Basic Stamp drone
DavidNyman
Posts: 52
Here's a bot I've been working on lately.
I believe there's something cool about track drive bots so they are my main focus lately.
The bot uses 42mm planetary drive motors enclosed in the front. The bot provides feedback back to my remote using a pair of Xbees. Those red things sticking up in the back are new LifePo batteries and seem to work pretty well so far. The batteries are in series for 24vdc. The pictured displays tell me main battery voltage and voltage going to the BS2 super carrier board.
The motor controllers are 24vdc at 23 amps and work great. The gear ratio of the drive motors provides lots of power and the bot drives through the grass in the back with ease.
I'm currently machining a turret which carries a camera and video transmitter so I can drive the bot from indoors.
I use two basic stamps, one in the remote and one in the bot. The turret servo was supposed to use a Propeller servo controller but I learned a few days ago they had been discontinued. Now I'm trying to use another companies controller and the results haven't been great. Mainly because of my own lack of programming skills.
My goal is to change out the BS2 to a Propeller in both the remote and the bot to simplify things. I've gotta do a little more learning before that becomes a reality. :-)
I believe there's something cool about track drive bots so they are my main focus lately.
The bot uses 42mm planetary drive motors enclosed in the front. The bot provides feedback back to my remote using a pair of Xbees. Those red things sticking up in the back are new LifePo batteries and seem to work pretty well so far. The batteries are in series for 24vdc. The pictured displays tell me main battery voltage and voltage going to the BS2 super carrier board.
The motor controllers are 24vdc at 23 amps and work great. The gear ratio of the drive motors provides lots of power and the bot drives through the grass in the back with ease.
I'm currently machining a turret which carries a camera and video transmitter so I can drive the bot from indoors.
I use two basic stamps, one in the remote and one in the bot. The turret servo was supposed to use a Propeller servo controller but I learned a few days ago they had been discontinued. Now I'm trying to use another companies controller and the results haven't been great. Mainly because of my own lack of programming skills.
My goal is to change out the BS2 to a Propeller in both the remote and the bot to simplify things. I've gotta do a little more learning before that becomes a reality. :-)
1024 x 1365 - 135K
1024 x 1365 - 126K
Comments
The inner track plates look almost the same only they have a larger hole to accommodate the larger 42mm motors.
Nicely done! :thumb:
Out of curiosity - I noticed a couple of digital readouts. I'm guessing they are these little DC voltmeters I've seen mentioned in other posts. From where did you buy them, and how much was shipping?
I went to buy a few from Amazon and they wanted toward $20 for shipping...more than the cost of the meters.
You can find the DC voltmeters here:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/LM2596-DC-Adjustable-Step-Down-Power-Supply-Module-LED-Voltmeter-USB-Output-/400583888083?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5d44a90cd3
And here:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/0-36-Digital-DC-3-30V-Car-Voltmeter-Gauge-Voltage-Volt-LED-Panel-Meter-2-Wire-/191008089445?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=490230950653&hash=item2c78f82565
Buy several, they are really useful!
Red 3-wire, 0-100VDC
And $5.88 for the PS here http://www.ebay.com/itm/LM2596-DC-Adjustable-Step-Down-Power-Supply-Module-LED-Voltmeter-USB-Output-/251360980592?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a86482e70
Had to order one. Thanks for the tip, David!
Edit: The buck converter below without DVM is really a buck
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-DC-DC-Buck-Converter-Step-Down-Module-LM2596-Power-Supply-Output-1-23V-30V-T7-/121208203049
http://www.superdroidrobots.com/shop/item.aspx/ig42-24vdc-078-rpm-gear-motor/491/
They are the best motors I've seen so far in a 42mm size. If I had the traction, I believe this bot would climb straight up with no problem. Shafts are .3125 and the planetary gearbox has all metal gears.
An ebay seller had several sets of these motors with different ratios a short time back. I made an offer and bought a bunch.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/LM2596-DC-Power-Supply-Adjustable-Converter-Step-Down-Module-LED-Voltmeter-USB/141082066753
Two interesting facts:
1) The pushbutton switch toggles the DVM to alternate displaying input and output voltages. NICE!
2) The USB connection is NOT 5.0 volts, but whatever the output voltage is set to. DUMB!
I had assumed (yeah, I know, u and me) that this board delivered two output voltages, 5.0 and adjustable. Wrong again!