Linus, If you need help with PCB etching
I can lend a hand there.

I can normaly do 10/10thou double sided
boards. But if you have smaller chips I
can get down to 8/8. Soon I will be
supplimenting the whole show with a
photoplotter and should easily do 6/6.

Mention a time and place for a meeting
and I will try be there. Or if there is
no suitable venue - then I have a new
shed in the back yard (6x6 meters)with
plenty of floor space for little bots to
run around on.






--- In robot_sig@yahoogroups.com, "Linus Dillon" <ldillon@...> wrote:
>
> Well, that shouldn't have any problems with bumps in the track.
>
> My own one is still a work in progres, but I have recently started
work on
> it again. It is also a modified RC car, but a very different one. I have
> already hacked in a proper server for the steering, and have
modified the
> drive motor with a high-res shaft encoder (about 5kHz when running
at normal
> speed). I had already developed and built a motor driver board too
(cleans
> up the inputs for the encoder, and isolates the motor/servo signals
from the
> rest - uses a simple FET to switch the motor on/off and a dual-pole
relay to
> allow the direction to be changed).
>
> I had stalled previously designing/building the brains. It was to be a
> custom board using a large 40-pin PIC chip, complete with LCD, 512kb
memory
> (for logging), sound, IR, etc etc. All in all overkill and way too
much work
> (although I had finalised the design and had a shot at etching the
board -
> but the board traces were fine enough to give me trouble). I am now
looking
> at using a PIC-AXE chip or two instead, and just doing what is needed.
> HOWEVER, having said that I still plan on adding one interesting
addition to
> it to hopefully give it an edge over the others. We'll see how it
turns out.
>
> I'm currently sorting out the logic/etc for an 8-pin PIC-AXE which will
> handle the main motor drive PWM seperate to the main controller.
>
> I'll post photos when I get a little further along.
>
> Not many responses yet to the recent posts here. Anyone interested in a
> meeting sometime? Maybe early next month? With luck the new Mindstorms
> should be in the stores, so we should have stuff to play with. I'm happy
> enough to put together some stuff to talk about/look at, or even
organise at
> a pinch (provided more people express interest in comming).
>
> -Linus
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: robot_sig@yahoogroups.com [mailto:robot_sig@yahoogroups.com]
On Behalf
> Of Marcin
> Sent: Tuesday, 29 August 2006 9:56 PM
> To: robot_sig@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [robot_sig] Re: Quinn's Project
>
>
>
> I've put a photo of my current robot in the 'photos' section. It's
> about 30x30cm, uses a cheap RC crazy car (called ugly predator) as
> the base with all the electronics disabled, and has a couple of
> sensors (rotating sonic rangefinder, ir rangefinders, odometry)
> motor driver and mcu on it. It doesn't do too much other than
> wander around at the moment (it would be good to give it a goal) but
> it's good for trying ideas.
>
> Marcin
>
> --- In robot_sig@yahoogrou <mailto:robot_sig%40yahoogroups.com> ps.com,
> "Quinn" <quinn@> wrote:
> >
> > Ok guys I am new to this, any way u can show me what ur robots
> look like, so
> > I have starting off point?
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > From: robot_sig@yahoogrou <mailto:robot_sig%40yahoogroups.com> ps.com
> [mailto:robot_sig@yahoogrou <mailto:robot_sig%40yahoogroups.com>
ps.com]
> On Behalf
> > Of Marcin
> > Sent: Tuesday, August 29, 2006 2:37 PM
> > To: robot_sig@yahoogrou <mailto:robot_sig%40yahoogroups.com> ps.com
> > Subject: {Definitely Spam?} {Disarmed} [robot_sig] Re: Quinn's
> Project
> >
> >
> >
> > It looks to me like the soccer and rescue+ events are cool.
> > My current robot is a tad too big and outdoorsy for those tasks,
> but
> > if there is some sort of concensus on an 'adult league' then I'd
> be
> > keen to build the next one (or pair) to spec.
> >
> > I think I'll pop into the Australian open of RCJ in a couple of
> > weeks to check out the action and competition (if they let me in,
> > that is).
