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WOOT! Roboni-I Robot $75 shipped — Parallax Forums

WOOT! Roboni-I Robot $75 shipped

ercoerco Posts: 20,256
edited 2011-04-01 15:14 in Robotics
I had a feeling these would end on Woot someday... http://www.woot.com

Info at http://www.roboni-i.com/Default.aspx

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efbC2engPQQ&feature=player_embedded

edit: Woot changes every day, so this is only for Friday 9/24.

edit 2: $5 off with code serendipity ! http://livehotdeals.com/Roboni-i-Gaming-Robot_53462

Comments

  • BaneBane Posts: 41
    edited 2010-09-24 12:15
    Yeah I couldn't resist...picked this little fella up today.
  • logan996logan996 Posts: 281
    edited 2010-09-24 20:36
    lol is it worth it? i dont want to spend my birthday money just yet :D
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2010-10-11 13:36
    $80 shipped Ebay DoD today if you missed it before...

    http://cgi.ebay.com/Robonica-Roboni-I-Programmable-Gaming-Robot/380276820621?_trksid=p1468660.m2000036
  • Duane DegnDuane Degn Posts: 10,588
    edited 2010-10-12 10:40
    I purchased two of these from Woot. My biggest complaint about them is the lack of proportional steering.

    On one of the robots, I took out the normal circuit board and put in a Propeller Proto board with a motor controller chip added. I also added a Nordic wireless transceiver. I can now control it wirelessly with a nunchuck. It moves much faster and the steering is much more controlable. It's a lot more fun to drive after these modifications were made. I still need to add LEDs and other accessories to make it look and sound at least as good (I bet I'll get to be a lot better) than the original robot.

    The robot is very hackable. The motors, IR LEDs (some LEDs are surface mounted), RFID, buttons and small speaker all plug into the main circuit board. The onboard motor controller limits the voltage to 5V but with six rechargable batteries, the robot has 7.2V available. The motor is rated at 7.0 VDC so it seems strange to limit the voltage to 5.0 VDC. As I mentioned above the robot drives much faster with my modifications.

    I plan to post a video of the two robots (one original robot and the modified robot) to show the contrast between them.

    Anyone else get these? Anyone modifying them?

    Duane
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2010-10-12 11:41
    XLNT feedback, Duane! I don't know anything about these, but they looked like a good starting point for hackers, which is exactly what you're doing. Please do post updates & videos about progress & findings. Good man!
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2010-11-11 18:38
    http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002SG6JWM/ref=xs_gb_A64BMHA2ZTV3B?_encoding=UTF8&me=A1KWJVS57NX03I&pf_rd_p=441937901&pf_rd_s=right-1&pf_rd_t=701&pf_rd_i=20&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0B4Q6CYAF017Y63ER9YW

    Price dropped to $60 w/free ship, best price last post was $75. Might be time to pounce!
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2011-04-01 08:34
    I just won a new Roboni off Ebay with lowball bid of $39, shipped. These robots are officially orphans now, the company folded, so they're selling off cheap. New units sell on Amazon regularly for $50-55.

    Informative video review at http://www.amazon.com/Robonica-Roboni-Programmable-Gaming-Robot/product-reviews/B002SG6JWM/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1
    Robot drives squirrely (it gerbils as monowheels do), the controller looks nice and the pads are RFID tags. You drive the robot over them to "pick them up". Parts look worth $39 to me...
  • Duane DegnDuane Degn Posts: 10,588
    edited 2011-04-01 12:53
    Wow. $39 is a good deal.

    Most of the parts are pretty good. The board looks like it's made for hacking. Most of the connection are 0.1" plugs.

    My biggest complaint is the the lack of proportional control. The transmitter uses buttons to turn on and off the motors.

    As I mentioned several times in different places on this forum, I've switch out the control board on one of these for a Propeller Proto board. I added a bunch of shift registers to control tri-colored LEDs and added my own motor controller chips. I've used a Wii Nunchuck to control it both wired directly to the board and also wirelessly using a couple of Nordic 2.4Gig modules.

    The robot and controller look like they use a 2.4 Gig radio. I don't know enough to hijack these for my own use. I'd also like to hijack their RFID circuit.

    I just reread my earlier post. Sorry for so much duplicate information.

    I use these $2.35 motor controllers.

    @erco, If you just won this, does that mean you haven't received it yet?

    I'm curious to see what you do with yours.

    Duane
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2011-04-01 15:14
    Yes, just won it yesterday, not received yet. My plan is to use it to take over the world...

    Thanks for the info, sounds interesting. I have seen one sitting on a shelf, but didn't try it out. Will advise!
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