anyone have any suggestions on this idea?

Stewarma

Hi,
I'm just wanting to give some robot
building a try. I looked at the stamp
a couple years ago but never got started.
I'd like to build a platform on which to
expand that will wander around the
yard, avoiding obstacles. (bumpers or
ir?) Differential drive, 12V gear motors
~60rpm 10A stall. 30lbs payload resonable?
I have some of the mechanical skills required
but im still lost in the electronics.
Also, is it possible to keep the robot
contained by having it detect the color
of the surface it is on? Any shove in the
right direction would be greatly apreciated.

thanks,
Matt

Prettybird

· I am new too. I am working on a little version with servo motors. DC motors a must from what I am finding out. You can get stamp compatable H drive DC motor controllers all sizes. Parallax even has a small version that can drive a decient size DC motor directly with their support. The BS2 is just the brain. The rest is programming. I am learning too and Parallax has excellant support from this forum. I have a mini monster boe maxed out. IR sensors, sound, TV cam, laser and headlights. Even has sound for audio feedback for roaming when too far to see. Designing for outdoor use. Semi automatic can run on it's own with a simple·radio control·to give it help if it gets stuck. Hardware is easy for me. The programming is new. I am a laid off machine tool electrician technician so machine stuff is easy. Good luck.



The more you learn the more you find you don't know. It is neverending. Confucous 550 BC

CounterRotatingProps

Matt,

welcome to the forums! All the things you mention are possible. You might want to start with one of the 'simple' robot kits, like the BoeBot. The size and sophistication of the 'bot you'd like to build is probably not the first step to take if both programming and electronics are new for you. If you get, say, a BoeBot, you can mess around with both aspects and ramp up to bigger and better things as you learn. Another route is to get a "demo board" of some kind and build things temporarily and experimentally on your work bench. This stuff requires building up and tearing down a lot - the more work space you have, the better. You'll need some basic electronics tools and equipment. As Prettybird mentions, the forum is a great place for assistance - we'll help you figure out what you need.

@Prettybird: that's a monster alright ! --- does it deliver hot coffee too? [noparse]:)[/noparse])

- Howard

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Timmoore

I would recommend starting with a small bot. You have a couple of options
1. try a kit such as the boebot, there are a number of other kits that can be modied easily
2. build a smaller version of the large bot
If you haven't built a bot at all, I would do 1 first, then 2 and then build the bigger bot.
The other thing you might want to think about is building a remote controlled small bot to start with. I normally do this when trying a new base. I build a base, put a micro (I normally use hte prop), with a RC receiver, mtoor controller, etc. This give a chance to learn the electronics around the basic bot without mixing sensors etc. as well.

GeorgeCollins

You can get a reasonably large outdoor 4WD chassis from Lynxmotion. You can plug a STAMP into that. It really isn't harder to make, just a little more expensive and it would be able to go around your backyard. May not be able to carry 30 lbs, but could carry a lot more than a boe-bot, and outdoors.

I recommend starting with a BOE bot. You can learn a lot and get a lot of support and examples.

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My Robots

Stewarma

thanks for the suggestions everybody ill think ill order a boebot and
learn the basics on a smaller sacle
matt