My first robot - Ziltoid the omniscient

By cjmtama @ Sat, 2008-05-03 20:50

• Actuators / output devices: GM9 143:1 gear motor
• CPU: Picaxe 28x1
• Power source: 4.5V
• Programming language: Basic
• Sensors / input devices: Sharp GP2D120 IR sensor, Hitec HS-322HD servo
• Target environment: indoor

Ok, This is my first go at it. I will post more pics and some video as well.
Yes I did name him Ziltoid based on a Devin Townsend project. This is the first incarnation of Ziltoid here, I will work on a second one, probably just modify this one with speakers and sound. Ok, I had a little fun with the 2nd video. It does not explain anything, but it was fun to play with. Enjoy!

Ok, I can go over what I used now and costs. But first, thanks to Fritsl for the inspiration

and his how to build your first robot tutorial. Could NOT have done this or want to attempt

to do this without your guidance. The above tracks and chassis are from SUPERDROID

ROBOTS for $15. The chassis is solid and the parts that came with it to put it together

were tooled very well.

The two motors are from SOLARBOTICS, 143:1 ratio , 90 degree for

$11.50. I think next time I would go with a faster ratio, but this worked for a starter bot.

Since I really did not have some of the proper tools for this kind of project, I had to go

and get some basic stuff, like a glue gun, a better soldering iron and an extra pair of

hands/alligator clip circuit board holder. So add in an extra $40 bucks or so for that stuff.

Of course the whole thing is controlled by PIXAXE-28X starter pack with USB programming

cable. This was kind of the big single cost which was a total of about $73 from SPARKFUN.

The only problem I had, was once it came, the software CD was melted and un-usable.

No problem though, just went to the PICAXE web site and got the editor and manuals for free.

Add in L293D -Dual H-Bridge Motor Driver for about $3.50 from SOLARBOTICS. I could

not find the PICAXE servo upgrade kit anywhere that did not cost me an arm and a leg for

shipping, so I just used the 330 ohm resistor and had to do some searching for header

pins to hook up the servo and IR sensor. Found some 1X10 header pin connectors at

IEC for about $0.31 for 10. Problem here is that I bought like 10 sets for about $3.10

and paid over $9.00 for shipping. Lesson learned? Yea, buy whatever you can at the same

site at the same time and save on shipping. Used a Hitec HS-322HD servo from ROBOTICS

CONNECTION for $9.

I used the Sharp GP2D120 IR sensor with the IR sensor cable from ROBOTICS CONNECTION.

Cost for those was $9 for the sensor and $3 for the cable.

Other than the basic design change with tracks instead of wheels, the only other change

made was I added some header pins to the A/B motor outputs and connectors to the wires

from the motors so I could easily add/remove the motors and or board to another project

If I needed to. This was an awesome first time experience and thanks again to Fritsl and

everybody here for there input and knowledge. Hopefully this will help some other beginner

start on his, or her's robot. Now on to Ziltoid II.....INDEED HUMANS!!!!