I know of 5 local rs's around me....I know of 1 that had the kits(where I bought mine)...time to make a few calls and get my newphew a boebot kit... [noparse]:)[/noparse]
Thanks for the heads-up, I went to the local RS and picked up LOTS of VEX stuff. Mostly for curiosity, partially because they ARE 'true' radio controlled, and because so many have mentioned how nice the hardware is for kit-bashing.
I think 1/2 of what they WERE charging would have been "the right price". As it was, a useable, programmable, autonomous robot, with an RF control, two motors, an extra servo or two, some chain drives, an extra gear or three -- EVENTUALLY, once you worked out all the 'extra' parts you needed (like the PROGRAMMING KIT, $100, sheesh) -- would be around $1,000. All this for a $300 base-kit robot.
I agree. At the current price, the Vex stuff is really hard to pass up. I personally cleaned out 4 of the Shacks around me of all the accessories and couldn't resist yesterday and bought another starter kit (now have 3 of them).· The Controller and Transmitter and Receiver are worth·at least the $150, so the rest of the stuff in the kit is gravy. And, an SRF-04 for $15.00 ain't bad, either.
If RS kept the stuff at this price, they might sell a bunch. But how can they afford to sell the SRF-04's for 15 bucks?
What would be great is if Parallax sold Robot controllers like the Vex. I'd certainly buy them.
You may want to spend another $50 for the full version of Easy C. If you did buy·a Sonar, you'll need to download the sample code at VexLabs:
I went to the local RS and yeah, they had 3 boe's(2 now) for 99, plus all components for the vex kit...I was tempted but I didn't think it was worth the expense for the vex stuff...
I did however grab one of the sonar kits...srf4?
So out of curiosity, are the srf4's always so skitish with readings....the numbers seemed to fluctuate quite a bit and the readins were imo semi accuate....this is of course compared to the ping sonar(though it was a while back and with a jav mp.).
I was trying this srf4 with a bs2 and the code from vol2 or 3 of the nuts and volts article...
Are you using RCTIME or PULSIN to take the readings?
With BS2's, I have to use RCTIME.
I believe all of the code has been updated so that the correct function is called, depending upon the Stamp in use, but I still see old code that uses PULSIN.
I'm using the pulsin. I pulled this from the code in one of the early nutz and volts articles to do a quick test of the sonar after taking it apart and inspecting it. [noparse]:)[/noparse]
Do you have a link to the new code?
Also is there another schematic that I need to use to set up the sonar....
Btw, has anyone tried using the tank treads from the vex on our faithful boes?
I was considering getting the 2 vex motors, the metal parts kit and tank treads since they're cheap and would be useful to expand the small platform that the boe is...
Attached are the Docs and example code for the SRF-04.
I haven't used the Vex treads on the BOE-Bot yet. You'll need to create a bracket for it. I'm in the process of gluing O'Ring stock to the plastic treads because we have ceramic tile floors and the plastic is too slippery.
Will the VEX Transmitter and Reveiver work with the BOE-Bot??
Not out of the box.
The Receiver is designed to interface with the Vex Controller. I haven't taken one apart yet to see what's inside and the First people are real closed lip about the design, but the receiver could probably be deciphered to see what it puts out.
Oddly enough, I checked out my local RS yesterday for a Boe on sale. After some explanation of what I was looking for, one older guy said "Oh yeah, they're in the front case". They had one, priced at $229.99! I said I though it was on sale, and the clerk plugged it into the system, and he said "it was marked down to $150." I said I had heard $99, and the older guy, maybe the owner, said that they were not a "corporate store", (so I assume a franchise operation.) He said "The corporate stores can afford to go bankrupt, but I can't".
The other half of the store is all music....
Jim
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In the end, it seems that it's all about getting the LEDs to blink....
I (and my 8-year old son) built the VEX bot on Saturday. I was pleasantly suprised by the thickness of the steel they use, it's not nearly as flimsy as I feared. The RF system is quite nice, with a small yellow module with the antenna wire, which plugs into the processor box with a 4-conductor small-phone cord (the handset size). This does mean that it is NOT a general purpose remote (which I assume would put out a servo-control-signal looking signal).