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Marcin
> >
> > --- In robot_sig@yahoogrou <mailto:robot_sig%40yahoogroups.com> ps.com
> <mailto:robot_sig%
> 40yahoogroups.com> ,
> > "Gordon Wyeth" <wyeth@> wrote:
> > >
> > > Hi Guys
> > >
> > > This SIG used to run regular competitions - other members may
> > recall also. If
> > > you're interested in a competition that would suit hobby
> > roboticists then
> > > RoboCup Junior is worth a look. Yes, I know it's meant for kids.
> > Nevertheless I
> > > would love to see how the adults stack up next to the kids.
> Maybe
> > we could
> > > organise a kids v. adults SuperBowl at next year's competition?
> > >
> > > For those who haven't heard about RoboCup Junior have a look at:
> > >
> > > http://www.robocupq <http://www.robocupqld.net.au/> ld.net.au/
> > >
> > > Of the RoboCup Junior challenges I'd recommend Soccer or
> possibly
> > Premier
> > > Rescue. Note that while many schools use LEGO to do these
> > projects, you can use
> > > whatever you like. The best of the Soccer robots are all custom
> > built.
> > >
> > > UQ could probably help out the SIG with loans of balls /
> tables /
> > mats for the
> > > contest if you are interested in going down this path.
> > >
> > > Cheers
> > >
> > > Gordon Wyeth
> > > Director, Robotics Laboratory
> > > University of Queensland 4072 AUSTRALIA
> > > Phone: +61 7 3365 3770 Fax: +61 7 3365 4999
> > > wyeth@ http://www.itee. <http://www.itee.uq.edu.au/~wyeth>
> uq.edu.au/~wyeth
> > >
> > >
> > > _____
> > >
> > > From: robot_sig@yahoogrou <mailto:robot_sig%40yahoogroups.com>
ps.com
> <mailto:robot_sig%
> 40yahoogroups.com>
> > [mailto:robot_sig@yahoogrou <mailto:robot_sig%40yahoogroups.com>
ps.com
> <mailto:robot_sig%
> 40yahoogroups.com> ]
> > On Behalf Of
> > > Quinn
> > > Sent: Tuesday, 29 August 2006 12:46 PM
> > > To: robot_sig@yahoogrou <mailto:robot_sig%40yahoogroups.com> ps.com
> <mailto:robot_sig%
> 40yahoogroups.com>
> > > Subject: RE: {Disarmed} Re: {Definitely Spam?} {Disarmed}
> > [robot_sig] Quinn's
> > > Project
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Yea I agree hold some competitions, get the ball rolling with
> some
> > activity.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > From: robot_sig@yahoogrou <mailto:robot_sig%40yahoogroups.com>
ps.com
> <mailto:robot_sig%
> 40yahoogroups.com>
> > [mailto:robot_sig@yahoogrou <mailto:robot_sig%40yahoogroups.com>
ps.com
> <mailto:robot_sig%
> 40yahoogroups.com> ]
> > On Behalf Of
> > > Marcin
> > > Sent: Tuesday, August 29, 2006 12:07 PM
> > > To: robot_sig@yahoogrou <mailto:robot_sig%40yahoogroups.com> ps.com
> <mailto:robot_sig%
> 40yahoogroups.com>
> > > Subject: {Disarmed} Re: {Definitely Spam?} {Disarmed}
> [robot_sig]
> > Quinn's
> > > Project
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > I fully agree with Linus' two main points: 1) start small, 2)
> have
> > a
> > > specific goal.
> > >
> > > Would there be any interest in competitions like what they do in
> > the
> > > States - at the high-end they have things like robo-magellan and
> > the
> > > trinity college fire-fighting content, then at the middle-ground
> > > things comps like mini-sumo.
> > >
> > > Organised comps give motivation, goals and foster both co-
> > operation
> > > and a healthy level of competition which I think hobby robotics
> > > needs. (This is the connection to the topic at hand)
> > >
> > > Just wanted to float it and see what folks thought.
