Robot gone wrong?

P!-Ro

I'm so fed up with things not working out on my robot I was wondering about some of the other stories forum members might have pertaining to things not going right on their robots. Go ahead and spit it out, might make me feel better (or you, for that matter).

▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
PG

Timmoore

Here are a few
1. Build a 80lb bot that is RC controlled and dont check that the joystick centering controls havent been played with before turning on. Remote kill switch got built quick!
2. Make a mistake charging a 12V 18Ah battery and short the battery. Lots of sparks, flames, melted metal, battery still works [noparse]:)[/noparse]
3. First omnibot I built had very bad traction, not enough and not consistent. It moving was funny to watch - kind of semi-controlled sliding. You ended up spinning the bot so all 4 wheels got traction then started it in the direction you wanted it to go, then as it lost traction and went off course, spin it to get back on course. Trying to write code to drive it in a direction was an exercise in frustation.
4. Drill a hole in a prop protoboard to mount something and forget to check where the programing pcb traces ran. Drilled most of the way through one of the traces. Board suddenly stopped being able to be programmed a couple of days later - fun finding the mistake.

P!-Ro

Heh, thanks. I probably just have too much on my chest right now with robot troubles and school starting tomorrow, but these are some of my own experiences:
-Converting a rc car to a robot, had it constantly skipping loops and running into things, probably due to power. I just about had it but was going to try one more thing to make it work and the servo controlling the wheels burned out. Needless to say the frame is currently in my junk pile.
-Worked for ages on the mechanics of my current gas-powered robot and finally got everything ready for the engine to be mounted on it. When I tried to start it, it suddenly wouldn't work. I took it in to the mechanics teacher and had him look at it, but he couldn't find out what was wrong. I took it in to the shop I got it at and he said it was the carburetor. Two days later after cleaning the insides from what looked like apple juice I finally got it running. To this day I still wonder if some idiot poured something into the gas while it was in the shop.
-Today, I had everything ready to finally make my robot autonomous. I had the transistors all set up to run the steering and all I had to do was make some code to get it running. When I was all ready I tested it and found the motor wasn't turning very well one direction. I tested it more feeling how much heat was coming off of the transistor and it finally stopped working altogether. I found a replacement to try instead out of an old drill and it didn't work as I expected, so I changed the wiring. Ended up blowing up in my face. Naturally, when I gave up and went to RS they didn't have any transistors, totally blowing the whole days plans. So much for a great end to the summer.

▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
PG

Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)

This is only a remotely second-hand experience but one worth sharing, nonetheless. Back in my early TRS-80 software days, my business had a Yellow Pages listing. Big mistake! The only thing it got me was letters from prisoners ("I was involved in a crime of passion, and there was a death. ... By the way, do have have any extra computing equipment you can send me?") and weird phone calls. The strangest call was from a breathless and very desperate-sounding individual on a nearby island who claimed that his homemade robot had run amok and could I please come take a look at it? When I asked what it was doing he said, "Right now I've got it backed into a corner, and it's just sittin' there blinkin' at me!" Oookaaay. Anyway, I begged off making the "house call", but I've always wondered if the reality of the situation was nearly as entertaining as the scenario my imagination had conjured up (complete with broom and garbage can lid).

-Phil

GeorgeCollins

I spent a lot of my hobby time this year building a walking robot to race in the walker challenge at Robo games. I added shoulder (well shoulderish) servos to my robot to give it better ground clearance, at great difficulty and expense. I got that to work, and then three days before the event I thought I would try it walking quickly. Scampering off, the metal servo brackets bent and the legs flapped destroying the feet and brackets on two legs before I could stop it. I barely got it running again in time, and not very well.

One of the cool things about going to robogames was meeting other people with robots, all of whom had stories about how their robots had broken at various times and in various ways. Robot builders understand. You are trying to make something new. If it was easy, everybody would be doing it. So be proud.

▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
My Robots

SRLM

Recently I've started work on a UAV project, so I figured that I should learn how to fly the plane manually before trying to automate it, right? I spent at least twenty hours on the simulator, finally getting it perfect every time. I go out to the field, fly, attempt to land, and smash off the nose. I spend a day fixing it, and try again. Another broken nose... It's painful seeing the damage that a wooden plane can take.

P!-Ro

"worth sharing, nonetheless"
Got that right, Phil. Cracked me up, thanks.

GeorgeCollins said...
I spent a lot of my hobby time this year building a walking robot to race in the walker challenge at Robo games. I added shoulder (well shoulderish) servos to my robot to give it better ground clearance, at great difficulty and expense. I got that to work, and then three days before the event I thought I would try it walking quickly. Scampering off, the metal servo brackets bent and the legs flapped destroying the feet and brackets on two legs before I could stop it. I barely got it running again in time, and not very well.

One of the cool things about going to robogames was meeting other people with robots, all of whom had stories about how their robots had broken at various times and in various ways. Robot builders understand. You are trying to make something new. If it was easy, everybody would be doing it. So be proud.

I can't say just how many hot-glued electronic projects went down the same path, but it is a lot.
"If it was easy, everybody would be doing it"
Yup, but I always seem to overcomplicate everything.

SRLM, isn't hardware just the hardest part of all? I guess that's why I like it.

▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
PG

Prettybird

I too am learning omniwheels the hard way. I am sure you saw my recient post. Buyer beware is all I can say. Never even made it to the advanced software part yet. I reciently tried to modify a cheap Futuba servo. No go. I guess I will just cut the foil on the motor Remove the inside pot and just use as a DC motor. Not a total loss anyway. If just the servo electronics are fried at least you can still use the motor.

