After several years of temptation, I find I can no longer resist, and am finally ready to build my own robots, instead of simply admiring from a distance. Of course, a couple (of thousand) questions come to mind. I’ve lurked thru this and several other forums for a while now, but haven’t found the answers to the following, so why not ask?
I’m leaning heavily towards a CH3-R as my first project, with maybe an eye towards that incredible A-Pod one day. Here’s the questions: What kind of payload can the CH3-R reasonably lift using both the standard kit servos and optional upgraded 645 servos? Also, I would love to hear some typical battery run times on this bot, realizing I’ll need to know what size battery pack gives what duration. Usage is also key here, I’m not asking for detailed run times, just a general “I can annoy the cat for about XX minutes” kind of thing. Thanks for your advice.
I can not say anything about the stock servos as I ordered mine with the 645s, which may have over 1.5 times as much power. I ordered it with the stronger servos so I could also add lots of other things on to it. For example I thought about adding an arm onto it. This has happened yet as I now have an arm on a rover. Personally I like having the flexibility to change my mind later with what I would like to do.
As for specs, that is real hard to answer as what is acceptable to me may not be acceptable to you. For example some have use some really cheap servos and it was fine if it could get off the ground, where others may not find it acceptable if it shows any sag whatsoever. My guess is with the 645s I could easily hold several pounds. I think I read somewhere that some have put on as much as 5 pounds.
As for run time, I currently have two batteries on mine. I have the 2800mah 6v battery to run the servos and another 1600mah 6v battery to run the Basic Atom Pro and the logic side of the SSC-32. Before I had a 9v for the logics but I had the extra battery… The battery run time has never been an issue with me as I for the most part never run mine from a full charge to a discharged state as a majority of the time I am tinkering with it. So I might run it for a few minutes, then go and tinker with the code.
I am sorry that I could not give you and straight forward answers. Personally I would order them with the best servos you can get, But I don’t think you can go wrong wither way.
Thanks for the reply, Kurte - I’m probably thinking along the same lines you are, that is, maybe an arm, sensor suite, camera, etc. to ride on top of that platform. A payload 5 lbs. max or so should give plenty of capability. The project is still very much a cloud of ideas, and just starting to take shape in my head.
I’m leaning heavily towards the 645 kit upgrade anyways - certainly stronger servos are better, as long as it stays in budget!
I’m also sure that I’ll be in the same boat re run-times…run it a few minutes, tinker with hardware and/or software, run it a few more minutes…Tinker some more…jump back to step one ad infinitum…But I guess that’s the fun of it anyway!
