BlueFarAway

Let's Make Robots Robots
1

Hi, BlueFarAway is my first attempt of building a robot. It´s like a playground where I can experiment. I got an Arduino for another purpose and wondered how far could I go by using recycled parts, and that became the main objective of this robot. Build it as cheap as possible by using recycled things.

So BlueFarAway has 2 geared motors and wheels borrowed from toys, a chassis made of a CD case box, a ball caster made with mini skate wheels, battery holders from other toys and a dual H-Bridge made of old electronic components. Even the rechargeable batteries are old!!

Even though it works and it´s pretty fast (faster than I´d like her to be). I´m building (and struggling with) line sensors with old TIL 99 phototransistors and “who knows” photodiodes. But´s part of the fun J. If testing succeeds I´ll be adding homemade IR sensors for obstacles so it becomes autonomous.

Here are some Photos:

Buttom View

Buttom View

If you happen to be an ant, this would be yours perpective:

Ants View

Kind regards,

Rodrigo.

 

  • Actuators / output devices: 2 geared motors
  • Control method: non-autonomous so far
  • CPU: Arduino Duemilanove (328)
  • Power source: 7.2V NiMH for Logic & 4.5V for motors
  • Sensors / input devices: home made sensor WIP
  • Target environment: indoor
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://community.robotshop.com/robots/show/bluefaraway
2

Very cool and speedy little

Very cool and speedy little bot! I like that you made use of so many recycled things, and that you are making your own sensors.

Good luck!

3

your H-Bridge

Nice begining platform, any chance you can post your schematic for the dual H-Bridge?

 

I appreciate your time.

4

Sure, here it goes

As you can see I haven´t fully embraced CAD :slight_smile:

DirL and Dir R are complementary. I use a transistor to ensure they don´t get the same value at any time (what means a PWM shortcut between Vmm and ground…)

Dual_H_Bridge_-_Small.jpg

Hope it helps