> > >
> > > Cheers,
> > > Marcin
> > >
> > > --- In robot_sig@yahoogrou <mailto:robot_sig%40yahoogroups.com>
> > ps.com, "Quinn"
> > > <quinn@> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Ok maybe it's a bit to much to start with, but I am wanting to
> > do
> > > something,
> > > > I am sick of sitting around doing nothing.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > From: robot_sig@yahoogrou <mailto:robot_sig%40yahoogroups.com>
> > ps.com
> > > [mailto:robot_sig@yahoogrou
> > <mailto:[mailto:robot_sig@yahoogrou%20%3cmailto:robot_sig%
> 40yahoogroups.com%
> > 3e%20%0bps.com]> <mailto:robot_sig%40yahoogroups.com>
> > ps.com]
> > > On Behalf
> > > > Of Linus Dillon
> > > > Sent: Sunday, August 27, 2006 9:11 AM
> > > > To: Robot Sig
> > > > Subject: {Definitely Spam?} {Disarmed} [robot_sig] Quinn's
> > Project
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Hi Quinn,
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Thought it best to start a new thread to discuss your idea.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > First up (and don't take this as criticism), be careful biting
> > off
> > > too much
> > > > initially. I know that's why I ended up dropping out from the
> > > group. You may
> > > > want to either aim for some smaller projects first, or ensure
> > that
> > > whatever
> > > > you build can be done in smaller stages which themselves are
> > > interesting.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Having said that, I guess the first thing to work out about
> the
> > > larger
> > > > project is what you are aiming for. You say it will feature
> > either
> > > tracks or
> > > > wheels, however those two architectures are very different, so
> > you
> > > will have
> > > > to decide that before anything else. What do you want the
> robot
> > to
> > > DO? What
> > > > problem do you want it to solve? What challenge would you like
> > to
> > > explore
> > > > with it?
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > You will then have to start thinking about what you will build
> > it
> > > from.
> > > > Modified existing toy? Pre-designed kit? Lego? Meccano?
> > Plastics?
> > > Metal
> > > > section? Wood? Ask yourself what skills do you already have
> with
> > > respect to
> > > > building stuff? How much can/will you spend? (note, that given
> > your
> > > > statement about it being 3 to 4 feet tall (AHH! metric please!
> > > errr... about
> > > > 1 metre tall) you will probably need to look at wood/metal
> > section
> > > for the
> > > > skeleton for something that size).
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Obviously tracks would be easier (there are some tracked-
> vehicle
> > > kits out
> > > > there so you can get the basic components easily enough and
> them
> > > adjust to
> > > > the form you actually want), however tracked vehicles chew up
> a
> > > fair bit of
> > > > power and don't turn all that neatly on carpets. Bipeds are
> now
> > > finally
> > > > starting to take off, and you can even buy a simple one for
> $100
> > > or so and
> > > > then hack that if you wish (RoboSapien and RoboSapien V2),
> > however
> > > if you
> > > > wish to build form the ground up there are also several servo-
> > > based kits
> > > > available now (although pricey), and building your own from
> > > scratch is no
> > > > longer impossible. However it will probably not be able to
> > lift/do
> > > too much
> > > > else, and your looking at a VERY long project if you starting
> > from
> > > the group
> > > > up.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Have you considered the 'segway' style robots? I find these
> quite
> > > > interesting, and people have even built basic models from LEGO
> > > Mindstorms!
> > > > You could view them as featuring some of the same issues as
> > biped
> > > (dynamic
> > > > balance) with much simpler mechanics, lower power consumption,
> > and
> > > capable
> > > > of bearing larger weights. I haven't seen too much PRACTICAL
> use
> > > made of
> > > > them as yet however, but I know the guys who did the
> RoboSapiens
> > > are soon to
> > > > release a robot with arms that has this style of locomotion.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > You may be interested in this:
> > > http://www.msl. <http://www.msl.
> <http://www.msl.ri.cmu.edu/projects/ballbot/>
ri.cmu.edu/projects/ballbot/>
> > > ri.cmu.edu/projects/ballbot/ -
> > > > probably NOT what your after, but the idea of a robot
> balancing
> > on
> > > a ball is
> > > > interesting.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > -Linus
> > > >
> > >
> >
>