The processor board itself uses 2 18F8450 PIC processors -- a "User" processor and a "Master" processor. Most of the out-of-the-box control is established by plugging the 3-conductor "motor" leads, and sensor leads, into a small, keyed, terminal block. The unit is pre-programmed (as is the RF transmitter) for a few basic control strategies -- motors put back-to-back, driving wheels on opposite sides of the robot being the basic configuration.
I'm still musing over how little documentation there is, compared to Parallax or even the Mindstorms set. How to adapt this stuff to BOE-Bot use is also in the queue.
Having worked with RadioShack extensively, I believe that your statement about 7s and 9s is not correct. In fact, something is wrong with the example you provided based on my knowledge of these examples.
By the way, if you want cheap Boe-Bots just watch pbasic1 on eBay - we'll be posting 50 Boe-Bots next week (from RadioShack returns, of course!). This is where you get a real deal! Our tech support guy Dave even goes through them to check for completeness.
I am still dumbfounded about how RadioShack seems to have gone about this in the wrong way.
Defeat taken from the 'Jaws of Victory'.
First they took on the BOE-bot as an entry [noparse][[/noparse]with available educational and customer support] and before they established any credible position in the market and the user's mind, they decided they could do it better with a PIC-based system in-house.
While the new system has a lot of attractive and glitzy hardware, they seemed to expect people to intuitively know how to use a very complex set of devices.
Is it so important to have your own Brand name on a product?
And now, rather than work through their errors they just want to cut and run.
This will become an MBA case study somewhere.
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"When all think alike, no one is thinking very much.' - Walter Lippmann (1889-1974)
······································································ Warm regards,····· G. Herzog [noparse][[/noparse]·黃鶴 ]·in Taiwan
The "if the price ends in a 7, the item is discontinued" statement came from a Radio Shack manager to a customer.
Look at the Outlet section on their Web Site. Nearly all the stuff listed has a price that ends with a 7. The BOE-Bot is discontinued and it ends in a 7.
Maybe it's just urban legend stuff, but it makes sense when you look at the stuff where the price ends in a 7.
The problem with eBay is that people get into a bidding frenzy and often times the price ends up being way more than the item is worth (or should sell for). I keep waiting for you guys to put up some Buy it Now stuff so I can just buy it and be done with it.
Kramer said...
I am still dumbfounded about how RadioShack seems to have gone about this in the wrong way.
Defeat taken from the 'Jaws of Victory'.
First they took on the BOE-bot as an entry [noparse][[/noparse]with available educational and customer support] and before they established any credible position in the market and the user's mind, they decided they could do it better with a PIC-based system in-house.
While the new system has a lot of attractive and glitzy hardware, they seemed to expect people to intuitively know how to use a very complex set of devices.
Is it so important to have your own Brand name on a product?
And now, rather than work through their errors they just want to cut and run.
This will become an MBA case study somewhere.
Actually, the Vex robotics system was a partnership between Radio Shack and the First Robotics Competition. The kit itself was all ready created by Innovation First. That's why it's much more complicated. It was designed to be a stepping stone for designing robots on a large scale. Also, the kit did use to use Basic Stamps but they eventually encountered growing pains and basically had to switch microcontrollers. People oddly enough where doing some pretty neat things that involved that basically pushed the boundaries of the Stamp.
Post Edited (Adam Yakaboski) : 3/30/2006 12:30:18 AM GMT
Limits of the basic stamp compared to the Vex???· I dont think so.
I am currently building a robot that is almost 2 feet high.· It talks, looks around, walks around,· hears, measures distance, displays the time and temperature, has half a dozen IR transmitter detector pairs.· It uses two motor controllers, runs on four traks, and will eventually have a 5 axis arm.·· It runs on a basic stamp.
Limits?
I knew absolutely nothing when I started this at the beginning of this year. NOTHING.· Not even what a resistor was...
