Chaser ?

Guard is no more. I splatted the cat, well, the mouse and so Guard was returned to the Lego parts bins, and I've returned to my earlier theme - the attempt to build a four-wheeled robot.

Chaser - its provisional name - is another design from David Perdue. There's Ackerman steering at the front, and the rear wheels are independently driven by a motor each. This design, constrained by the parts in the current nxt kit, has the ultrasonic detector attached to the steering motor, so to turn the sensor it has to turn the wheels. This compromise is brought about by the lack of a differential for the back wheels. One of my first mods will be to install a rear diff, free up a motor and use it to separate ultrasonic detector movement from steering movement. I guess I'm also going to have to attempt the three-point turn manoeuver.

Don't expect a video at this stage. I may make one later if the bot meets my expectations.

14-Feb-09

Stripped a load of stuff out of the code this morning. I need to add a collision detect bumper. Then I might make a video.