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[DPRG] ProtoBot progress...
Subject: [DPRG] ProtoBot progress...
From: dpa
dpa at io.isem.smu.edu
Date: Mon Jul 9 16:15:32 CDT 2007
Kenneth,
Beautiful and inspiring work, as always.
Looks like you are nearly ready for a trip to Dallas for a "JBot Challenge"
a.k.a. DPRG Long Haul competition. I've had a couple of other out-of-town
folks express an interest in such an event this fall. Can ProtoBot be ready?
We were discussing three separate "challenges" that would include 1) A 100
foot Borenstein square (UMBmark) in an empty parking lot like we did last
year, 2) Wall following around the perimeter of a big building at FairPark --
either the Science Place itself or perhaps the Aquarium Building, and 3) A two
way-point trip across FairPark and back, somewhat like the trek from TSP to the
WRR studios that jBot demo'd for the DPRG last year.
Dr. Huff would like to see these as challenges rather than as competitions,
more like BoyScout merit badges where everyone that completes a particular
challenge is rewarded. I'm not sure. Seems like folks are more likely to
show up for a competition, based on previous experiences.
Perhaps we could combine both, with a merit-based challenge but still keep
track of fastest times, best accuracy, etc, in a Book of Honor so builders
can know how their creation ranked compared to others. Need some thought
about this. Mostly I'd just like to get jBot together with some other outdoor
robots and play...
Thoughts?
best regards,
dpa
> Hello David & Group,
>
> I thought to take a few minutes to share my personal robotics inspiration of
> the week.
>
> Status today:
>
> I have a medium duty rolling chassis. The suspension (or lack there of) is
> hard other than that afforded by the hard foam wheels. The main control
> board and power system boards are stuffed and operational (running minimal
> code & CPLD functions.) The recent push has been to design/build an
> operational rolling chassis for outdoor use. Mechanically the Initial
> design is complete with the exception of the chain drive the connects
> gearbox output stages to the front and rear motors. (right side fore and
> aft wheels rotate together on one gearbox, while the left side shares a
> second giving differential steering operation.) To give you an idea for
> scale, those are 10" tires...
>
> http://nikita.argia.net/kmaxon/proto_bot_142.jpg
>
> http://nikita.argia.net/kmaxon/proto_bot_controller_bd_02.jpg
>
>
> Coming Status in the next couple weeks:
>
> In the coming week, I'll mount the batteries (~10min with a hex wrench). I
> also need to stuff and mount the RF remote control interface board, and to
> stuff both motor driver boards (visible in the lower center foreground of
> this image (mounted vertically, smaller plastic enclosure)) After this
> there is a reasonably large wiring job ahead of me, however I have already
> designed in cable disconnects for each enclosure to make them modular so
> that I can pull them from the bot for repair or bench operation.
>
>
> Future statuses, no time line set:
>
> There are many planned future add-ons. The power supply board contains
> several additional DC motor drivers as well as Stepper motor drivers &
> configurable high power switches for later additions of a air powered ping
> pong ball vortex launcher, a small arm for retrieving objects & expended
> ammo (ping pong balls). If all progresses well, I will be layering in
> several of the vision system components from my small robot project "Dohn
> Joe" and some of the other structured light work I've been playing with over
> the years. However the immediate tasks are to get this beastie up and
> running in a short time frame now that the mechanicals are sound.
>
>
> I hope the photos provide some form of inspiration to the group to get out
> there and work on their own robots. If you care to check out some detailed
> photos of the robot parts or other construction photos I've posted them in
> the ProtoBot section of my web site...
>
> http://www.users.qwest.net/~kmaxon/index.html
>
> -Enjoy
>
>
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