With the support I've·gotten here, I have yet to decide to try something I have not succeeded at.
dechief michel asked about robotic kits available in Europe. A kit of parts that has·little robotic support yet is from Valiant Technology in the UK (http://www.valiant-technology.com/seccat/inventa1.htm). They make the Inventa system which is wooden sticks, plastic rods, gears, plates, joiners, etc. The set is made for young students to be able to prototype ideas for machines using kit parts and found materials.
You could add BASIC Stamps and servos and make some very interesting projects.
I like the emphasis on adding found materials. I think it encourages thinking about what is available to solve a problem rather than just looking for what pre-made piece to use.
It is also relatively inexpensive.
Inventa is also available in the US. but the UK website has more information.
IT IS TRUE!! IT IS HAPPENNING!!
All three of the Radio Shacks near me have dropped their VEX bots, all their boe-bots, only one has perf boards, solderless and circuit boards and one has even taken down that neat little bunch of cabinets that contain all your circuit parts!!
NOOOOO!!
For small project without microchips, like BEAM robots, I relied heavily on RS. But now...
-A.C. fishing
Post Edited (A.C. fishing) : 3/30/2006 10:07:53 PM GMT
Hello Harry, I thank you much for information. I will control immediately. They is very sympathetic of your share .
For the friends who seeks mechanical components, I think that products LEGO should not be forgotten .
Thanks again and best redards from Belgium,
Michel
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Regards from Belgium,
Michel Dechief.
Engineer and professor at university off Brussel(artificial intelligency)
The problem with eBay is that people get into a bidding frenzy and often times the price ends up being way more than the item is worth (or should sell for). I keep waiting for you guys to put up some Buy it Now stuff so I can just buy it and be done with it.
Kenny
Fortunately they placed all the BOE-Bots in a group lot, meaning you wont see the fast rise in bid price as you do with individual items, although one person may be willing to pay full price, it doesn't matter because the current bid price is what the stingiest of all 50 bidders is willing to pay.
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Current Muppet Terror Level:
allanlane5 said...
"Within RadioShack, VEX is "their" robot so there is little need for a Boe-Bot."
But, but, but -- the BOE-Bot is SO much better! It's programmable right out of the box (none of this extra $100 for the "programming module"), the original kit costs less ($179 versus $300), the result looks better (a small box with wheels, instead of a cheap erector-set), the company support is much better...
I was surprised, to see the prices dropped so drasticly too! So, I admit it, I took the plunge, and, bought...
The starter kit. (at $149.99)
The Programming module ($50.00)
Gear Set ($6.99)
a 2nd Servo ($9.99)
At 1st, I was skeptical, but I wanted to see if I could do a few odd projects. (GPS seeker, etc.)
1st problem.. Following the plans for the squarebot, I found MISSING steps!
the completion, ends with all 4 wheels left LOOSE. (needing 4 shaft collars to secure them)
2nd problem.... the gear-train is sloppy! IF you follow the instructions to the letter, the drive
gear from the motors are allowed to slide. enough so, that the wheel gears and the the drive
gear come un-meshed. (or worse, less than 1/2 meshed.. resulting in un-even wear. NO mention
of using the plastic spacers to keep them in place. Even worse, the drive gear was allowed to
slide right out of the motor clutch. Again, needed the spacer to keep it in place.
3rd problem.. Unprotected drive train. Folks, this was strictly a Clean Zone type robot.
DO-NOT, I repeat, DO-NOT run this robot on the front lawn! result, grass caught between
the gears, causing jamming. What a Mess!!
Not daunted, I am planning on making some minor improvements.. The Easy-C looks relatively
simple, but in the long run, I may end-up scrapping the controller, and putting a Homework
board in its place, but still needing to find the output from the Radio Control reciever..
Mainly, let the robot run autonymous, but, should everything hit the fan, take-over control
from remote, get out of harms way, then return to autonymous operation.
Presently, everything is sitting on the bench, picking grass clippings out of the drive train,
planning on extending the drive train a few more gears, and putting the larger tires on
(give it more ground clearance, and putting some kind of sheild over the gears to protect
them.) , as well as putting the small wheels out on outriggers front & back, to give it
some guidance over hills and dips.
