propeller platform
copacetic353
Posts: 52
some of you may have seen me write in these forums before - i am fairly new.
basically, i want to make an autonomous helicopter using the propeller chip. i am following the KISS principle (keep it simple stupid) by first selecting a platform off of which to build my first autonomous robot.
i cant decide between a boat, a submarine, an offroad truck, or an airplane. i want it to be fairly complex as i know fairly well the ins and outs of coding. it is the electronics that trip me up. would someone help me out in choosing a platform? i would love to have something airborn but at this point i am very open to anything and ive grown very indecisive.
any insight, tips..... anything.... would be highly appreciated.
thank you!
basically, i want to make an autonomous helicopter using the propeller chip. i am following the KISS principle (keep it simple stupid) by first selecting a platform off of which to build my first autonomous robot.
i cant decide between a boat, a submarine, an offroad truck, or an airplane. i want it to be fairly complex as i know fairly well the ins and outs of coding. it is the electronics that trip me up. would someone help me out in choosing a platform? i would love to have something airborn but at this point i am very open to anything and ive grown very indecisive.
any insight, tips..... anything.... would be highly appreciated.
thank you!
Comments
www.rchelicopter.com/category/rc-helicopter-construction-design/rc-helicopter-quad-rotor-design/
Also, getting stable control is one thing, doing the positional whereabouts in the surroundings is the expensive part. It all depends on what you want to accomplish, which you have not stated in any detail yet. Personally i would suggest something that runs on gravity first.
to simplify the controls, I'm sure he'll speak up.
Cross-posting the forums is against forum rules. Post once we'll see it. [noparse]:)[/noparse]
Welcome to the Propeller.
OBC
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New to the Propeller?
Getting started with a Propeller Protoboard?
Check out: Introduction to the Proboard & Propeller Cookbook 1.4
Updates to the Cookbook are now posted to: Propeller.warrantyvoid.us
Got an SD card connected? - PropDOS
I believe this is the product I was thinking of...
www.helitronix.com/index.html
OBC
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New to the Propeller?
Getting started with a Propeller Protoboard?
Check out: Introduction to the Proboard & Propeller Cookbook 1.4
Updates to the Cookbook are now posted to: Propeller.warrantyvoid.us
Got an SD card connected? - PropDOS
Do it on the ground first. Think about it: a good helicopter (25 pound payload) will set you back $5,000 and is liable to crash if you aren't careful. A ~$500 wheeled robotics platform can get the same payload with a much higher safety margin: nothing beyond scrapes will happen if you test it in a parking lot.
A boat would be okay too, if you have access to a large body of water and a human size boat to recover when your control fails during testing. A submarine isn't really suitable for autonomous control (at least at the hobby level) since there aren't a whole lot of sensors that you can use, and the underwater environment is so ambiguous. There are some good projects on this forum that are remote operate subs.
If you are going for airborne, a plane would probably be a better choice than a helicopter. It's a bit more stable, cheaper, easier to control, and so on. The one part where it's more difficult is taking off and landing.
if this is your first project to do something like this. I would choose something that drives on LAND.
If something fails with the automoous control it will be much more easy to catch some kind of a car than a boat, submarine.
A helicopter could crash against something or just fall out of the sky. If you really want to go into the air I would construct something that
can fall down from high altitude without much damaging. This protection will make the thing slow flying caused by its air resistance
or you could use a model-zeppelin.
But a car will be the easiest thing. With a boat you have some issues to protect the electronic against water and it should be save against sinking
In a submarine you have a BIG issue about waterprotection and the testarea should be a pool. A natural lake or river won't do it.
How about a balancing bot on two wheels ?
A robot on two legs
A hexabot (six legs)
Some kind of a car on 3 or 4 wheels will be the easiest thing to develop as you can start with sensors like
follow a light, follow a white or black line on the floor
next thing could be to not drive against objects by using distance-sensors or tactile switches
so what is your skill level about electronics?
a.) isn't it that way ? plug it in where the plug fits and then it's working ? what is ohms law ? I don't know it
a2.) I can solder electronic kits but I don't understand the schematics
b.) I know ohms law but what the heck is a transistor or an OP-Amp?
c.) I can use a transistor as a switch but I don't know how to bias it in an analog amplifier
d.) I understand the basics of transistors, voltagedividers, current limiting resistors, operational amplifiers but I'm not an expert
best regards
Stefan
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Chris Savage
Parallax Engineering
That said, I'm trying to do more or less exactly what you are, come from a similar background, and have had reasonable success.· It's not autonomous yet, but it's no harder to fly than my R/C helis.· Have a look:·http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?p=757602
Making an autonomous helicopter / plane / whatever will probably require more stuff than you think.· Most of the good ones have GPS, PIR sensors (horizon detection), accelerometers, gyros, compass, and altimeters.· It gets pricey.· [noparse]:)[/noparse]
Jason
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