Converting a Power Wheel Toy into an Inexpensive Robotic Platform?
latigerlilly
Posts: 114
Hi guys,
I am building a large moving robot for a physically challenged friend. I have 3 options for a mobile platform;
1. Design it myself and have a machine shop build it. Very expensive. I was quoted $25,000 by a local machine shop.
2. Buy a kit: www.battlekits.com/ . Between $1,000 and $2,000. Still expensive.
3. Jerry rig something cheaply that will probably fall apart.
4. Adapt a Power Wheel toy for under $300 as a mobile robotics platform.
www.fisher-price.com/us/powerwheels/
This last possibility is intriguing. You know it's rugged because little tikes love to torture equipment with boneheaded moves and stunts. It is run by 2 x 170 watt motors.
170 watt x 0.00134 HP/watt = 0.22 HP
2 x 0.22 HP = 0.44 total HP.
It also has a 130 lb maximum weight limit.
It is only 12 VDC which means that it is compatible with the Parallax HB-25 controller.
Plus, it is affordable!
Anybody has any experience with converting a Power Wheel into a big, heavy robot?
Thanks,
Lilly.
Post Edited (latigerlilly) : 1/28/2007 5:45:10 AM GMT
I am building a large moving robot for a physically challenged friend. I have 3 options for a mobile platform;
1. Design it myself and have a machine shop build it. Very expensive. I was quoted $25,000 by a local machine shop.
2. Buy a kit: www.battlekits.com/ . Between $1,000 and $2,000. Still expensive.
3. Jerry rig something cheaply that will probably fall apart.
4. Adapt a Power Wheel toy for under $300 as a mobile robotics platform.
www.fisher-price.com/us/powerwheels/
This last possibility is intriguing. You know it's rugged because little tikes love to torture equipment with boneheaded moves and stunts. It is run by 2 x 170 watt motors.
170 watt x 0.00134 HP/watt = 0.22 HP
2 x 0.22 HP = 0.44 total HP.
It also has a 130 lb maximum weight limit.
It is only 12 VDC which means that it is compatible with the Parallax HB-25 controller.
Plus, it is affordable!
Anybody has any experience with converting a Power Wheel into a big, heavy robot?
Thanks,
Lilly.
Post Edited (latigerlilly) : 1/28/2007 5:45:10 AM GMT
Comments
One more thing the next mobial platform I plan to build is with an old riding lawn mower I have. That way I dont have to wait on battery charges...