I've always has an interest in robotics and suchlike, however never really committed to taking that interest forward; coding and suchlike are my favourite parts but i am inept when it comes to the hardware side.
I keep going through phases where i plan to learn, to do... but never do.
Recently i actually started a project, however - to take a Wall-e toy, rip out the innards, give it a few motors and servos and add an Arduino (with motor shield and bluetooth Module) to keep it together.
This project would serve two purposes; it would serve nicely as a test platform for me to develop my arduino coding, adding more to it on an evening when everyone is asleep and i have the house to myself, and it would entertain my awesome little boy during the day.
That project is coming to a close - I've had to call in a favour or two to help with the adding of hardware and suchlike, however it is almost done and I have some simple code ready to put on allowing for controlling via Bluetooth.
Now i am looking to do a bigger, better project - I can see it in my head, and will try my best to convey that image using words :-)
The robot would be a wedge-design, controlled by two beefy motors, and have tracks for movement.
These motors, along with an array of sensors other peripherals would be controlled by an Arduino.
The whole Robot would be controlled via a Rasbperry Pi, configured to connect to the nearest wifi it could find and serve up a web page containing all the controls, a webcam stream etc. The Pi would communicate with the Arduino via USB serial (not to familiar with I2C yet, but could be used).
A beefy battery would power the Pi, Arduino and a USB hub in some form of configuration.
The internals of the robot would be all mounted along the back and side of the robot in an 'L' shape, leaving an empty space on the body; this would operate like a docking bay area, allowing the mounting of 3 'pod'-like parts. The 'bay' would have a USB port (from the hub connected to the pi), and some pins broken out from the Arduino (maybe 5v, GND and 2 serial/data pins) allowing for an array of different pods to be connected, by simply clipping into place.
For Example, one pod could contain a small projector, mounted on a Servo; the pins connected to the Arduino would allow for angling the projector, while the USB would allow for providing media.
One pod could be an extra battery pack (a specific connection in one of the bays may be required for this)
One pod could be just a phone dock/speaker system,USB providing 5v to charge the phone while the arduino pins provide power and on/off functionality to the speakers.
One could contain a robotic arm, with a servo controller connected via the arduino pins (no need for USB yet).
Double or even treble sized pods could be made too.
The pods would somehow need to be recognised when plugged in and the web-based interface would display the relevant controls for it.
Anyway, if even possible, once up and running and with the right pods created and attached, the robot could be used for all kinds of functions.
As it stands this is all beyond my realm of capability, but i am willing to learn.
I am going to try replicating some other projects (such as @TinHead's wonderful TTBN Alpha) which contains aspects of what my project will, and eventually piece it all together!
Thanks for reading my ramble!
