Tote bot

[Loose Screw]

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.

[GreyingJay]

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.

[JamesCH95]

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.

[Mschmeh144]

Originally Posted by GreyingJay

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.

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

[GreyingJay]

Originally Posted by Mschmeh144

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

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!)