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Classroom Robotic Vehicle — Parallax Forums

Classroom Robotic Vehicle

ScopeScope Posts: 417
edited 2010-02-09 02:01 in Robotics
Hello Friends,

For now, I'm going to put the classroom rail system "on hold" and go forward with the robotic vehicle.

I have a zillion r/c cars, trucks, & airplanes. My basic idea is to take a 1/10 scale rock crawler chassis and convert it to a fully autonomous "rover"

Future missions would include something more specific, like gathering or delivering data, et cetera.

My question: Has anyone converted an r/c car or truck into a fully autonomous robot?

Does anyone have any suggestions or recommendations for this project?

Here's just a quick sketch - the body would be created from pink foam or paper covered foam core.

Thanks,

Scope
scope_robotic_vehicle_001.jpg
640 x 407 - 48K

Comments

  • Peter KG6LSEPeter KG6LSE Posts: 1,383
    edited 2010-02-06 18:52
    I have done some work witha modded hummer model and a VEX brain .



    farm5.static.flickr.com/4021/4277274007_8f08635651_o.jpg


    but it was minimal Auto .. It was mostly avoidance stuff .




    Peter KG6LSE

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  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2010-02-06 20:11
    You can make this a quickie project, or your life's work. Seems like you need reliable A to B transportation more than fully autonomous & intelligent (very few people get that far, anyway). Why not start with a simple line follower using tape on the floor? Not unlike your original dedicated overhead rail system. That's fully documented and easiest to build, you could even start with a BoeBot. Just get the simplest thing running and find out if it's as helpful as you hoped, or a PITA. You can always scale it up later, but you'll generally have much more success and learn more useful stuff if you start small & simple.

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  • John AbshierJohn Abshier Posts: 1,116
    edited 2010-02-06 22:13
    I did it with a Traxxas EMax. I bought new gears to lower the transmission ratio. I also replaced the stock motor controller with an HB-25. A small amount of the motor shaft protrudes from the rear of the motor. I glued an 1/8 inch outside diameter tube to that. Then I mounted an encoded from U.S. Digital. A CMPS03 compass provides direction. Two ultrasonic sensors monitor the front for obstacles. Current code allows me at compile time to enter 3 paths (x,y coordinates and speed on segment) and select from them at run time. Things to do: upgrade to a tilt compensated compass, add a GPS, and add a rate gyro. Then figure out how to and write code to combine odometry (encoder and compass), yaw rate, and GPS into an integrated pose (x, y, heading, speed)

    John Abshier
  • ScopeScope Posts: 417
    edited 2010-02-06 22:16
    Thanks John Abshier, erco, & Peter KG6LSE! [noparse]:)[/noparse]
    erco said...
    You can make this a quickie project, or your life's work. Seems like you need reliable A to B transportation more than fully autonomous & intelligent (very few people get that far, anyway). Why not start with a simple line follower using tape on the floor? Not unlike your original dedicated overhead rail system. That's fully documented and easiest to build, you could even start with a BoeBot. Just get the simplest thing running and find out if it's as helpful as you hoped, or a PITA. You can always scale it up later, but you'll generally have much more success and learn more useful stuff if you start small & simple.

    This is valuable advice - thanks.

    I think I should list my goals, beginning with #1 being something very simple but achievable, then the goals will increase in complexity to the fully autonomous ultrabot.

    Goal #1 --> Open a cold beverage and think about Goal #2
    John Abshier said...
    I did it with a Traxxas EMax. I bought new gears to lower the transmission ratio. I also replaced the stock motor controller with an HB-25. A small amount of the motor shaft protrudes from the rear of the motor. I glued an 1/8 inch outside diameter tube to that. Then I mounted an encoded from U.S. Digital. A CMPS03 compass provides direction. Two ultrasonic sensors monitor the front for obstacles. Current code allows me at compile time to enter 3 paths (x,y coordinates and speed on segment) and select from them at run time. Things to do: upgrade to a tilt compensated compass, add a GPS, and add a rate gyro. Then figure out how to and write code to combine odometry (encoder and compass), yaw rate, and GPS into an integrated pose (x, y, heading, speed)

    John Abshier

    I too have an E-Maxx!!! I bought it for $120 (I think) and it's nearly new, has custom wheels & tires. Like a lousy doctor, I don't have a lotta patience, so, I'm going to take this easy and enjoy it.

    Post Edited (Scope) : 2/6/2010 10:24:25 PM GMT
  • John AbshierJohn Abshier Posts: 1,116
    edited 2010-02-06 23:34
    My deck is ugly. It is a fiberboard clipboard with 4 holes to fit the E-Maxx.

    John Abshier
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2010-02-07 00:34
    John:

    Wow, that's quite a project you described, and I'm sure you have lots of time, talent and treasure invested! Please post some info, pics, and videos if you can. I'm fascinated already and I guarantee you'll find lots more interested people here.

    erco

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  • Rick BrooksRick Brooks Posts: 67
    edited 2010-02-07 13:31
    Scope,

    I built an E-Maxx controlled by a Propeller for the Chicago RoboMagellan contest.

    A very brief description of the build can be seen here.

    It won the ChiBots Summer 2009 contest traveling the 900 meter course in about 1:45 raw time.

    Videos of run 1 and run 2 are on youtube.

    ·· Rick Brooks
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2010-02-08 05:09
    Rick:

    Amazing robot and performance! Congrats on winning RoboMagellan, what a great and satisfying achievement for you. Hope you don't get overwhelmed with PMs, I'm sure your project and forum post will generate lots of interest. Many people here are interested in the Propeller, GPS, R/C vehicle mods, and you're just the Guru to field their questions. I skimmed your web site; it looks like a lot of fun & info, I'll return and check it out more when I can. Thanks for sharing!

    erco

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  • CannibalRoboticsCannibalRobotics Posts: 535
    edited 2010-02-09 02:01
    Seems like there was an article in Servo or Nuts & Volts a few years ago about using a 'toy' 4x4 as a rover platform. Radio Shack was dumping these after Christmas one year.
    The author pulled the body off and put a piece of plywood on the frame to hold electronics. Locomotion, Stearing, suspension and power are all there. The hack should be straightforward enough.
    Jim-

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