Wood & Glue roller

By mogul
@ November 15, 2011

• Actuators / output devices: 2 x scavenged CDROM motors
• Control method: autonomous
• CPU: ATmega328P
• Operating system: Arduino
• Power source: 2 times 2 well spent AA cells
• Programming language: C++
• Sensors / input devices: Linefollower IR
• Target environment: indoor flat surfaces

Update: this robot has been replaced by http://letsmakerobots.com/node/29876

First step on my way to a maze solver. This roller only have one TCRT 5000 sensor, it can only follow a black line around, if it sees the line it will turn left. (or right, depending on a jumper)

Plan is to evolve on this until it can solve a maze (without loops)

It is running on quite low voltage, 2 times 2 well spent AA cells, giving approx 2 volts for brain and 2 volts for motors. This requires some tweaks which I plan to write about some other day.

The programming is kept "arduino compatible"

I had to break some of the popsicle glue points to take the photos

note the 5-pin DIN connector. Its used for programming the atmega328p. I use my homemade programmer cable here: http://letsmakerobots.com/node/29207

The two motors are scrapped from old cdrom drives. An cheap way to get a motor with some gears. The orange belts and wheel coating is a balloon cut to pieces. And the wheel them selves are two ball bearings from some scrapped tape drives.

A closeup on the single TCRT5000 sensor, mounted on a half peg here.

Low voltage H-bridge built entirely with discrete components. Almost the same circuit as I drew here http://letsmakerobots.com/node/27578#comment-74638