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Crustcrawler Nomad - robot kit built around the 12V Motor Mount Wheel Kit — Parallax Forums

Crustcrawler Nomad - robot kit built around the 12V Motor Mount Wheel Kit

Ken GraceyKen Gracey Posts: 7,392
edited 2010-01-31 21:09 in Robotics
Hey all,

My friend Alex at Crustcrawler has developed a new prototype of the Nomad robot, which uses their robotic arm. The kit uses the Parallax 12V Motor Mount and Wheel Kit (27971) and the Caster Wheel (28971). These photos are a prototype, without anodization. Alex kindly provided approval for us to share the prototype photos on these forums.

I don't know the sale price or availability details. I imagine it will be between $500 and $800 without the arm, however.

Well done, Crustcrawler!

Ken Gracey

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Nomad-a.jpg
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Nomad-b.jpg
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Nomad-c.jpg
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Comments

  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2010-01-31 05:34
    Beautiful Robot! It just needs some carry handles!

    Naturally, Poor Cousin is doubly up to the task. Pic attached!



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    ·"If you build it, they will come."

    Post Edited (erco) : 1/31/2010 5:39:53 AM GMT
    arm3small.jpg
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  • Ken GraceyKen Gracey Posts: 7,392
    edited 2010-01-31 05:47
    Poor Cousin is nipping at Nomad's heels with 95% of the functionality and 10% of the cost! What's also unique is how quickly poor cousin propagates. It's the only robo-family with relatives who only carry the best traits forward to new generations.

    So, are those two arms going to pick up the micro-ercos and put them on the bot?

    Ken Gracey
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2010-01-31 05:49
    Ken: It was only a matter of time before I automated the whole diaper-changing procedure with a BASIC Stamp!

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    ·"If you build it, they will come."
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2010-01-31 09:07
    I like the way the Nomad's arm stows when it's not deployed. Very tidy and professional-looking!

    -Phil
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2010-01-31 17:19
    Good observation, Phil. It makes sense to protect the relatively fragile arm in transit.

    I'm reminded of the drama of the very first Viking Mars lander way back in 1976. I was a teenager, eagerly following the mission through (UGH!) daily newspaper updates, and I remember it quite clearly. After landing, the soil sampler arm wasn't operating properly, one joint was frozen. NASA was in a quiet state of panic for 5 days, as most of the experiments depended on the sampling arm. It took 5 days for anyone to go back and "read the manual"·to determine that a locking pin (which protected the arm in transit) was designed to fall out from gravity only with the arm joints in a very specific positions. Overly-enthusiastic controllers had forgotten that juicy little fact. Once they did as the instructions said, the pin fell free and the robot arm worked perfectly. Plain-vanilla details at· http://www.solarviews.com/history/SP-425/ch13.htm

    Always read the manual!

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    ·"If you build it, they will come."
  • iDaveiDave Posts: 252
    edited 2010-01-31 21:09
    Interesting factoid! Looking forward to the Mars Science Laboratory...that's going to be one beast of a rover. .just needs a catchier name

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    "A complex design is the sign of an inferior designer."
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