Can someone recommend robot platform (either 2 wheels and caster(s)) or 4/6 wheels capable of moving 100lbs of payload on a plaform attached to the wheels/motor controlled by a motor controller attached to a linux sbc. Either recommend motors seperately that I can attach to a metal chasis or something already made. Thanks.
Most of our suppliers provide smaller platforms, though we do offer several which can support ~100 pounds and more:
robotshop.com/en/4wd-meccanu … t-kit.html
Others can be found here:
robotshop.com/en/andymark-en … rder=price
Most of these include a controller which can communicate with an SBC (verify the specs to be certain).
If you can provide us with more information about the application we may be able to narrow the list.
Those are rather expensive, looks like my total cost for my project just for the platform. I just need it to support a solar panel and deep cycle battery, that’s why I estimated 100lbs, might be less.
What type of terrain / environment? What is the actual application?
A typical residential backyard as a terrain, mainly made of grass, earth and rocks/cement. The application is to replicate the mars opportunity rover without all the fancy equipment but as many sensors and telemetry as possible, for an indoor remote control station to view from cameras and analyze its environment. Onboard cellular modem for communications for audio/video/data transmission and several Linux single board computers for redundant and separate subsystems to control various parts of the robot.
The main issue with carrying over 100 pounds is that directly connecting the wheel to a gear motor’s output shaft is not suggested, and if it’s done, it’s important to support the end of the shaft. Since the market for such sized platforms tends to make their own, manufacturers cannot produce their platforms in high quantities in order to drive the price down (at least not that we’ve seen). It’s also difficult to make a “universally acceptable” frame.
The platform you suggested in your last email has no detailed specs on it, is there a pdf manual or document I can see for total payload capacity and other information?
Some additional documentation here: robotshop.com/media/files/zi … m-2494.zip
The CIM motors are:
]Voltage: 12 volt DC/:m]
]No load RPM: 5,310 (+/- 10%)/:m]
]Free Current: 2.7 amps/:m]
]Maximum Power: 337 Watts (at 2655 rpm, 172 oz-in, and 68 amps)/:m]
]Stall Torque: 2.42 N-m, or 343.4 oz-in/:m]
]Stall Current: 133 amps/:m]
]
Mechanical specs:
[list]
]Size: 2.5 inch diameter, 4.34 inch long body/:m]
]Output Shaft size: 0.313 +/- 0.0004, with 2mm keyway/:m]
]Weight: 2.82 pounds/:m]
]Mounting Holes: #10-32 tapped holes (2), on a 2" bolt circle/:m]/:m][/list:u]
If I changed my payload criteria to lets say 75lbs would I have other options?
Same general section of products. There are a few additional products for ~20Kg and below, though most mobile robots are quite a bit smaller and have <10Kg carrying capacity.
I liked the chassis platform from andy mark you showed me yesterday but after checking on their website it doesn’t come pre-assembled, I wanted something assembled
Unfortunately we do not seem to carry an assembled platform which can support 75+ Lbs in the price range you need.
I heard platforms with chains as a gear mechanism have to be greased? is this true and what part exactly has to be greased and how often?
Ideally, any points of contact between moving metal parts should have grease (like your bicycle chain and sprockets), but this is simply to extend the useful life as long as possible. If you are using the robot outdoors where the chain and sprockets can get dirty very quickly, you should clean it off, and ideally re-grease or add a little oil. If not, they’ll wear a bit faster and be noisier.
What can be used to support the end of the shaft? I have a similar application but I am thinking to manufacture my own chassis out of metal tubes. What’s the best way to connect the wheel to the motor?
If the motor’s output shaft cannot support the load, then you need to either offset the wheel from the motor and mount it on a shaft which can support the load, or support the wheel on the opposite side (assuming you can create a shaft), usually using a ball bearing. Normally a gear motor will include a ball bearing supporting the shaft which meant for radial loads as opposed to off-axis torque.