Tote bot
 

As my final project for this year, we are going to take a small grey game tote and turn it into a robot that pulls the " weeping angel" on you. For those who don't know what that is, basically, it'll follow you around and when you turn around it'll freeze in place, or drop to the ground and not move,depending on how complicated I want to make it. Dropping to the ground will require pneumatics parts that we don't have. It will look pretty much the same as a regular tote when its finished. Except with wheels, of course. Any ideas or helpful hints as to what I should use would be greatly appreciated. I am going to be using the old cRIO four slot and the old control system parts. The only problem is the drive system. The rest I can handle.

Re: Tote bot
 

I seriously doubt that this function will "require" a pneumatic system. I am sure that you'll be able to come up with at least four different ways to do this without pneumatics. Don't limit yourself!

If you could describe what drive system components are available to you it might help you get more useful advice, and you might figure out something on your own. So, what do you have?

Re: Tote bot
 

If you're planning on using pneumatics, I would reccomend using 1/2" stroke pistons to raise/lower your drive train. If you're really going for the Weeping Angel feel, you should add air restrictors to control the speed of the pistons. Nothing ruins the mood of being silently watched when you hear puffs of air and a tote clanking to the ground.

Staying in the mind of a weeping angel, you should either disable the compressor when stalking, or use an off-board compressor. You shouldn't need that much psi to lift the tote, and with enough tanks you won't need to recharge for long periods.

When it comes to building a totebot, you should ask the guys who made the one previously shown of CD.

Re: Tote bot
 

For this project to be effective you want the thing to be as silent as possible while moving, and make it look as much like a regular, unassuming tote as possible. I'm picturing rubber wheels that touch the ground via cutouts from the bottom of the tote.

How does it detect when you turn around? Face recognition?

I like the idea by the way. I hope you post a video of it when you're done.

Re: Tote bot
 

I wouldn't think of "raising and lowering the drive train" but instead I would think of "raising and lowering the tote."

Here is a masterfully done CAD rendering of an idea: http://imgur.com/4ebNHBF

Use a winch in the middle, some cable, and some pulleys, to hoist the tote up around the drive base, and then set it down. All motor-driven, no drive articulation, and you could easily take all of the robot guts out of the tote to work on them.

There were 2 tote bots at the Indiana District Championship and neither articulated. Both could sit still and appear to be resting on the floor.

Re: Tote bot
 

Currently, I have the full control system assembled, two talon sr controllers,as many cim motors as I could ever need, and pneumatics parts, and of course, the tote. We have several types of wheels. The only limit is the drivetrain itself, I may be limited to just 2 CIMple box gearboxes.

Also, if I get the time I'll program it to make mouse noises like squeaks and yips as it moves around.

Re: Tote bot
 

The face recognition will be a problem of course
However you are correct on the cutouts, I was planning on doing that. And yes, it must be as quiet as possible. It also needs to have restraint so there isn't a insane box chasing everyone around

Re: Tote bot
 

^This. The trick was ground clearance, something neither had much of. In one case (the 868 one) there IIRC was some suspension so at least it had a chance if it got stuck on something... the other (the 3940 one) had a solid mecanum drivetrain that did get stuck on the scoring platforms a few times the one practice match it was used in (as a "50 point bonus if you catch it" prank on 3940).

Re: Tote bot
 

In your shoes I'd run 2x cimple boxes wiht 1 cim each and with the stock reduction to 2WD. Simple, light, reliable. Put a caster wheel or skid (or omni-wheels) in the "back" where your two driven wheels are not and make sure your battery is near your driving axle.

Re: Tote bot
 

One simple option might be to use a range finder. Have code that tries to optimize the distance to target to, say, 6 feet. As the person moves forward, the tote follows, trying to keep exactly 6 feet away. If the person stops, the tote will stop.

And, yes, set a maximum speed so the thing doesn't start chasing everyone (funny as that would look!)

Re: Tote bot
 

I would love to see a video of that! Surely someone must have been recording it...is it posted somewhere?

Re: Tote bot
 

Not sure. It was Thursday night at IN state champs, Andy Baker driving the totebot from the sidelines.

Re: Tote bot
 

This it the bot so far, it shouldn't take too long to build. We are planning on getting the 2015 robot to be able to chase it

Re: Tote bot
 

I'm picturing a bunch of people in the room having a meeting nonchalantly while in the background your robot is chasing this tote around. :p

Re: Tote bot
 

If you wanted to use pneumatics on the drive train, you could use a butterfly type drive, with the back traction wheel up inside as the axle/pivot point and just use 4 mini pistons to keep the tote elevated and be able to pop the wheels up inside. http://www.teamneutrino.org/seasons/...bot/butterfly/

Re: Tote bot
 

I can just imagine that conversation.
" so this chart shows..."
" excuse me, but what is that thing doing?"
" fighting crime. Against boxes. Next question"

Our robot is named the black knight. I just got the idea of painting the box joker colors and giving the black knight a cape. Lol.

Re: Tote bot
 

Update to the project
We have chosen a chain driven mechanism with two Andy mark motors driving them in a tank drive system, with a Omni wheel in the back. Ventilation might be a problem seeing as the tote will be closed. We chose victor motor controllers for the drive motors. Using the old control system will take up a lot of space so space is limited for anything other than the core drive system. Possibly some LED lights or some gizmo to improve the ridiculousness of this robot
I will post a photo tomorrow, as it sits the robot is just the tote, we laid the electronics out in the tote to see if it'll all fit. The wheel slots have been cut out of the tote. The sprockets need to be drilled out to accommodate a screw to connect to the motor shaft. The wheels are the old KOP white high grip small wheels. The Omni has yet to be chosen. The robot shouldn't reach too high of a speed overall. Both wheels will be on the same axle to save space, and each will have its own motor.

