Cardboard Walker Bot~ Oddbot's Robot Video Competition

Robot video competition

Robot

By ZigBotting
@ Tue, 2009-06-09 11:15

Walk around

Cost to build:

$18

Actuators / output devices: 5 HS-55
Control method: none
CPU: Atmega-88
Power source: 4 AA
Programming language: C++
Sensors / input devices: none
Target environment: inddor

watch on youtube

* AtMega 88 Custom made Development board
* Exacto-cut coardboard from a shipping box I received earlier
* Coardboard painted with Rustoleum Paint (making it look plasticy)
* (2) infrared emitters and an infrared receiver for object detection
* (2) micro servos for tilt and stride and (3) others for stepping and pivoting
* Piezospeaker in body underneath battery pack
* Power switch located adjacent to battery pack
* FTDI 232RL mini USB programming port
* (4) AA batteries for 6v power supply
* Blue power indicator LED

Vote for me for Oddbot's "Robot Video Competition"! I really have been eyeing his robot "Junior" since he first started it. And I hope that I can have the privledge of working with it.

The chassis was simply one of these guys cut up:

The Servos I got from a past project, all LEDs from various things I took apart (VCRs, Computers, Remotes, etc.) Piezospeaker from a toy train that was broken, both IR emitters were 47Hz from remotes I believe if my memory serves me well. I whipped out my spectrum analyzer, and I think it was 47Hz, so then I bought two receivers within that range and whipped up a circuit.

So the only things I actually bought was the Atmega88, 2 IR receivers, and PCB, totalling a whopping $18.00 for a potentially expensive projectusually in the 100s for servos alone.

The PCB company I used is a local one, however probably the cheapest I have ever seen, it has a tutorial on converting from Eagle to Gerber (what the machine uses) so everything is easy as (math joke :D).

Here it is: http://www.procyonpcb.com/

The PCB was a good $8.00, very well spent

Truly a budget bot

By ArunioSmo
@ Tue, 2009-06-09 11:37

Very nice!

By OddBot
@ Tue, 2009-06-09 11:44

Looks great!

I'm looking forward to seeing the details. Looks great!

By TotoroYamada
@ Tue, 2009-06-09 12:36

Impressive! :D

By noise0
@ Tue, 2009-06-09 13:08

awesomeyou have to install a

awesome

you have to install a Gauss cannon and 2 LRM array

By mikv
@ Tue, 2009-06-09 16:08

wow, thats some mean foot

wow, thats some mean foot liftage your getting there. it ain't no shuffle :)

well done!

By OddBot
@ Wed, 2009-06-10 10:13

Can you make it dance?

This looks like a great robot but remember my contest is not just how good is the robot (very good in your case) but how entertaining is the video. Let see it shake it's cardboard backside to some music :D or perhaps join Monty Pythons ministry of silly walks :P

By ZigBotting
@ Wed, 2009-06-10 17:36

Unfortunately it doesnt do

Unfortunately it doesnt do anything else but walk straight, I have already filled up the chips EEPROM and RAM (flash?), and the next up chip (atmega 640?) is not pin for pin compatible, so if I wanted to make it do anything else, I would have to make a new devboard, and rewrite code and everything for the new chip compatibility. Unfortunately I am not up for the time/challenge. However I really want that Junior bot! I am literally tearing right now :/. Maybe there can be some exception?

By Rudolph
@ Wed, 2009-06-10 18:25

The atmega168 is pin

The atmega168 is pin compatible with the mega88. And has double the flash, although I think EEPROM is the same. Up from there is the mega328 would quadruple your flash (32k), and double your EEPROM (2k) and is also pin compatible with the '88

If you don't mind my asking, what are you using the EEPROM for?

By ZigBotting
@ Wed, 2009-06-10 20:33

I attempted to store

I attempted to store coordinates, or areas of which had many impediments (counting number of steps, trasmuting into units etc.), so as to avoid the area as a whole in the future. But then I realized with only 6v~ 20 min of walking time, it didnt seem very practicle, and not worth the effort so I disregarded it. It is when I completed where I noticed I had used the EEPROM, so I thought I needed but I guess I don't.

Btw, thanks for the advice. I am swamped though, currently working on two other projects.

Ugh... but I need that Junior :D:D

By OddBot
@ Wed, 2009-06-10 23:49

Don't get me wrong :-)

It is a great bot and worthy to compete in the Challenge. I was merely suggesting ways to improve your chances. There is still a lot you can do with your video. Ajsters bot wasn't complex but he found a creative way of telling a story with it.

By Mike
@ Mon, 2009-06-15 21:43

Green screen

Shoot some steps at various angles againsta a green screen. Cut and splice to get him dancing and then add your own psycho backgrounds. A sort of peter gabriel sledge hammer

By Myc Holmes
@ Wed, 2009-06-10 09:38

The Priority Mail shiiping

The Priority Mail shiiping boxes are free at your local US Post Office. The boxes along with the cardboard mailers are very handy and cheap hobby materials.

I use the mailer as a cutting board when using an Xacto knife.

By mikef
@ Wed, 2009-06-10 19:27