For the price I've paid so-far, it still seems like a major waste of money for so little product.
Even at 1/2 price! And I support FRC! (go Team 1124!)
But, the BOE still is a better buy. Even at $149.99 (yes, same as the VeX starter kit!)
It still irks me, having bought two TAB SumoBOT kits from CompUSA 2 years ago
for $29.95 each, and seeing the exact same kit being sold at Borders Books at present,
for $99.95..
Present project idea.. Anyone ever hear of Geocaching?
Feed the robot a set of co-ordinates, and read the output from a Garmin ETrex, and locate
the location. but, as said, if it gets in over its head (up against a rock, heading towards water ) rescue it re-position it, then let it go back to seeking.
Hello!
A word about the RS stores in the Astoria/Queens, and some NYC areas. And the ones in Forest Hills.
It happens all of the ones I visit routinely are fully stocked and reasonably well maintained on stock. However their website is crummy. Now they may want to be getting out of the Basic Stamp or BOE Robot business because of the percieved Vex kit successes, but this is something that will catch up with them later. By fully stocked, I mean all of their parts drawers are stuffed, some have overflow in a closet area. Now those near you all who are like how you all described may be having problems, that did happen in Forest Hills, there is now·a new one there, that is very busy.
I got my BOE-Bot last night at the RS down the road from my apartment. I had to ask them because online it said they had them, but I couldn't find them in the store. They pulled one out of the back. I doubt I will get into until later this summer. I already purchased a homework board/kit. Once I understand all the concepts in "What is a Microcontroller?" then I will move on to the BOE Bot. Any it should keep me busy for months.
Comments
I think 1/2 of what they WERE charging would have been "the right price". As it was, a useable, programmable, autonomous robot, with an RF control, two motors, an extra servo or two, some chain drives, an extra gear or three -- EVENTUALLY, once you worked out all the 'extra' parts you needed (like the PROGRAMMING KIT, $100, sheesh) -- would be around $1,000. All this for a $300 base-kit robot.
Nice set. Wrong price.
I agree. At the current price, the Vex stuff is really hard to pass up. I personally cleaned out 4 of the Shacks around me of all the accessories and couldn't resist yesterday and bought another starter kit (now have 3 of them).· The Controller and Transmitter and Receiver are worth·at least the $150, so the rest of the stuff in the kit is gravy. And, an SRF-04 for $15.00 ain't bad, either.
If RS kept the stuff at this price, they might sell a bunch. But how can they afford to sell the SRF-04's for 15 bucks?
What would be great is if Parallax sold Robot controllers like the Vex. I'd certainly buy them.
You may want to spend another $50 for the full version of Easy C. If you did buy·a Sonar, you'll need to download the sample code at VexLabs:
http://www.vexlabs.com/vex-robotics-downloads.shtml
the Sensor Test code.
Kind of silly that the starter kit comes with 3 motors.
Kenny
I did however grab one of the sonar kits...srf4?
So out of curiosity, are the srf4's always so skitish with readings....the numbers seemed to fluctuate quite a bit and the readins were imo semi accuate....this is of course compared to the ping sonar(though it was a while back and with a jav mp.).
I was trying this srf4 with a bs2 and the code from vol2 or 3 of the nuts and volts article...
-Mark
Are you using RCTIME or PULSIN to take the readings?
With BS2's, I have to use RCTIME.
I believe all of the code has been updated so that the correct function is called, depending upon the Stamp in use, but I still see old code that uses PULSIN.
I usually take 5 readings and then average them.
Kenny
I'm using the pulsin. I pulled this from the code in one of the early nutz and volts articles to do a quick test of the sonar after taking it apart and inspecting it. [noparse]:)[/noparse]
Do you have a link to the new code?
Also is there another schematic that I need to use to set up the sonar....
Btw, has anyone tried using the tank treads from the vex on our faithful boes?
