Need Robot Assistance!!
KooL
Posts: 5
moved from the wrong forum-
I need help looking for parts to make an electric vehicle!!
Here are some parameters - basically I need some idea of what basic robotics kit (maybe?) to start. Preferably, a kit that could achieve all of these tasks alone would be golden.
Electric vehicle:
All features marked with a * are not essential, but would be GREATLY beneficial.
Runs with 8 individual cells @ 1.5 volts or less each, or 2 battery packs rated at 4.8 volts or less each.
Vehicles should be able to travel a specified distance between 5 and 10 meters. *Preferably, this vehicle should be able to travel at any 1cm interval (this might not be too realistic, but I need something accurate).*
The vehicle cannot be remote controlled; we must use a pencil or wooden dowel to start the car, and the car should stop by itself. So a braking system is obviously needed.
The maximum time required to travel 10 meters should be less than 45 seconds. *Preferably, speed should be something we can adjust to travel a specified time for a certain distance.*
The vehicle will have two wheel axles, but any number of wheels.
The widest axle length is 25cm (width of vehicle), and the distance between the center of the front axle and the center of the back axle needs to be 40cm +/- 3cm (37 cm - 43 cm). *We wanted a wide car in order to be safe for the accuracy bonus, listed below.*
The event is run with a center tape line that can be between 3/4'' to 1''. This tape is used to measure the center of the track. If this center tape line remains completely within the vehicles track between start line and finish line, an accuracy bonus is awarded.
The vehicle must go straight, in other words.
Electronics, laptops, etc. may all be used.
Any electronic aligning systems, ie environment detectors or lasers may NOT be used.
That basically sums up my event, any help would be greatly appreciated. I have a preliminary vehicle built; it is very crude - I am hoping to be able to use a microprocessor in order to make my settings more digital (versus analog).
Currently, my vehicle is run on a geared up motor @ about 100 rpm. The braking system involves a wing nut on the axle which has an obstructing platform adjacent to the axle - therefor the wing nut travels down the axle as the car moves forward. The wing nut eventually hits a switch to turn off the vehicle - stopping the vehicle.
Our current system of measuring distance is measuring the distance between the wing nut and the switch.
We are definitely hoping to upgrade our vehicle! We are hoping to use a programmable robot that is able to control these variables, while also being able to fall under the specific requirements.
Our budget is ~$500. (Hopefully we get this done with ~$300)
Thanks!!
I need help looking for parts to make an electric vehicle!!
Here are some parameters - basically I need some idea of what basic robotics kit (maybe?) to start. Preferably, a kit that could achieve all of these tasks alone would be golden.
Electric vehicle:
All features marked with a * are not essential, but would be GREATLY beneficial.
Runs with 8 individual cells @ 1.5 volts or less each, or 2 battery packs rated at 4.8 volts or less each.
Vehicles should be able to travel a specified distance between 5 and 10 meters. *Preferably, this vehicle should be able to travel at any 1cm interval (this might not be too realistic, but I need something accurate).*
The vehicle cannot be remote controlled; we must use a pencil or wooden dowel to start the car, and the car should stop by itself. So a braking system is obviously needed.
The maximum time required to travel 10 meters should be less than 45 seconds. *Preferably, speed should be something we can adjust to travel a specified time for a certain distance.*
The vehicle will have two wheel axles, but any number of wheels.
The widest axle length is 25cm (width of vehicle), and the distance between the center of the front axle and the center of the back axle needs to be 40cm +/- 3cm (37 cm - 43 cm). *We wanted a wide car in order to be safe for the accuracy bonus, listed below.*
The event is run with a center tape line that can be between 3/4'' to 1''. This tape is used to measure the center of the track. If this center tape line remains completely within the vehicles track between start line and finish line, an accuracy bonus is awarded.
The vehicle must go straight, in other words.
Electronics, laptops, etc. may all be used.
Any electronic aligning systems, ie environment detectors or lasers may NOT be used.
That basically sums up my event, any help would be greatly appreciated. I have a preliminary vehicle built; it is very crude - I am hoping to be able to use a microprocessor in order to make my settings more digital (versus analog).
Currently, my vehicle is run on a geared up motor @ about 100 rpm. The braking system involves a wing nut on the axle which has an obstructing platform adjacent to the axle - therefor the wing nut travels down the axle as the car moves forward. The wing nut eventually hits a switch to turn off the vehicle - stopping the vehicle.
Our current system of measuring distance is measuring the distance between the wing nut and the switch.
We are definitely hoping to upgrade our vehicle! We are hoping to use a programmable robot that is able to control these variables, while also being able to fall under the specific requirements.
Our budget is ~$500. (Hopefully we get this done with ~$300)
Thanks!!
Comments
Look at the BoeBot wheel encoder for an example of how to measure distance based on wheel rotation. The BoeBot version uses slots in a wheel to block / allow light to get through, but you could make a disc out of cardboard and punch holes around its rim or use a disc out of clear plastic and use duct tape or other opaque tape to block light from getting through. There are all sorts of other ways to do the same thing. Your wingnut is a good idea, just hard to adjust.
First figure out (and document) what you want the vehicle to do. That'll make it easier to offer advice.
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- Stephen
Post Edited (Franklin) : 2/17/2008 7:47:24 PM GMT
I did this search on these forums and nothing was returned. What was the wording that you searched for?
Other useful information is in the various tutorials in the Stamps in Class section under the Downloads tab and Nuts and Volts columns under the Resources tab of the main Parallax website.
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- Stephen
Does anyone know where I can located a DC DC Converter for a 5v input that steps up? Will this work better having a higher voltage, lower current - relative to a lower voltage, higher current?
I can only use 4x1.5v individual cells.