RoverBot

By buhatkj @ Sun, 2008-11-02 03:17

• Actuators / output devices: Tamiya 70097 gearbox, Hitec HS-422 servo
• CPU: Arduino
• Power source: 9v 6xAA
• Sensors / input devices: Parallax Ping)))
• Target environment: indoors

This is my Roverbot.  He is a very simple robot, all he does is basically what the "Start Here" robot does, but with a casca tankbot chassis, an arduino, and a custom motor/servo driver board.

There is also 1 tiny innovation in his code, I made a very small circular buffer to record his last 10 decisions, which I use to prevent him from oscillating back and forth when he drives into a narrow dead end (he will instead just turn around ~180).

Also, I built his gearbox with the really high ratio so he is super slow, so I might rebuild it with the lower ratio to make him faster.

Code is attached for your downloading pleasure...

 Update - 12/18/2008

Roverbot had his gearbox rebuilt with the lower ratio, so he is faster now, but I need to update his timing constant in the code to make him not run into stuff as much.  Also, I have had some breakage issues with his chassis, the acrylic is very brittle, I wish it were lexan instead, that stuff is nearly unbreakable.  Will post a new vid soon-ish once I update his code...