My Robot Butler

Post 1:

I have been wanting to create a robot butler for a long time so I am going to get started now. I will update this post with my progress.

Today I saw a project on instructables on how to design a robot butler; you can find that here http://www.instructables.com/id/Build-Your-Own-Butler-Robot/.

I liked the idea of using a laptop and phidgets to control the robot. The problem with the robot butler is its programed in visual basic and I only know a little bit of java and a little bit of Picaxe. Also without laptop the robot butler costs a little less than five hundred dollars. With laptop I would cost $1000 minimum, and thats if you get lucky on eBay! I decided that I could build a better robot for cheaper so I got started.

Now I have a rough parts list. I want to use a thin sheet of wood for the base and mount two geared motors on it for control. I will also make the body out of plywood. The robot will be four feet tall and have a web cam for vision and a microphone and speakers. I will use java to program it and a laptop with phidgets to control it.

Post 2:

Ok now I have a rough design written on Scratch paper click the attached folder labeled design. Sorry no computer model yet. Today I hope to get a full parts list and pricing.

Post 3:

Sorry I have been working for a really long time on the parts list, but now I am done. It is in the attache file called partslist. The totol cost is now up to $785.27 thats a lot of money! I moast likely wont be able to go any further until christams. I have thought about the software and I decided I would go with java because it's the only language I have any background in. Also I came up with a new design and I will poast it soon. 

Post 4:

Ok I now I have the final designe it is a little bit rough and I would like it better if I knew how to creat them on the computer but at least I have them.   

Post 5:

I decided that I will use seven IR sensors for detecting the environment also I will use one force sensor for the hand. 

The robot will have three of the ultrasonic sensors mounted on servos so they can pan around and better identify obsticles.

I am hope to get enough money to at least buy the phidgets relay board soon but for now i'm broak.

Post 6:

I learned how to use sketchup. Check out my new design.

Post 7:

I decided to make my robot's body out of a garbage can because garbage cans are like pre made robot bases. Here is a scan of the parts list if your browser can not follow the link, you can view a larger more detailed view by going to the attachment labled partslist.

If you have any advice or anything you think would be cool to add to the robot please comment.