I find myself more and more out in the non-robot-speaking world telling people that I "build robots". From there, there is a long pause and then me, stuttering through a terrible explanation of what these "robots" actually are. I have tried words like "electronics hobbyist" and "educational robots" and "classroom settings" --I have even tried "hardware developer specializing in the domestic,hobbyist and educational fields". Its usually a tough crowd though.
I was thinking how nice it would be to just have one with me --a robot that is. Nothing too fancy and certainly not too big but one that shows the basic idea of what we do around here. The fairly obvious issue (among many potential issues) is of course the fact that most of our robots (LMR-style) are not exactly ready to be thrown in a backpack or satchel to be carried around.
I am in the brainstorming stage of the game now and am quite overwhelmed with the number of options/issues/designs and features. I do have one or two of the basics out of the way:
Must be a PCB chassis
Will use micro-gear motors and (what are they? 32mm?) wheels
Examples are Here and Here (The second is not a PCB chassis but falls in the same category)
Tiny lipo, charger and booster (maybe usb charge)
From there, there are just too many things to think about... Here is the "storm" from the brain storming:
Outside body --some kinda case, cube or sphere --open by removing a "lid" or maybe some kinda clam-shell design
Some kinda full-on transformer set-up. I.e. distance sensor flips up and out like a retractable camera flash
Overall size of maybe around 10cm*10cm*10cm
Case must be dust-proof (or at least dog-hair proof and little-crumbs-of-tobaccoo proof)
Case is going to get some light banging around in a back pack
Maybe skip the backpack and instead make a "lunchbox" or "purse" with a handle on top
Sensors?
Must be sorta sealed when "backpacked" but maybe with the ability to show off its guts
It would be AMAZING if I could make this look "store-bought" enough to get it past security at the airport
Now, what will it do? How does one "show off a robot" or what is the best way to show what robots "can do" --you also gotta throw some personality in here as well. The intent is to impress someone and/or spark an interest and cause the person to want to know more. We should also think about where I might be most likely to set this guy down to run. --Floor? Desk? More brainstorming:
I would think that a desk-bot with edge/ledge detection would be the most likely to be usable anywhere.
if it is a desk bot, maybe a circle? Wheels closer to the center with a ring of IR sensors along the rim?
Linefollow/ maze <-- I have no problem carrying a roll of elec. tape with me to make a quick track on a tile floor.
Object avoid. <--MUST do this. Most people, I think, have "gee-whiz" moments seeing something go by itself
Audio and speaker <-- this goes back to chassis and size.
Some kinda "person follow" <-Dagu Mr. General style-sensor or maybe a wii-camera (just the camera) and an IR pen
Games of some kind?
Would like this to talk to my phone, but don't know if I can afford the space to add the BT unit
Some kinda display? I am partial to the fancy uLCD units I have been using --Maybe the little 1" guy on the steam-punk bot
I could keep going --I got a million ideas and questions.
I think I have said enough --I will officially open the thread to anything you got. I would most like to see overall designs of the chassis and body. Napkin sketches, google sketch-up, etc. Just start throwing out ideas, guys.
I should add that I have no problem with just a robot in a case. --The protective “case” for the robot does not actually have to be the body of the robot. --It just might be cool that way.
I am thinking something similar to this. If you plan well, I would think you could break it down into the control board w/ sensor/s, servo pack, and battery. I am not sure how TSA would view it, but, servos, a battery pack, and a small circuit board with a dozen or so components don’t seem too threatening to me.
3pi? I will first say that I have always liked that set-up and the 3pi specifically, I am more than happy to steal ideas there but A) I think I can do better and B) I don’t speak PIC! --I should though… Hmmmmm…
This is EXACTLY what I am looking for --Well, not exactly… but this is the kind of idea I want to start playing with. Something that is different, surprising, impressive --I want someone to say, "wow, that’s cool --I got this kid that plays video games all day… Can you teach him how to build stuff like this?’ Yeah, I like this one.
Again, I am not really giving a yea or nay on the 3-leg/beer can design --but in terms of unique? Awesome.
I guess you need something like Wall-e… That pops out and amazes people. Round like a can or square like Wall-e, perhaps something in beween? Hmm, you’re more creative than me, I’m curious what you’re gonna come up with.
