snailbot

Robot – work in progress

By Ant @ Wed, 2008-10-01 09:51

Navigate around via ultrasound,

Cost to build:

$100

Time to build:

10 hours

Actuators / output devices: Tamiya gears and tracks
Control method: autonomous
CPU: Picaxe 28x1
Sensors / input devices: SRF05 Ultra Sound
Target environment: indoor

Description:

Update: new photos

Made this one while waiting for my servos from China (about 6 weeks now).

I've found the tamiya tracks aren't up to the task, so I don't think he'll last too long befor being recycled.

sorry for the picture and video quality :(

By guibot @ Wed, 2008-10-01 10:27

Beautiful Design!!!!

Beautiful Design!!!! :)

The video doesn´t play ...

By maneuver @ Wed, 2008-10-01 11:43

beautiful

You're getting 5 stars for creative use of materials and good looks

/ vzz-clck-"Maneuver"

By abarax @ Wed, 2008-10-01 11:53

I would really like to see

I would really like to see this guy in action. Intresting to see how the tracks work. Why do you say the tracks arnt up to the task ?

By Ant @ Wed, 2008-10-01 22:17

I had to use two packs of tracks to get the length I needed (twss), but they are some kind of rubber material (don't really know what it is) and they stretch too much. So they are either too tight to turn initially, or too loose and slip off the drive cogs.

By GroG @ Wed, 2008-10-01 12:11

Once again great design! You

Once again great design! You seem to have a knack for creating expressive robotic caricatures.

Are the cogs all press-fit onto the shafts? Are you using motors from the same company too?

By Ant @ Wed, 2008-10-01 22:20

press fit

The cogs are press fit on to the shafts, the drive shafts are a hex type shaft, and the free turning ones are round. The gogs that go into the hex shafts arn't very strong, so I've had to use hot glue to make them stick.

Both the motor/gearbox, and all cogs and shafts are Tamiya.

By CaptainTuna @ Wed, 2008-10-01 17:27

how did you make those cool

how did you make those cool custom-made white plastic pieces? like the "eye" cover and the thingys that hold firm the wheel shafts?

By jklug80 @ Wed, 2008-10-01 17:47

Looks like polymorph or

Looks like polymorph or something similar.

By CaptainTuna @ Wed, 2008-10-01 18:48

oh...so it sticks well onto

oh...so it sticks well onto other surfaces? Cool! i think i need some. Very original bot btw :)

By Ant @ Wed, 2008-10-01 22:23

It is polymorph, and it

It is polymorph, and it seems to stick to other plastics really well, I did have one of the shaft mounts come off, but just drilled and tapped it so I could bolt it back on.

If you do have to drill or machine polymorph, I found that the harder (colder) it is, the easier it is to work with.

By Chainer @ Wed, 2008-10-01 19:28

Very nice, how did you

Very nice, how did you mount the sensor on the front like that?

By fritsl @ Wed, 2008-10-01 19:33

Polymorph, I bet :)

(I got mine from him ;)

By Ant @ Wed, 2008-10-01 22:25

spot on

Frits is right, all polymorph. When I get home after work, if it's still light, I'll use a real camera to get some better pictures.

By abarax @ Wed, 2008-10-01 23:45

Im assuming from the sound

Im assuming from the sound in the video you're from Australia?

By Ant @ Thu, 2008-10-02 00:34

Yeah, just south of

Yeah, just south of Melbourne.

By abarax @ Thu, 2008-10-02 01:57

Nice, I'm from brisbane. I

Nice, I'm from brisbane. I should have my first bot completed this week i hope.

By Ant @ Thu, 2008-10-02 02:14

Cool. Good luck with it. We

Cool. Good luck with it. We could use some of your weather here, its 24 today, and back to 16 by sunday.

By GroG @ Thu, 2008-10-02 04:16

Awesome! - I love to hear

Awesome! - I love to hear the sweet pitter-patter of baby tracks. Lots of character!

By silva_p @ Thu, 2008-10-02 08:48

great

great bot! nice bot good design.

By mintvelt @ Thu, 2008-10-02 15:41

Very cool Bot. I really like

Very cool Bot. I really like the way it moves and sort of hesitates as it decides which direction to turn to. Definately original design. 5 Stars for the cuteness.

By RobotGrrl @ Fri, 2008-10-03 17:58

It looks interesting, but it

It looks interesting, but it would be cool to see a video ;]

By Calculon320 @ Fri, 2008-10-03 21:30

servo

AWESOME design!!!

what kind of servo are you using to move the head?

By khalchris @ Fri, 2008-10-03 23:03

nice

nice design i like your idea of how the robot moves...

keep up the good work...