I was considering getting the 2 vex motors, the metal parts kit and tank treads since they're cheap and would be useful to expand the small platform that the boe is...
Thanks for any info.
Mark
I haven't used the Vex treads on the BOE-Bot yet. You'll need to create a bracket for it. I'm in the process of gluing O'Ring stock to the plastic treads because we have ceramic tile floors and the plastic is too slippery.
Kenny
Will the VEX Transmitter and Reveiver work with the BOE-Bot??
Not out of the box.
The Receiver is designed to interface with the Vex Controller. I haven't taken one apart yet to see what's inside and the First people are real closed lip about the design, but the receiver could probably be deciphered to see what it puts out.
Kenny
·
If a price ends in a 7, ie, $99.97 like what the BOE-Bot is selling for, then that means the item is discontinued and will no longer be stocked.
The Vex prices all end in a 9.
So, when you go shopping at Radio Shack, you'll now know·when they try to pawn off discontinued merchandise.
Kenny
The other half of the store is all music....
Jim
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In the end, it seems that it's all about getting the LEDs to blink....
The processor board itself uses 2 18F8450 PIC processors -- a "User" processor and a "Master" processor. Most of the out-of-the-box control is established by plugging the 3-conductor "motor" leads, and sensor leads, into a small, keyed, terminal block. The unit is pre-programmed (as is the RF transmitter) for a few basic control strategies -- motors put back-to-back, driving wheels on opposite sides of the robot being the basic configuration.
I'm still musing over how little documentation there is, compared to Parallax or even the Mindstorms set. How to adapt this stuff to BOE-Bot use is also in the queue.
-Joe
Having worked with RadioShack extensively, I believe that your statement about 7s and 9s is not correct. In fact, something is wrong with the example you provided based on my knowledge of these examples.
By the way, if you want cheap Boe-Bots just watch pbasic1 on eBay - we'll be posting 50 Boe-Bots next week (from RadioShack returns, of course!). This is where you get a real deal! Our tech support guy Dave even goes through them to check for completeness.
Ken Gracey
Parallax, Inc.
Defeat taken from the 'Jaws of Victory'.
First they took on the BOE-bot as an entry [noparse][[/noparse]with available educational and customer support] and before they established any credible position in the market and the user's mind, they decided they could do it better with a PIC-based system in-house.
While the new system has a lot of attractive and glitzy hardware, they seemed to expect people to intuitively know how to use a very complex set of devices.
Is it so important to have your own Brand name on a product?
And now, rather than work through their errors they just want to cut and run.
This will become an MBA case study somewhere.
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
"When all think alike, no one is thinking very much.' - Walter Lippmann (1889-1974)
······································································ Warm regards,····· G. Herzog [noparse][[/noparse]·黃鶴 ]·in Taiwan
The "if the price ends in a 7, the item is discontinued" statement came from a Radio Shack manager to a customer.
Look at the Outlet section on their Web Site. Nearly all the stuff listed has a price that ends with a 7. The BOE-Bot is discontinued and it ends in a 7.
Maybe it's just urban legend stuff, but it makes sense when you look at the stuff where the price ends in a 7.
The problem with eBay is that people get into a bidding frenzy and often times the price ends up being way more than the item is worth (or should sell for). I keep waiting for you guys to put up some Buy it Now stuff so I can just buy it and be done with it.
Kenny
if you are going to post ablut 50 boe-bots, then how much each.i wanta bunch.i can find them
Post Edited (Adam Yakaboski) : 3/30/2006 12:30:18 AM GMT
I am currently building a robot that is almost 2 feet high.· It talks, looks around, walks around,· hears, measures distance, displays the time and temperature, has half a dozen IR transmitter detector pairs.· It uses two motor controllers, runs on four traks, and will eventually have a 5 axis arm.·· It runs on a basic stamp.
Limits?
I knew absolutely nothing when I started this at the beginning of this year. NOTHING.· Not even what a resistor was...
With the support I've·gotten here, I have yet to decide to try something I have not succeeded at.
Limits?
You could add BASIC Stamps and servos and make some very interesting projects.
