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BigTrak Jr. I wonder how hackable it is ??? — Parallax Forums

BigTrak Jr. I wonder how hackable it is ???

BeanBean Posts: 8,129
edited 2010-11-01 00:29 in General Discussion
Some guy in the UK is bringing back the BigTrak toys.

I just saw that these BigTrak Jr robots were available.

http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/rc/de2e/

I'm wondering how hackable these are ???

Think of the possibilities with a Propeller inside...

I think I'm going to get one as a early xmas gift to myself.

Bean
pdf
pdf
Bigtrak Operators manual.pdf
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Comments

  • Heater.Heater. Posts: 21,230
    edited 2010-10-29 05:48
    BigTrak is a bit SmallTrak nowadays.

    Only 200mm long. Still sounds like there is some fun hacking to be had with that though.
  • ColeyColey Posts: 1,112
    edited 2010-10-29 07:47
    @Bean, I just got a full sized BigTrak for my seven year old sone it was £33 GBP it's just like the one I had as a child. :smilewinkgrin:

    I can tell you now it's very hackable and there a quite a few resources on the internet showing what people have done already. It makes for a great robot platform.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTyiH36xXqI

    Regards,


    Coley
  • UnknownUnknown
    edited 2010-10-29 08:52
    Thank you for showing me this.

    What I remember from the 80's was the membrane keyboard would wear out and people were having problems with the dumptruck. It was the rage but people said not to buy one because it was a lot of money.

    I think a Stringray with a Nerf Sentry gun on top and Xbee controllers would be cool. Having a small video camera controlled by two servos (pan and tilt) on the front would also help someone guide it.

    I've seen this video camera cheaper on the web:

    http://www.amazon.com/Mini-Wireless-Color-Camera-Microphone/dp/B000YM2OIK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1273704622&sr=8-2
  • GadgetmanGadgetman Posts: 2,436
    edited 2010-10-29 12:33
    The biggest problem for me is that it's ThinkGeek selling them.
    (The last time I looked, they didn't offer any cheap shipping. UPS and DHL is NOT cheap, hey also insist on coming to my home when I'm at the office... Annoying... )

    Since it's a smaller version of the original, they've probably also shrunk the control circuitry. (you know, those annoying plastic blobs in the middle of a PCB instead of nice ICs)
    This means you may have to recreate a lot of the motor control, whih can be annoying.
    (May endup better than the original, though)

    Are the wheels plastic or rubber?
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,260
    edited 2010-10-29 16:25
    @Bean: Hack it? Non capisco. The main interesting thing about the original BT was the magnetic clutch that kept the wheels synced for straight line travel. IIRC the turns were uncoordinated. I assume this remake is similar to the original. If you're replacing the electronics with a Prop, all that's left is a shell with motors and probably ONE encoder. Why limit yourself to what the manufacturer delivered/could afford?

    IMHO, you're probably better starting from scratch, especially if you're using a Prop. Homemade is always better. Grab some plywood, two CR servos or gearmotors and two homebrew encoders and you're way ahead of the game.

    BTW, I love the original BT, I have one and it's great for what it is. I just encourage people to scratch-build at every opportunity, mechanical design building is fast becoming a lost art.

    And no, kits DON'T count. Well, barely, just to get people's hands dirty! And kids, don't think you're a "robot builder" just because you put someone's kit together. You're a robot assembler at that point, but you're on your way to becoming a robot builder at the next opportunity!
  • BeanBean Posts: 8,129
    edited 2010-10-29 16:36
    Erco,
    Well it's got the drive system (I think each wheel has it's own encoder), phaser (light), speaker and keyboard.
    I was thinking it would look the same on the outside, but with more "smarts".

    My only hold-up is the $40 price. A little steep for something to tear apart.

    Bean
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,260
    edited 2010-10-29 17:20
    Here's a site with some reverse-engineered info on the original BT: http://www.robotroom.com/BigTrak.html David Cook confirms my memory that there was only one encoder in the original BT. Useful mainly for driving in a straight line when the wheels are magnetically synced, less accurate in turns when they aren't.

    More useful info on disassembly at http://www.thebigtrak.com/index.htm

    If anyone gets a new smaller BT, please share your hacking findings!
  • W9GFOW9GFO Posts: 4,010
    edited 2010-10-30 02:42
    erco wrote: »
    And no, kits DON'T count. Well, barely, just to get people's hands dirty! And kids, don't think you're a "robot builder" just because you put someone's kit together. You're a robot assembler at that point, but you're on your way to becoming a robot builder at the next opportunity!

    I disagree. Assembling a kit is building.

    Kids (and adults), if you put the parts of a kit together and end up with a robot, then you have earned the title of robot builder.

    Designing or engineering a robot would be the next step. I think Roboticist is the term you were after.

    Rich H
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2010-11-01 00:29
    I'll take a look in Toys R' Us for this locally. Seems like a good platform for hacking. This year we seem to be getting a lot of improvements in R/C helicopter toys. A few years ago I was completely amazed by how many people purchased the EEEpc at $300USD and immediately hacked it with battery extensions, touch screens, GPS, and more.

    It seems if it is a an optimal platform for hacking, price is not much of an issue.
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