So far this summer:
>Take old kidde car (something like
this one, though this one's more modern than mine) and turn it into a goose chasing/remote control robot. Building my own control system from scratch, including Radio Control packet routines, operator controller, robot controller, and motor controls with video feedback, range of one mile.
>Build a 3-Axis cartesian robot for the manufacturing place I work at, using THK linear bearings/ballscrews, making my own frames. Using AutomationDirect SureStep stepper motors of various sizes for drives on the three axes, will have an envelope of about 36" X 24" Y 12" Z. The manipulator, when finished, will be doing vision inspection and ATE of electronic engine controls. Am designing and programming my own motion controller capable of simultaneous 3 axis motion and helical interpolation (never done helical before, should be fun!
)
-q