I have an idea I want to experiment with, and I think it’d be fun to play with some robotics…but I have no robotics experience, so I need some suggestions on getting started. I want to start simple, but also not so simple that I’m just buying an introductory kit that is nothing like my end goal. I want to start on something similar to my actual idea, as described below.
The ultimate end result of my experimental object would be about the size/shape of a large iPhone with something like 30-50 wheels on it. Picture something like an abacus (bing.com/images/search?q=abacus&FORM=HDRSC2) except the wheels wouldn’t slide on a peg, the only similarity I’m pointing out is that the wheels are arranged in a grid pattern on a plane. Each wheel needs to be able to spin independently and spin both forward and reverse. Note, the whole thing doesn’t need to be the size of an iPhone… obviously there’d be a bunch of motors and wires sticking out behind it…so maybe the entire thing would be the size of a box of girl scout cookies. Just like looking at an abacus on it’s face, the wheels are viewed from the face, so I can’t have motors sticking out the front, but the back is fine. Additionally, the more exposed surface of the wheel the better, up to a maximum of about 50% of the wheel.
My guess is that I’m looking at getting a bunch of small motors that then need to hook up to some sort of a controller board? Are there certain types/shapes of motors that are best suited for spinning the wheels in this arrangement? Please point me in some sort of direction here. I’m a software developer with good knowledge of C# & javascript, so suggestions that would let me use a language with familiar syntax would be helpful. Although, I’m open to using whatever language is needed and/or least expensive as well.
Thanks!
-Grymlot
Really curious what the end result will do. A very important question is if you just need the wheels to rotate (i.e. you control the speed and direction) or if you need them to move to specific angles? The first approach is relatively simple, while the second greatly increases the price and complexity. If they need to move to specific angles, do they also need to be able to do continuous rotation, or is 180 degree or 360 degrees sufficient?
Do you need anything specific when it comes to the speed of the rotation? Any details would help.
Unfortunately I don’t want to share the end result… One of those pie on the sky “what if” type of inventions that probably will go nowhere but I might as well not give an idea away, you know? As for the wheels, they don’t need to turn. They should be stationary and all facing the same direction. They must be able to spin both directions with start/stop control. Speed control would be a bonus.
Oh and continuous rotation is what I need, no specific distances… More of a on/off start/stop type of thing.
This is the smallest gear motors we offer:
robotshop.com/en/solarbotics … =RB-Sbo-17
robotshop.com/en/3vdc-790rpm … =RB-Fra-88
robotshop.com/en/3vdc-380rpm … RB-Sbo-110
However as you can tell, you can’t put many of these side by side, so one option would be to add a hemisphere to the end and stand it vertically; the friction of the hemisphere against your wheel should cause it to rotate.
Individually controlling 30-50 motors will require brushed DC motor controllers (many can control up motors, so you’d need 15-25):
robotshop.com/en/brushed-mot … llers.html
Another option is to use a micro servo, but the size that you envision may not be possible. This is the smallest RC servo we offer:
robotshop.com/en/hitec-hs-35 … =RB-Hit-89
You would need sufficient servo motor controllers:
robotshop.com/en/servo-controllers.html
Thanks for the helpful information. Understanding now that I can only control 2 motors at max with one controller, I am going to start with just 7 controllers I think. If I buy 7 controllers and 14 motors, what else do I need to get started?
I’m just getting started on the robot tutorials, so perhaps I’ll learn the answers to these questions… but here are a few more:
Am I going to need a soldering gun too?
What do I watch for to match the motors to the right controller… the motors mention voltage and current. The controllers mention voltage and peaks per channel.
Is there a difference between a motor driver and a motor controller? I see both in the controller category.
What kind or motors? You will need something central to control them such as a computer or microcontroller.
It depends on which products you purchase.
You need to choose the correct type of motor controller for the type of actuator, then choose one which can provide the necessary current at the right voltage, and last, using the communication method you want to implement.
We use the terms interchageably.