Re: Tote bot
 

Try it without ventilation first. Drive it around for a while then quickly stop it and check the temperature of the Victors. If you cannot hold your fingers on them, they are too hot.

The tote has a fair amount of surface area. Heat will pass through the walls to the outside. The plastic is not going to be a good conductor of the heat but it may be good enough. You may want to install one of the large fans that comes in the KOP to circulate the air inside the tote. The more driving around you do, the more heat the Victors will dissipate. This is offset by the air flowing over the tote as you drive. Some of the smaller AC motor controllers (under 50hp) we sell at work get put into large, totally sealed boxes due to the dusty environment they are being used in. There are formulas for calculating the size of the box needed based on the heat generated by the motor controller, the surface area available to dissipate the heat and the ambient temperature.

Re: Tote bot
 

You could always poke a hole in the bottom where stuff won't be seen, and add a fan if needed I suppose.

Re: Tote bot
 

Depending on where the totebot will be driven, it can suck in a lot of dirt.

Re: Tote bot
 

Well, if it's a 120mm computer fan it probably wouldn't be to difficult to get a washable filter for the intake.

Re: Tote bot
 

Maybe the hole at the bottom could be an exhaust, and the air intakes could come from, say, widening the gaps between the lids and the tote at the hinges. I don't have one in front of me but there are certainly places to discreetly drill holes or widen gaps. Totes aren't really airtight.

Re: Tote bot
 

Try it without ventilation first. If the components get too hot, Jays suggestion is probably the best option. Filters are an item that must be maintained to be effective. They are not at all effective if they are damaged or are left off.

Maybe you can add a window motor and make the flaps on top open and close for added effect.

Re: Tote bot
 

I will be sure to test it without ventilation first. and the flaps popping open would be hilarious especially if something pops out of the box when they open.

Re: Tote bot
 

the large fans are very stupid loud, I wouldn't want to put one in a enclosed space like the tote bot, but I would be willing to use several small ones

Re: Tote bot
 

If you are going to use smaller fans, install them so that they are on opposites sides and cause the air in the tote to circulate. For example, one installed on the right side pushes air toward the front and one on the left pushes air to the rear.

Something popping out could be good, say a small version of your school mascot. Otherwise, maybe you can fit in a small single-shot T-shirt cannon powered with surgical tubing, for simplicity.

Re: Tote bot
 

Re: Tote bot
 

This is the original totebot, as far as I know. We were present at the Indianapolis District Event and the Purdue District Event, but we didn't get the chance to drive around much at either. We love checking out all the other totebots that have popped up in the last few weeks. We even drove around with 3940's briefly at Purdue!

It's a lot of fun to have, and it was a lot of fun to build!

Re: Tote bot
 

I've seen that already but I must say we're not going to do anything nearly as advanced as that

Re: Tote bot
 

Here's Andy Baker's daughter Lucy tending to it.
A field reset person actually attempted to reset it after a match. It's a bit heavier than a regular tote.

Re: Tote bot
 

So AndyMark is now selling a tote bot.
http://www.andymark.com/product-p/am...m_medium=email

Re: Tote bot
 

The TechHOUNDS will build you an original Totebot for less. Speeds up to (and including!) 50 mph.

Fully customizable. Spoiler, lights, and paint job optional :)

Re: Tote bot
 

I find that pretty funny. Unfortunately we aren't using a yellow tote, were using a grey tote. From what it seems the grey totes are smaller.

Re: Tote bot
 

They're the same, except for color.

Re: Tote bot
 

John Dewey HS in Brooklyn sits on a few acres of nice flat land. So Ummm.. Should FRC 333 MEGALODONS host a TOTEBOT RaceTrack?!
Thoughts?

Re: Tote bot
 

It seems like you guys all have way too much time on your hands...lol
they look great! last time i saw a tote go almost that fast it was because a team mate built a stack and knocked it over. :rolleyes:

Re: Tote bot
 

And if you read the description carefully it actually does say that the AndyMark ToteBot kit comes with a grey Orbis tote even though it's pictured as yellow.

That is funny, though pricey. I wonder if they'll get any takers!

Re: Tote bot
 

There out of stock right now so they must be fairly popular.

Re: Tote bot
 

Update on the project, we have completed the inner frame. Tested it with 60lbs and the frame has absolutely no sagging. The parts have been chosen, two Andy mark pg27 motors in a staggered configuration, two victor 888, chain drive system, no tension system. Three wheeled design, two drive in the front (tank drive) one office chair swivel wheel in the back. The frame is made of tetrix metal parts.the battery will be mounted in front of the axle, pdp centered above the motors. Low speed gear ratio. Top speed 6-15 mph.

The only problems I have left to solve are finding the correct image for the CRio-II were using, and finding out how to ventilate the systems. And of course, fitting the control system into the box without having to jump on top to smash it in there lol.
I'm going to rig the ventilation to shut off when the flaps are open (safety reasons, dam near got a knuckle torn off by a fan)

Any help at all, would be greatly appreciated :) I will post a video of the tote bot
Sneaking around the room.

Re: Tote bot
 

Totebot nascar crossover on an outdoor track? This could be an application for that 12 cim system 271 has been cooking up: http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=136507

Re: Tote bot
 

The simplest design I can think of is reinforcing the drive with some 1 inch x 2 inch tubing on the inside of the tote and attaching the gearboxes to the tubing. Then you could just make a few cutouts in the tote for the drive axles for the wheels.