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Robot Transportation Vehicle? — Parallax Forums

Robot Transportation Vehicle?

HumanoidoHumanoido Posts: 5,770
edited 2010-10-29 12:54 in Robotics
Has anyone built their own tiny robotic transport vehicle to substitute for a car? It would be very small, inexpensive and designed to go about on sidewalks and bike trails. Something like a tiny electric car that fits into an elevator and through a small door, Toyota balancing Winglet, or other...

Comments

  • kwinnkwinn Posts: 8,697
    edited 2010-10-24 12:09
    You mean like a powered wheel chair?
  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2010-10-24 12:20
    Or a Segway. Keep it away from rivers, though. :)
  • W9GFOW9GFO Posts: 4,010
    edited 2010-10-24 13:40
    I'm working on this:

    attachment.php?attachmentid=74566&d=1287561518

    Rich H
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2010-10-24 14:03
    Lookin' good, Rich! You know I'm a fan of plywood platforms. What is that underneath? Looks kinda like a Big Trak mylar keypad...
  • W9GFOW9GFO Posts: 4,010
    edited 2010-10-24 14:10
    Thanks,

    Check this thread for info on the keypad.

    Rich H
  • lardomlardom Posts: 1,659
    edited 2010-10-25 07:24
    W9GFO, how did you customize your keypad? I used a 4x4 which means that unless I tell you what buttons to press the average person won't figure it out.
  • Spiral_72Spiral_72 Posts: 791
    edited 2010-10-25 09:52
    lardom wrote: »
    W9GFO, how did you customize your keypad? I used a 4x4 which means that unless I tell you what buttons to press the average person won't figure it out.


    I can't speak for him, but there are companies that sell custom engraved keypad covers.. button labels, HMI labels and anything you can imagine. If I can find the brochure I'll post the company. They sent me a really nice sample pack :)
  • W9GFOW9GFO Posts: 4,010
    edited 2010-10-25 12:38
    lardom wrote: »
    W9GFO, how did you customize your keypad? I used a 4x4 which means that unless I tell you what buttons to press the average person won't figure it out.

    Using the Gadget Gangster Switchboard module;

    10.JPG

    I cut strips of foam from an old mouse pad and placed them in between and around all the buttons. A small amount of hot glue helped keep the perimeter pieces in place, all the rest were secure by way of a tight fit. I used one of those disposable utility knives where you break off the tip once dulled, extended fully it makes a nice cutting edge that works well to shave all the foam bits down to the level of the top of the buttons. The goal was to have a firm surface around each button that would give a little when pressed.

    I designed the graphics for the keypad in a word processing program and then printed it out on an inkjet. It took a couple tries to get the scaling just right.

    Clear packaging tape was applied to both sides of the printout to protect against wear, it is just wide enough to cover the whole overlay without any seems.

    attachment.php?attachmentid=71244

    Rich H
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2010-10-25 13:14
    And what is the chassis underneath? Looks like something pretty heavy duty.
  • W9GFOW9GFO Posts: 4,010
    edited 2010-10-25 14:01
    erco wrote: »
    And what is the chassis underneath? Looks like something pretty heavy duty.

    Indeed it is. It used to be a Pride Mobility Jazzy 1101. I estimate it to have about a 400 lb useable weight capacity. Originally it specified a 300 lb capacity but now there is no tilting seat (it was an incredibly heavy mechanism - not the standard seats you see on them) and other items have been removed.

    Power is via a single deep cycle AGM battery. The motors are driven by a pair of HB-25s. Each motor has a position controller mounted to it in place of the original electromagnetic brakes. The top speed is about the same as it was when it was a wheelchair even though the supplied voltage is only half what it used to be. I'm sure that is because of the original controller's safety limitations. If/when I upgrade to 24 volts I'm sure it'll move along at a pretty good clip.

    I'm somewhat surprised that the HB-25s perform as well as they do on these big motors. I can sit on top of this robot and drive myself around without any issues. I doubt that it would do well on hills though. Sure wish Parallax would make an HB-50!

    Just did a quick test. With me sitting on it directly over the drive wheels (~185 lbs), it will spin the wheels for a couple seconds when up against a wall before the HB-25s go into shutdown. This is on a stone surface with about 5 psi in the tires. I really should air up those tires...

    Rich H
  • HumanoidoHumanoido Posts: 5,770
    edited 2010-10-25 23:30
    Rich H. wow, looks like it would work for what I have in mind. How about some more photos?
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2010-10-29 11:06
    Interesting ball vehicle at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhAJITAWi2Y
  • W9GFOW9GFO Posts: 4,010
    edited 2010-10-29 11:37
    Humanoido wrote: »
    Rich H. wow, looks like it would work for what I have in mind. How about some more photos?
    Okay, here's a couple;

    attachment.php?attachmentid=74791&stc=1&d=1288377330

    attachment.php?attachmentid=74790&stc=1&d=1288377330

    Rich H
    PAS_0560.JPG
    400 x 287 - 75K
    PAS_0559.JPG
    400 x 268 - 65K
  • HumanoidoHumanoido Posts: 5,770
    edited 2010-10-29 12:28
    Thanks Rich for posting the pics. This has great potential. I can see it's very solid, has a battery tray, and a center of balance that must be maintained slightly forward. Looking at those two pics, about what does it weigh, stripped down like that?
  • W9GFOW9GFO Posts: 4,010
    edited 2010-10-29 12:42
    Not sure about the weight when it was stripped down but right now it weighs ~150 lbs, 98 lbs on the front wheels and 49 lbs on the rear. The battery alone is 40 lbs.

    Rich H
  • W9GFOW9GFO Posts: 4,010
    edited 2010-10-29 12:54
    Humanoido wrote: »
    ...It would be very small, inexpensive and designed to go about on sidewalks and bike trails. Something like a tiny electric car that fits into an elevator and through a small door, Toyota balancing Winglet, or other...

    I doubt it would be inexpensive...

    http://www.segway.com/puma/

    Rich H
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