I like the emphasis on adding found materials. I think it encourages thinking about what is available to solve a problem rather than just looking for what pre-made piece to use.
It is also relatively inexpensive.
Inventa is also available in the US. but the UK website has more information.
Harry
All three of the Radio Shacks near me have dropped their VEX bots, all their boe-bots, only one has perf boards, solderless and circuit boards and one has even taken down that neat little bunch of cabinets that contain all your circuit parts!!
NOOOOO!!
For small project without microchips, like BEAM robots, I relied heavily on RS. But now...
-A.C. fishing
Post Edited (A.C. fishing) : 3/30/2006 10:07:53 PM GMT
For the friends who seeks mechanical components, I think that products LEGO should not be forgotten .
Thanks again and best redards from Belgium,
Michel
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Regards from Belgium,
Michel Dechief.
Engineer and professor at university off Brussel(artificial intelligency)
i seams that that rs is going out of buness.
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Current Muppet Terror Level:
·· ·
I was surprised, to see the prices dropped so drasticly too! So, I admit it, I took the plunge, and, bought...
The starter kit. (at $149.99)
The Programming module ($50.00)
Gear Set ($6.99)
a 2nd Servo ($9.99)
At 1st, I was skeptical, but I wanted to see if I could do a few odd projects. (GPS seeker, etc.)
1st problem.. Following the plans for the squarebot, I found MISSING steps!
the completion, ends with all 4 wheels left LOOSE. (needing 4 shaft collars to secure them)
2nd problem.... the gear-train is sloppy! IF you follow the instructions to the letter, the drive
gear from the motors are allowed to slide. enough so, that the wheel gears and the the drive
gear come un-meshed. (or worse, less than 1/2 meshed.. resulting in un-even wear. NO mention
of using the plastic spacers to keep them in place. Even worse, the drive gear was allowed to
slide right out of the motor clutch. Again, needed the spacer to keep it in place.
3rd problem.. Unprotected drive train. Folks, this was strictly a Clean Zone type robot.
DO-NOT, I repeat, DO-NOT run this robot on the front lawn! result, grass caught between
the gears, causing jamming. What a Mess!!
Not daunted, I am planning on making some minor improvements.. The Easy-C looks relatively
simple, but in the long run, I may end-up scrapping the controller, and putting a Homework
board in its place, but still needing to find the output from the Radio Control reciever..
Mainly, let the robot run autonymous, but, should everything hit the fan, take-over control
from remote, get out of harms way, then return to autonymous operation.
Presently, everything is sitting on the bench, picking grass clippings out of the drive train,
planning on extending the drive train a few more gears, and putting the larger tires on
(give it more ground clearance, and putting some kind of sheild over the gears to protect
them.)
some guidance over hills and dips.
For the price I've paid so-far, it still seems like a major waste of money for so little product.
Even at 1/2 price! And I support FRC! (go Team 1124!)
But, the BOE still is a better buy. Even at $149.99 (yes, same as the VeX starter kit!)
It still irks me, having bought two TAB SumoBOT kits from CompUSA 2 years ago
for $29.95 each, and seeing the exact same kit being sold at Borders Books at present,
for $99.95..
Present project idea.. Anyone ever hear of Geocaching?
Feed the robot a set of co-ordinates, and read the output from a Garmin ETrex, and locate
the location. but, as said, if it gets in over its head (up against a rock, heading towards water
Stephen
A word about the RS stores in the Astoria/Queens, and some NYC areas. And the ones in Forest Hills.
It happens all of the ones I visit routinely are fully stocked and reasonably well maintained on stock. However their website is crummy. Now they may want to be getting out of the Basic Stamp or BOE Robot business because of the percieved Vex kit successes, but this is something that will catch up with them later. By fully stocked, I mean all of their parts drawers are stuffed, some have overflow in a closet area. Now those near you all who are like how you all described may be having problems, that did happen in Forest Hills, there is now·a new one there, that is very busy.
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Buck Rogers
www.gregg.levine.name
-- Jeremy