Mr.Flex (Pimp My Ride) - Bridge on the River Qwai
@ Sat, 2009-05-30 16:27
- Actuators / output devices: PolyMorph Suspension and PolyMorph Universal Joints
- Control method: Autonomous and IR Control
- CPU: Arduino Duemilanove
- Operating system: C
- Sensors / input devices: Ultrasonic sensors
- Target environment: Outdoor - Semi rough Forest track, Jumps Small Cliffs
UPDATE :- Bridge on the River Kwai - Autonomous - New programming - mega fast speed - faster sensor response -
"Rollover-Bar" in action.
On Board Video (Radiocam) showing how the Universal Joints spin circles.....
PolyMorph Rollover Cage installed to protect Electronics.
(however i have to redesign the front end for sensor protection).
Polymorph Protection plate intalled underneath to protect Gears from rocks etc.
My current contender is taking Shape with the added help of PolyMorph.
Intended to go where no other Mr.Basic would dare go......... "Off Track"
To acheive this i have been creating some rather cunning Suspension systems.
Its highly like-ly that during the making of this Bot, its name may also transform (-: just like PolyMorph :-)
First Video :- Bridge on the River Kwai - Autonomous - New programming - mega fast speed - faster sensor response.
Second Video :- Autonomous Mystery trip around our center.
Third Video :- Autonomous Mystery trip around house.
Fourth Video :- the progress of the Project.
It includes sequences of how the PolyMorph bits where made.
Fifth Video :- the PolyMorph Suspension system © in Action.
Sixth Video you can see the very First Test of the PolyMorph Universal Joint ©.
Its a very flexible system - the suspension uses around 2cm of travel, which is only a 10° angle difference for the joint,
it can be bent almost 90° and still gives drive (the motor has to work a little harder though).
Seventh Video :- the Turning Ability with On-Board Radio Camera.
(1) Polymorph extruded solid tube suspension (1.5 cm travel)
Failed (worked but to floppy - gear meshing not ideal)
(2) PolyMorph Bracket (1.5cm travel)-
Failed (Worked but gear Meshing not so good on extreme down stroke, plus the wheels where at a stupid angle)
(3) PolyMorph Universal Joint © (2cm travel) ----- Looking Cool
Using a 2cm piece of the extruded PolyMorph solid tube .......from the failed (1) suspension unit.
I clamped it between two brass collets and Hey Presto a PolyMorph universal joint ©.
What this means is when you turn one brass collet the other turns to ......... no matter what angle you put it at
The PolyMorph is flexible enough to bend and be driven at the same time.
The only thing left to do is to intergrate the black axle holders into the front black middle part (with PolyMorph).
The Geometry of the gear meshing should stay is perfect and stable.
The Spring in the middle is easy to adjust for tension (-: but has to be secured before it hits any rough ground :-)
Although its not independent suspension (ie one spring per wheel) i am hope-ing that the torsional aspect of the connected wheels will be enough to get it out of trouble.
Installed a Polymorph GearGuard to stop the underneath plastic gears from hitting rocks and things.
Because it will be carrying more Electronics - i have fitted it out with a PolyMorph Roll-Over Cage. You can see this in action last part of the "Bridge on the River Kwai" video.......
Installed a Polymorph GearGuard to stop the underneath plastic gears from hitting rocks and things.
However i have to make some kind of Magnetic release system for the "Did-He-Think-He-Sauraus" eye-ear part.
BTW. The eye/ear PolyMorph piece increases his Ultrasonic sensitivity and range.
The Arduino is fitted with a Motor Shield and the Ultrasonic Sensor is connected to a scanning servo.
The Motor shield has been "PiggyBacked" ie doubling up the L293D drivers to share the high motor current.
@ Sat, 2009-05-30 17:42
classic kiss
Smart and inovative thinking, man.
Can't wait to see it in action on some rough terrain.
@ Sat, 2009-05-30 23:58
a polysuspension sytem?
a polysuspension sytem? :O
man, you own!
@ Sun, 2009-07-05 16:00
Thanks Polysystems Rule
@ Sun, 2009-05-31 01:33
Sounds great!
@ Sun, 2009-05-31 17:50
Yes - Big Smiley Grin - video just uploaded
@ Sun, 2009-05-31 15:19
What a good idea the spring
@ Sun, 2009-05-31 22:35
Spring has sprung
Yes it was an interesting assembly ....... the PolySmürf is so easy to work with.....
.... Now the Big Spring Hunt to find the most fitting candidate.
I have to secure it somehow to the chassis with a screw systen - then its should be easy to adjust the tension for soft or hard ride.
