[Adam Shapiro]

Originally Posted by sparksandtabs

I didn't know if ChIt-ChAt was the appropriate place for this but oh well....

I was just wondering what people personal projects are. Whether it be programming, or mech or electrical, or everything. I will start off:

A custom GPS controlled robot with encoders, accelerometers, gyros and a digital compass. It will be able to move from and to GPS coordinate which means it will be able to follow a path. I will also have code on it which can make it balance on 2 wheels, and maybe with a pnuematic on it so it can stand itself up. It have a 24"x24"x5" frame make from 1/2" .0625 walled box tubing with 14" pnuematic skyway wheels. It will be driven by 2 1/2" drill motors (for those of you who are as old, they are old kit motors). Right now I have an old pbasic control system to put on it if I wish. But I will also be making a custom controller with the Atmel AVR series microcontrollers. I will most likely be using the radio modems, and have a wireless access point on board along with being able to mount my laptop on it. And it will eventually have a long range radio system on it so it can go miles from the control point. I would like to put a video feed on it too. Right now it can hold about 6 robot batteries in the chassis and will be expandable up to 24 robot batteries while still being able to flip over and drive on top/bottom along with having wheel edges pertrude from the fornt/back of it so it will hopefully never get stuck. For connecting all the power I have 3 Anderson 175 Amp battery connectors and atx style fuse panels (old kit panels). As an addintional option on it I will be trying to make a robotic arm abot to mount on it with 4 screws and use 2 fisher price motors and trannies.

I don't believe I left anything out. What about you guys?

-John

That sounds pretty awesome! What kind of GPS units are you using? Are you really going to code for it in pbasic? That could get very interesting very fast..

Personally I build autonomous cars. I'm working on the Cornell DARPA Urban Challenge team (yes, the competition that preceeded the videos of the roach-bot). I built an HCS12-run actuation controller for the car that is controlled via ethernet, as well as a synchronized, ethernet-enabled, distributed sensor network. At this point I've designed and prototyped about 12 different devices that are now mostly functioning in our competition vehicle.

I would definitely say that had I not been able to do FIRST in high school I would not have been able to accomplish a fraction of what I have this past year for the team. For all the seniors I would recommend joining (or starting if necessary) a project team, research group, or other extra-curricular project once you graduate and go off to college. The work experience you'll get there is much closer to life after school than anything you'll get in your classes, and it's much more fun too!