Ok, This is my first go at it. I will post more pics and some video as well.
Yes I did name him Ziltoid based on a Devin Townsend project. This is the first incarnation of Ziltoid here, I will work on a second one, probably just modify this one with speakers and sound. Ok, I had a little fun with the 2nd video. It does not explain anything, but it was fun to play with. Enjoy!
Ok, I can go over what I used now and costs. But first, thanks to Fritsl for the inspiration
and his how to build your first robot tutorial. Could NOT have done this or want to attempt
to do this without your guidance. The above tracks and chassis are from SUPERDROID
ROBOTS for $15. The chassis is solid and the parts that came with it to put it together
were tooled very well.
The two motors are from SOLARBOTICS, 143:1 ratio , 90 degree for
$11.50. I think next time I would go with a faster ratio, but this worked for a starter bot.
Since I really did not have some of the proper tools for this kind of project, I had to go
and get some basic stuff, like a glue gun, a better soldering iron and an extra pair of
hands/alligator clip circuit board holder. So add in an extra $40 bucks or so for that stuff.
Of course the whole thing is controlled by PIXAXE-28X starter pack with USB programming
cable. This was kind of the big single cost which was a total of about $73 from SPARKFUN.
The only problem I had, was once it came, the software CD was melted and un-usable.
No problem though, just went to the PICAXE web site and got the editor and manuals for free.
Add in L293D -Dual H-Bridge Motor Driver for about $3.50 from SOLARBOTICS. I could
not find the PICAXE servo upgrade kit anywhere that did not cost me an arm and a leg for
shipping, so I just used the 330 ohm resistor and had to do some searching for header
pins to hook up the servo and IR sensor. Found some 1X10 header pin connectors at
IEC for about $0.31 for 10. Problem here is that I bought like 10 sets for about $3.10
and paid over $9.00 for shipping. Lesson learned? Yea, buy whatever you can at the same
site at the same time and save on shipping. Used a Hitec HS-322HD servo from ROBOTICS
CONNECTION for $9.
I used the Sharp GP2D120 IR sensor with the IR sensor cable from ROBOTICS CONNECTION.
Cost for those was $9 for the sensor and $3 for the cable.
Other than the basic design change with tracks instead of wheels, the only other change
made was I added some header pins to the A/B motor outputs and connectors to the wires
from the motors so I could easily add/remove the motors and or board to another project
If I needed to. This was an awesome first time experience and thanks again to Fritsl and
everybody here for there input and knowledge. Hopefully this will help some other beginner
start on his, or her's robot. Now on to Ziltoid II.....INDEED HUMANS!!!!
Navigates and avoids objects
- Actuators / output devices: GM9 143:1 gear motor
- CPU: Picaxe 28x1
- Power source: 4.5V
- Programming language: Basic
- Sensors / input devices: Sharp GP2D120 IR sensor, Hitec HS-322HD servo
- Target environment: indoor
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://community.robotshop.com/robots/show/my-first-robot-ziltoid-the-omniscient