I can not get the idea of something retractable out of my head… I don’t know about starting with a box and having 4 limbs come out, but popping a sonar out? --Kinda like that…
I am starting to lean toward a upside-down cake pan, like a 3pi but in a corresponding case. The sonar could easily pop up from the center and rotate, you could do outside edge sensors for ledge detection… Another (more shallow) cake pan could pop over the wheels for transport --Like 2 frisbee’s together. Hmmm… In my head it is made of plexi. The top and bottom discs would be easy (with or without a laser) but man, trying to bend the outside ring into a perfect circle? And with parallel edges? That may be a bit tough.
Keeping with the 10cm*10cm idea (which keeps the PCB cost WAY down) and then leaning more to the cylinder camp, I have successfully googled “4 inch clear PVC”. They make it, but it is wicked expensive --around $300 for a 10’ section. Hooray! There are potato-gun nerds out there! From what I am led to believe, night time potato shooting is not only an activity, but the people who do it have suppliers!
It should be a peice of cake to adhere a flat peice of plexi on one end and then use a flush-cut router bit to trim it exact. Put the equavilent to a 3pi (but better) inside with a double-decker arangement and boom. In terms of a case, I can simply buy a 4" pvc cap (does not have to be clear) which will slip on exactly and cover the exposed wheels. --I looked up clear endcaps thinking that I could skip gluing the flat peice on the top of the tube. They were cool, all “dome-y” at the top and slick, but at $120, not so much.
Now I just gotta figure out how to make it cool. Everything internal and/or pop-out and I gotta figure out what to do with the main distance sensor. --Speaking of which, has anyone tried to shoot a sharp through a curved window?
i am currently working on a small wall-e figure, making it into a line follower, and there is an amazing amount of space inside the cubical body. also he has rather big feet, which work well to obscure the motors i put in.
i imagine a larger wall-e toy would give you lots of room to work with, and having it look good like that will make allot of difference impression non technical people. i have noticed that allot of people just seem to tune out when they see a regular naked style robot, and fail to be impressed no matter how smart it behaves.
as you can see there is allot of room in just this little 1"x1"x1" cube. there is even room left over in the feet for edge sensors (but no room for a brain large enuff to use them obviously)
there are lots of wall-e toys, and i bet there is one out there that is just perfect for what you want to do...
I should kill you right now. You managed to infect me with your desease! All I think now is how to make a pop out robot… I had dreams of it las night… Kind of like a Decepticon robot with arms, legs, LED eyes… Man, that was a thing to see…
So yes, I am doomed… Gotta build one now or I will have bad dreams for months! Doh…
Wait, we should make it a challenge, who builds the coolest pop out robot…
Would a PIR Sensor work for following someone… Considering how it works… you could probably program it to find that movement… pinpoint it, and move to it.
Hard to believe but I think I am going wiidar on this one. I did some playing with some brass tube and some round PCB spacers and I have made a pretty good sliding joint. A simple disc would sit on top and slide up and rotate. Just under that disc would be the laser and wiicamera. It would be a very simple mechanism, would raise and lower easily and would seal well with the case when closed. In terms of the wiidar system, I think it would give me the most bang for the buck --First off, lasers are cool. People like lasers (and they like to do the finger quotes and say, “laaayy-seeerr”). Next, any real problem with wiidar “systems” is solved by the fact that this robot is so small. I don’t need 3 meters range, just a couple feet. I don’t need a burn-your-eyes-out laser either. Finally, I now have something that can track and follow IR light beacons. This gives me docking, follow the leader, hide and go seek, and human tracking (if that human is holding the IR “pen”). That is a LOT of bang right there…
Think of a tuna can upside down on top of a larger tuna can. The smaller can slides up, rotates and fires its laser and retracts. Not to mention, the whole deal is sliding up and down on the pcb spacers --the same spacers that need to be there anyway.
Arrrgh! can’t get a WiiMote a.t.m. I’ll just use regular IR sensors for now, perhaps through in a US sensor. So far my robot will have about 10 servos, including the cont. rotation for driving. No legs I’m afraid. I demonstrate the Search and Rescue challenge with this robot, if I can finish it in time. Popping wheels, arms, head, oh my! So many things to do!
