Basically this tank was gutted and is being rebuilt with sensors and a new brain. I've posted info on this tank and how cheap it was to aquire, so now this is going to be the actual project page.
I'm currently still working on the dual hbridge which will be controlled by two of the pwm's of the arduino. I'll be using a 14m and 8m for the sensors and communications array.
From the image I've posted, I have the gp2d10 up front for immediate front detection. This has been glue'd on. The ping senosr has also been mounted and this should be the final location. I have played around with different servo postions and will come up with a final location hopefully soon. There was a mic that used to be where the ping is but I removed that.The ir beacon sensor will be mounted right behind the ping sensor which it also happens to be the perfect height for the sensor and beacons. If I can get my hands on one for cheap, I'll be adding a wiimoteir sensor to assist in the locating of the ir beacons so that I can do a recode of my ir setup and also remove some unwanted issues that I currently have.
sits in one spot and does nothing for the moment
Control method: autonomous with radio telemetry feedback currently using bluetooth
CPU: Picaxe 14m, picaxe 08M, arduino 168
Power source: 6 AA cells
Programming language: wiring
Sensors / input devices: ping sensor, ir detector, gp2d10, others in future
Comes with a standard issue 38khz receiver. mounted on a mini(not micro)servo with hardware ziptied to the servo. The code for this is complete for the moment and just waiting on finishing the hbridge before trials can begin.
The is the mark II since mark1 melted a while back. This uses the original fets that came off of the board from the tank. I desoldered them and rebuilt the setup so I could use my own gear with it. It took a couple hour to build and solder the first half due to testing and placement issues. I should be easier to build the second half, just haven't had a chance to make it yet.
The ATV-360 is a fantastic robot platform. First I need to finish my Mr. Basic and YAABR project before I can start with my tank robot. AFAIK this must be the first robot including both µc worlds (Arduino and PICAXE).
It is a great base and with all of the parts that you can get from it and repurpose, I’m surprised that more people haven’t jumped on it. Though it does take some work to pull some of the components off of the boards, but I’ve managed to pull both camera modules from this one and the remote control. I’m loooking at pulling the audio chip and seeing if I can trace so I can use that component as well. I like the main boards on this tank as well. the buggy board wasn’t as clean as this one, thats for sure.
As far as picaxeduino setup, well, I like using multi procs and have been doing the coding/design based on at least the 08m and arduino seeing as the hpwm on the 14m may not work for what I want to do. If I can get the communication going, I may actually use an avr in this as well, but that looks like a long term goal.
In the short term, I need to finish the hbridge and test out the second half The first hbridge works good, second breadboarded one works well as well it’s mounting and soldering that takes the time. Btw, I"m mounting the dual hbrige in the rear of the tank so I had to do a little cutout of the rear cover above the motors. I don’t think it’s necessary, but it helps with the lack of area to work in without designing a board to replace the orginial. I did however clear up some space by removing the mic and the mount post that it was on. The area is now flush, I’ll take a pic to show the internal area to work with.
I haven’t tried the pwm yet, I’ve just been doing direct contact with the hbridge. I’m sure full throttle will be close to a direct link to the contact points.
The tube is just some square hollow tube that I got from the local hobby shop. I found some shrinkwrap that fits perfectly inside which helps with errant ir signals bouncing around, and I used black electric tape to try and block off areas that might let ir in.
The treads feel pretty solid which is why I wanted to get this platform, they appear rugged enough to go throughmost obstacles and maybe turn without dislodging the tracks while on a rug. Though I figure a forward reverse method instead of sliding will be better for turning(forward one track, reverse the other)
Voodoobot is still on thw Voodoobot is still on thw work desk. I’m having to redo the main board due to the setup being underpowered for the motor/driver combo I was using not to mention the lack of room issues I was having. doing something tracked was also easier than trying to 3 point steer something.