@ Mon, 2009-06-01 00:54
yes! adjusting the tension
@ Sun, 2009-05-31 18:10
how did u melted the
how did u melted the stuff?
boiling water of microwave ?
@ Sun, 2009-05-31 19:55
I use Boiling water
I find Boiling water the best.....
Microwave is too hot for me - as its not so easy to control the Heat - and easy to burn your fingers - it can get Mega Hot and bubbles if you over cook it ........
one plus point of using a microwave is that the turntable is normally made of glass so if you want a large flat peice of polymorph then all you have to do is place another glass panel on top and press down until required thickness.
@ Sun, 2009-05-31 19:07
Love the jumps, awesome! For
Love the jumps, awesome!
For the wheels.
@ Sun, 2009-05-31 20:22
LÖL Flame-ing wheels
Yes with a bit more "Juice" (7.2V Racing Pack) and i am sure he would also like to burst into Flames.
...... Cool link.......
@ Sun, 2009-05-31 21:22
good video of the polymorph sculpting process
@ Sun, 2009-05-31 22:36
it have to be pulsed! :)
@ Sun, 2009-05-31 22:59
good show!
@ Mon, 2009-06-01 00:48
Great videos!
@ Mon, 2009-06-01 00:55
You should post the 3rd
You should post the 3rd video on the tips section! Very good info! ;)
@ Mon, 2009-06-01 19:43
wait i was thinking to a
wait i was thinking to a poly-exoskeleton for my next bot too
you stolen my idea :)
@ Mon, 2009-06-01 20:35
Great Minds Think Alike
It was just by chance this afternoon that i was using a Hairdryer to heat up a long flat peice of PolyMorph that the Ribcage Roll-OverBar came into being.
Yes the PolyMorph is very bone like in apperance and feeling.
@ Tue, 2009-06-02 17:13
Proposed New Shell Design - Mr.Alien
I will be making a new shell - bit thicker and more ambitious with an Alien Theme (or maybe Dinosaur)
I will have to Desolder the Ultrasonic sensors and extend them with shielded cable so that i can hide the cables into the eye stalks, well thats the plan ...... if i have enough polymorph left.......
I have to work out the base for the eyes as i would like to scan them Left and right.
@ Tue, 2009-06-02 17:28
Looks like Spongebob's pet
Looks like Spongebob's pet snail Gary...
@ Tue, 2009-06-02 17:38
LöL - Mr.SlowMo
Thanks for the Image - i like the half closed eyes.
I have been toying with the idea to insert another cog to slow down the gear train a bit to get more climbing Torque.....
@ Tue, 2009-06-02 17:43
Aliens. I see you get some
@ Wed, 2009-06-03 12:34
Ooooohhhhh Yes - you have given me a promotional idea thanks
Yes he lives in my town.......
maybe i will drive Mr.Alien (oh man do i have to rename him again) past his coffee/gallery shop GigerEgg at the bottom of the hill....... (no he does not work there, however i often see him on walks in the area)
ahaaaaaaaa you gave me an idea ..... this may take a few days.......and i post a picture sooooon.
@ Wed, 2009-06-03 12:51
Mr.Flex Vs. Mr.Alien
Unfortunately Mr.H.R.Gigers Gallery/Coffee shop was closed, ah well until the next time...........
..... yes you can buy genuine Alien masterpeices from here...
.....but are you brave enough to Enter
@ Wed, 2009-06-03 17:35
UltraSonic EyeStalks completed
Not such and easy Job but the Ultrasonic transducers have been moulded with polymorph, ready to be mounted onto a scanning servo.
They are a little high at the moment, however i will tweak them when the servo is in position.
@ Sat, 2009-06-06 09:12
Ultrasonic Eyestalkes Failed
These EyeStalks with the intergrated ultrasonic transducers took a couple of hours to tweak into shape.......
...... i wired them up to the "Ping" board driven by arduino and the result was not so good - very reduced sensitivity . detect range 5cms (say wot).
... so they are now in the great polymorph heaven...... back to my sons idea of Dinosaur..........
@ Sat, 2009-06-06 13:04
Maybe try 2 Maxbotix or 2
@ Sat, 2009-06-06 13:22
I am using URM37 Dreamfactory module
Thanks....
I am using URM37 Dreamfactory module.
I used shielded cable for the extension - but somehow i think its acting as an aerial or being loaded by the cable :-(
At the moment i will have to re-design the eye stalks to keep the transducer leads short (maybe its an impedance issue)
@ Mon, 2009-06-08 11:47
the srf005 seem to cope