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Whit's rover — Parallax Forums

Whit's rover

Brian_BBrian_B Posts: 842
edited 2010-11-10 19:38 in Robotics
Whit,
It's done !! ,email your address again and I'll ship it monday.

Brian
640 x 426 - 41K

Comments

  • Ken GraceyKen Gracey Posts: 7,392
    edited 2010-10-01 16:04
    Brian_B wrote: »
    Whit,
    It's done !! ,email your address again and I'll ship it monday.

    Brian


    Told ya he'd follow through, Whit!

    KG
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2010-10-01 18:10
    I want a Rover! I'll send you MY address since Whit appears to be asleep at the wheel!

    Um, I'll, er... get it to him... real soon...
  • TinkersALotTinkersALot Posts: 535
    edited 2010-10-01 18:24
    neat platform! Does the center joint move?
  • Brian_BBrian_B Posts: 842
    edited 2010-10-01 18:33
    Erco,
    Whit has been waiting 3 years for this version,good thing he's a man of faith:-)

    TinkersAlot,
    It moves in every direction you can think of, whit will have his hands full.

    Ken,
    Thank you for helping me to become a machinist and more.

    Brian
  • WhitWhit Posts: 4,191
    edited 2010-10-02 19:15
    @ Brain - Thanks - the address was PM'd!

    @ erco - Not asleep! I've been working on a Scribbler project that I hope to show soon.

    @ Ken - I had no doubts!

    @ All - I will document this rover when it is in the wilds of Louisiana.
  • W9GFOW9GFO Posts: 4,010
    edited 2010-10-02 19:27
    I was a bit surprised to see the rover in Parallax's tech support area. Are there any plans for making more of these? I'd love to get one.

    Rich H
  • WhitWhit Posts: 4,191
    edited 2010-10-03 05:32
    @Rich,

    I saw it too! (There are all sorts of cool things hidden all around the Parallax offices). Very impressive isn't it? The finish and workmanship on the parts is amazing. I can't wait...
  • Brian_BBrian_B Posts: 842
    edited 2010-10-03 06:27
    @Whit
    Thanks and sorry it took so long.

    @Rich
    I did a test run of 3 of them to see how much they would cost to build. It's was really a learning experience in mass production and quality control, I'm getting there it takes time.

    Brian
  • WhitWhit Posts: 4,191
    edited 2010-10-06 13:11
    The rover arrived today in perfect condition. It is absolutely spectacular!

    I promise to post pictures and more info when I have time (but I must say it will be hard to appreciate without seeing the real thing).

    The rover is beautifully made and honestly looks like something from NASA. Too cool!
  • John AbshierJohn Abshier Posts: 1,116
    edited 2010-10-06 14:24
    Does the joint between the two halves rotate in both roll and yaw? Are all 4 wheels powered? Interesting wheels, any info on them?

    John Abshier
  • Brian_BBrian_B Posts: 842
    edited 2010-10-06 14:46
    Whit,
    Thank you very much, I can build some pretty cool stuff. Now electronics thats a different animal ,give me a resistor and all I can do is start a fire :-)

    John,
    It's 4 wheel drive,center joint can roll and yaw,everything except the motors where built in my shop.

    Keep the compliments (and questions) coming :-)

    Brian
  • Brian_BBrian_B Posts: 842
    edited 2010-10-06 18:02
    Here are all the rovers that it took for me to get to this one.

    Brian
    640 x 427 - 49K
    640 x 426 - 30K
    640 x 480 - 30K
  • Spiral_72Spiral_72 Posts: 791
    edited 2010-10-07 10:10
    is that timing pulley stock?? Interesting! What is the coating? Is it rubberized or something?
  • Brian_BBrian_B Posts: 842
    edited 2010-10-07 14:29
    The wheels are custom machined out of black delrin, the rest of the body was machined out of aluminum and anodized black.

    Brian
  • HumanoidoHumanoido Posts: 5,770
    edited 2010-10-08 07:35
    Brian_B wrote: »
    Here are all the rovers that it took for me to get to this one.
    Very nice! Add some solar panels, looks like a Mars rover or one for the Google Lunar Lander program. Whit, are you listening? :)
  • Dave HeinDave Hein Posts: 6,347
    edited 2010-10-08 12:17
    Humanoido,

    Actually, Brian designed this for the Google Lunar X-Prize. We had a group called PropelX that investigated the feasibility of building a spacecraft and rover for landing on the moon and exploring it. We worked out the details for propulsion communications, power, heat dissapation, radiation hardened electronics, etc. At some point we realized we didn't have the multi-million dollars needed to secure a launch vehicle.

    So in some sense, Brain's rover is a spin-off from a space program. :)

    Dave
  • Brian_BBrian_B Posts: 842
    edited 2010-10-09 08:23
    Whit,
    Did the fed's get you for having a nasa rover :-) ? Rich will have the third one of these by the end of the week ,he is designing a controller board and software to run it. I can now move on to redesign the wheels so that they can be built cheaper.

    Brian
  • WhitWhit Posts: 4,191
    edited 2010-10-09 08:42
    Brian_B wrote: »
    Whit,
    Did the fed's get you for having a nasa rover :-) ?

    No feds yet... :lol:

    We did just finish the first nine weeks of school, I have wedding to do and a really big funeral. Rest and play to follow...
  • Brian_BBrian_B Posts: 842
    edited 2010-10-27 20:30
    Whit,
    Any new rover news? I'm running behind a little on getting rich his (not as bad as yours at 2 years) ,He designed new wheels that can be plastic injection molded. took a tour of a plastic injection molding plant last week, very cool!!

    Brian
  • Brian_BBrian_B Posts: 842
    edited 2010-10-27 20:42
    Ps,
    If Rich would like to post what the new wheels will look like it's ok with me :-)

    Brian

    Pss: I would, but it's his design
  • W9GFOW9GFO Posts: 4,010
    edited 2010-10-27 22:37
    Sure,

    This is a quick render, the tread is not shown.

    attachment.php?attachmentid=74752&stc=1&d=1288244203

    Rich H
    494 x 469 - 53K
  • WhitWhit Posts: 4,191
    edited 2010-10-31 18:56
    Just coming up for air! Brian, I PM'd you...
  • DavidNymanDavidNyman Posts: 52
    edited 2010-11-07 11:32
    Come on Parallax, get this rover onto the site so we can all get one!
    Very cool!!
  • Brian_BBrian_B Posts: 842
    edited 2010-11-10 19:38
    David,
    I am a expert in the field of diesel trucks And heavy equipment repair, the rover thing is a side project and I have invested allot of hobby time into. I can not offer the support that parallax would need to sell the rover,but would be happy to supply them with enough info to sell them if they would like.


    Brian
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