Post Edited (Prettybird) : 8/27/2009 1:12:22 PM GMT

CounterRotatingProps

Odd, PiGuy...

you started this thread to let folks blow off steam - but it turns out to be quite a 'stress reliever' for the readers too... funny stuff (after the fact, of course [noparse]:)[/noparse]

> Back in my early TRS-80 software days,
> ... a call ... his homemade robot had run amok and could I please come take a look at it?
> ...."I've got it backed into a corner, and ... "

PHIL - so You are the very TRS-80 software guy that didn't come to the rescue?!!

You know, ever since that day, they've called me " peg-leg "

LOL - Just kidding (or am I ?) hehehehe

▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔

RobotWorkshop

Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) said...
This is only a remotely second-hand experience but one worth sharing, nonetheless. Back in my early TRS-80 software days, my business had a Yellow Pages listing. Big mistake! The only thing it got me was letters from prisoners ("I was involved in a crime of passion, and there was a death. ... By the way, do have have any extra computing equipment you can send me?") and weird phone calls. The strangest call was from a breathless and very desperate-sounding individual on a nearby island who claimed that his homemade robot had run amok and could I please come take a look at it? When I asked what it was doing he said, "Right now I've got it backed into a corner, and it's just sittin' there blinkin' at me!" Oookaaay. Anyway, I begged off making the "house call", but I've always wondered if the reality of the situation was nearly as entertaining as the scenario my imagination had conjured up (complete with broom and garbage can lid).

What kind of Yellow pages did you advertise in???· They must have put you in the wrong section for sure!!

I did a ton of work on the TRS-80 back in the day and never had any odd calls like that.

Robert

Whit

Pi Guy,

I know this will make you feel better! (based on previous comments! )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASoCJTYgYB0

Pay no attention to the man behind the movable screen...

▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Whit+


"We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths." - Walt Disney

Post Edited (Whit) : 8/28/2009 1:59:58 AM GMT

P!-Ro

Thanks Rev Whitfield. It's pretty bad when the pros mess up, makes anyone feel better.

CRP, I'm sorry about your leg, but I must ask:·did the creature look·anything like this?



▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
PG

tedbeau

TOO FUNNY
Several comments here. asmov stands at teh bottom quite a long time, no doubt arguing with the programmer about doing the stairs.
He turns his head as he climbs the stairs, not a good idea!
When they put the screen up in front of the stairs why don't they just place him at the top manually, pull back the screen and shout "TADA!"

Whit said...
Pi Guy,

I know this will make you feel better! (based on previous comments! )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASoCJTYgYB0

Pay no attention to the man behind the movable screen...

Vaati

Pi Guy,

I won a contest earlier this year and got a penguin walking robot. I put it all together, callibrated everything and ran the demo program to make it use all its features and...

THE TILT SERVO WAS NOT MOVING!!

So, I emailed Parallax and they sent me a replacement (along with a nice UPENE ad ) and I took my penguin apart and replaced the servo.
It sounds like it would end there, and I would happily chase the cats out of my room with a penguin making barking sounds, but NOOO...! Sure, the stride servo works all nice and dandy, but the tilt servo is wimpy... It just twitches back and forth and then suddenly jerks to vertical. I have to callibrate the servos every time so it doesn't jerk as much...


Happy now?

▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Quit buying all those fixed voltage regulators, and·get an Adjustable Power Supply·for your projects!· Includes an LED testing terminal!

*-NEW-* SD Card Adapter·Now available!· Add extra memory to your next Propeller project with ease!

P!-Ro

nope, cuz it aint big enough. lol, ive hardly even worked on my project since i have better things to do like tennis. maybe ill try again this weekend and hope i dont lose an eye to a transistor or ill have some explaining to my clueless friends...

▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
PG

Sandgroper

I think we forget just what an achievement it is just to get a robot to walk, let alone manage stairs!· I'd be ecstatic if I could get my "trike" to stop knocking plaster of the walls.· It seems to change from a "harmless little bunny" when it's switched off to Death With Big Pointy Teeth as soon as it powers up!

Tom C

SRLM said...
Recently I've started work on a UAV project, so I figured that I should learn how to fly the plane manually before trying to automate it, right? I spent at least twenty hours on the simulator, finally getting it perfect every time. I go out to the field, fly, attempt to land, and smash off the nose. I spend a day fixing it, and try again. Another broken nose... It's painful seeing the damage that a wooden plane can take.

SRLM,

You might want to consider a Multiplex Easy Star: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=975833&highlight=easystar

It is made out of Elapor foam and is hard to break.

Just a thought.

Regards,
TCIII

▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
If you are going to send·a Robot·to save the world, you·better make sure it likes it the way it is!

SRLM

@Tom C

Yep. I'm going to get one since I already have all the equipment. I also moved into my dorm last week, and there is a much better flying site available. It's even within walking distance, and doesn't have the excessive amount of obstructions that my last site had.

W9GFO

I first learned to fly RC on gliders, they are pretty easy to land as long as you have big field. However, the first powered RC aircraft I ever flew was a helicopter. I think landing is probably the one thing that is easier with helicopters than airplanes - unless the engine quits.

Rich H

▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
The Servo Boss, a 12 channel servo tester kit from Gadget Gangster.