consider wether robotics is what i should be into!

cooldog · « **Reply #43 on:** July 21, 2008, 07:00:41 AM »

thats bad but i had to pay $41 for 2 when i got mine

Private Reid · « **Reply #44 on:** July 25, 2008, 03:16:42 AM »

Ouch....

Im still begging

Not really, but i still have to come up with an idea...

luitron · « **Reply #45 on:** July 25, 2008, 05:37:21 PM »

I just bought all the parts to start. I only paid $23.93 for two Hitec HS-311 Servo's at ServoCity. So far, total cost of parts: $96.15

But thats because I order extra parts like two ATmega8 AVR. Now all I need to do is think about frame and body design. I going to keep a progress log with videos and pictures on my blog. I can't wait

paulstreats · « **Reply #46 on:** July 25, 2008, 06:15:55 PM »

Just for future info...

You can usually get great deals on servo's off ebay.

I just bought 18 standard servos (Acoms not hitec but work the same) for £2.40 each ($4.80).

Acoms standard servo's are excellent replacements for normal standard servo's but at a fraction of the price and they seem to be a regular thing on ebay too.

Ive also created a simple solution for mounting servos, ill probably do a tutorial on it shortly

airman00 · « **Reply #47 on:** July 26, 2008, 07:40:02 PM »

Off topic: but exactly which el-cheapo brands are good from eBay, and which are pieces of crap?

Lycus · « **Reply #48 on:** August 01, 2008, 08:07:31 AM »

Private Reid:

I too live in Australia, and have the same problem. $15 for a HS-311 servo is the cheapest I've found. And you can't get any cheaper. I tried to pick up some cheaper ones from Jaycar (cheaper after postage and handling) and found they can't be modified.

I've outlayed over $200 so far for the $50 robot. Mind you, that includes extra servos, an AVRISPII programmer, and other miscellaneous items, that can be used again. It does seem however that price comparison don't quite match the exchange rate at the moment. In Australia everything seems to be double what you would pay in America. But, hey, it keeps me off the streets at night.

As a general statement, I have a couple of obsolete computers, that not only have I stripped these for Molex connectors (and can anyone tell me how to strip the wire out of them), I've also used the case for brackets etc, and a CD drive case as the body of my robot. I'm also looking at anything else I can strip from them.

Oh and: Its Alive! Somehow I've managed to stumble through the $50 robot tutorial (with a few hiccough along the way) and it actually works. So, thank you Admin, for providing the tutorial and the site. Hopefully I'll post some pics, and a video tomorrow (or should I say today, its after midnight).

Cheers,

Lycus

paulstreats · « **Reply #49 on:** August 01, 2008, 10:36:16 AM »

Quote

Off topic: but exactly which el-cheapo brands are good from eBay, and which are pieces of crap?

Ive been using Acoms as17 as a replacement for normal standard servos and Acoms as12 for slightly smaller servos.

they havent let me down yet and ive been using them extensively.....

Private Reid · « **Reply #50 on:** August 03, 2008, 03:10:45 AM »

Thanks, Lycus

I tried Jaycar as well

The "50$" bot -- American or Similar

The "200$" bot -- Australian

Australia is just not set up for robotics...

luitron · « **Reply #51 on:** August 04, 2008, 06:58:42 PM »

OMG!!!!! I am making the controller and its definitely harder than it looks lol

Lycus · « **Reply #52 on:** August 08, 2008, 04:27:22 AM »

Well, here is my$50 robot (AUD$120). As stated earlier, I used an old CD drive case, wires and connectors from an old computer and wheels from an old RC car. Check out the video.
[youtube=425,350]xANzDGPNxq0[/youtube]

MarkBrown · « **Reply #53 on:** August 19, 2008, 03:18:35 PM »

It took me a couple of day but I finally finished my $50 Robot. I don't have a video camera so i can't do video, but here is a picture:

I wrote up the details about my robot in my blog at the following links:

Electronics:
http://marksproject.blogspot.com/2008/08/my-first-brain.html
Chassis:
http://marksproject.blogspot.com/2008/08/impatience-strikes.html
Finished Product:
http://marksproject.blogspot.com/2008/08/one-down-millions-to-go.html

This was a blast to build and really got me excited to build more.

Mark Brown

Penth · « **Reply #54 on:** August 19, 2008, 03:48:49 PM »

Got all the electronics in today at work (digikey overnighted some of it even though i paid for 3 day) so I will be building the chasis/wheels strictly out of cardboard until I can find a better substitute.

pomprocker · « **Reply #55 on:** August 19, 2008, 04:13:37 PM »

it would bring me great joy to see a tupperware $50 robot

harrythepotter2007 · « **Reply #56 on:** August 20, 2008, 10:08:35 AM »

I starte d to build the 50$ robot about 2 weeks ago. I orderd the servos and I got them. I have build the board for the microprocessor (with a lot of stress). but I couldn`t find the Programmer. I found a drawing of avr-pg1 cable that works with PonyPong and I have build it too, but it doesnt work. PonyPong sais Test failed every time I try to search for the plugged cable. Here is the picture. Can you tell me if this cable could work?

Penth · « **Reply #57 on:** August 20, 2008, 10:29:39 AM »

Quote from: pomprocker on August 19, 2008, 04:13:37 PM

it would bring me great joy to see a tupperware $50 robot

It might anger my wife to steal a suitable tupperware container but in the name of science and your joy, I'll steal it tonight!

pomprocker · « **Reply #58 on:** August 20, 2008, 10:51:53 AM »

or you could use one of those cheaper glad/ziplock ones that come with lunchmeat nowadays

Penth · « **Reply #59 on:** August 20, 2008, 10:54:23 AM »

Quote from: pomprocker on August 20, 2008, 10:51:53 AM

or you could use one of those cheaper glad/ziplock ones that come with lunchmeat nowadays

Don't deny me my right of angering my wife over something trivial. Plus, they are much sturdier and should support future product better. I may also be able to waterproof most of the joins so it could go for a swim in the bathtub!

News:

Author Topic: have you built the $50 robot? (Read 72133 times)

paulstreats

paulstreats