Society of Robots - Robot Forum

Mechanics and Construction => Mechanics and Construction => Topic started by: Cubebot on November 23, 2008, 06:36:34 PM

Title: Miniature Bot Design
Post by: Cubebot on November 23, 2008, 06:36:34 PM

Since I couldn't afford the Miabot Pro, and wanted a more versatile robot, I opted to try and build my own. Right now, I am going to buy the Axon MC, two GWS S35 continuous servo motors and a small battery. I plan to go to my local custom parts manufacturer and have them make me a 3x3x3" box with openings on the sides for wheels. Any suggestions (I am going to get sensors).

Title: Re: Miniature Bot Design
Post by: WaterPig Master on November 24, 2008, 01:40:51 PM

Hi there

What exactly is your robot going to do?  It's a good idea to have a clear goal, trust me (I've spent money on a lot of stuff I never used because I didn't really know what I wanted the bot to do). 
You could have several designs for the body of the robot, I'd have a look at the starter robot tutorial on the main site.
Thanks,
WaterPig Master

Title: Re: Miniature Bot Design
Post by: Cubebot on November 25, 2008, 02:10:50 PM

Its just a personal project to create a miniature robot with rudimentary artificial intelligence for study of what can be paralleled in intelligence from the animal kingdom to man-made creations. I am planning to get a small camera for smart blob tracking, bumper sensors, infrared for navigation among other things. I would test the amount of time a rat can navigate or find something and compare it to what the small robot can do. On the plus side, it would be fun to program and test other aspects of the artificial intelligence in a miniature and tidy package.

I would want to have the Axon micro controller because I need fast processing for a large, multi-faceted program.
It would probably look good on admissions to secondary schools and may be my biology project.

Title: Re: Miniature Bot Design
Post by: MaltiK on November 25, 2008, 05:43:05 PM

You cant go wrong with the CMUCam or Blackfin Series for the blob recognition
and for bumpers, you can use SRF05, Ping))), or Sharp IR's

and for servos I really liked the HS645 MG for my Biped, but they are a bit of an overkill, atleast for my 1.5ish foot robot

Also the Axon is an overkill, a simple Atmega8 chip will do the trick ($3) but the Axon is good to have I guess, I plan on ordering one in the near future.

Title: Re: Miniature Bot Design
Post by: jellis359 on March 28, 2009, 08:33:13 PM

You could just get a cheap project box from radioshack (this is often what I use) ;)