Rules regarding sensors/processors

[jacob_dilles]

you can buy $3 pics from digikey, and program them in the same language as the basic stamp 2. so what i am doing is development on the BS2, and when it comes time to implment it ill beam it over to a PIC. the $180 epic programer doesnt count towards the budget, as its not on the bot

[KenWittlief]

if you are going to design an internal naviagtion system based on a PIC processor, and do it in the off seaon, then there is one hitch - everything on your bot has to be either built (fabricated) after the kickoff for the new season, or it has to be something that is available to all teams

so if you are going to come up with a custom circuit board over the summer, you cannot us it on your bot next year

unless.....

you have a PCB made up, have several dozen produced, and offer them for sale to other teams for a reasonable price

-you get to use your off season work on the bot
-you have helped out other teams as well
-you will have oficially started your own electronics engineering design business while you are still in highschool

getting printed circuit boards made is not hard, and its not that expensive either.

[Adam Y.]

The electronics budget is what's going to stop you. You can only have $300 worth of electronic equipment, and no single part can be worth more than $100. Plus, it must be purchaseable from Digikey, Future Active, Radio Shack, or Newark-in-one.

Actually the budget isn't the problem. I can obtain an excellent computer for robotics use for $100.

you have a PCB made up, have several dozen produced, and offer them for sale to other teams for a reasonable price

That really is not a bad idea and I was thinking about this very thing last night. Of course I was only thinking of giving out the proper files to get the parts made yourself. Then again all you really need to make pcb's is a kit from Radio Shack and a laser printer.

[DanArgent]

Phrontist, for your plan to work we need to get prices for those optical mice. They shouldn't be over $100 and they would be available to everyone. so I think your plan would work.

[jacob_dilles]

Originally Posted by KenWittlief

if you are going to design an internal naviagtion system based on a PIC processor, and do it in the off seaon, then there is one hitch - everything on your bot has to be either built (fabricated) after the kickoff for the new season, or it has to be something that is available to all teams

i may be missing the point entierly, but six weeks is a long time to take a working prototype and build a final version. if you plan it out, build a test one, then file the plans away untill january, i see no problem in pre-purchasing parts and just slaping the thing together. if you share it with other teams, all the more power too you, but fabricating extras is a bit excessive.

Originally Posted by phrontist

Sonic Range Finder
"Compass" sensor
Vision tracking with onboard PC!

for a sonic range finder, you can get a $36 polorid transponder. if you wana take it an extra step up, Vernier offers a $69 "canned unit" that is basicly the polorid sensor with a serial interface. ( http://www.vernier.com ). another option is the devantech ranger which retails for $34 ( http://www.acroname.com/robotics/parts/R93-SRF04.html ) and is also a serial interface. what ever you may choose, ultrasonics are easy to code and simple to implement with a servo or just sevral fixed sensors.

for a compas, the best one out there is is by dinsmore ( http://www.dinsmoresensors.com/ ) and is basicly 4 switches in 8 postions that indicate heading. very simple, very reliable. this is oposed to a coil based solid state version... ie a compas on a chip for $50 ( http://www.robot-electronics.co.uk/s...CMPS032004.htm ) and is also very simple to code with a rs232 serial interface.

any other sensors or computers, as long as they fit the budget and are from the sources, are allowd.


the best compas sensor

[MikeDubreuil]

Originally Posted by KenWittlief

so if you are going to come up with a custom circuit board over the summer, you cannot us it on your bot next year

unless.....

you have a PCB made up, have several dozen produced, and offer them for sale to other teams for a reasonable price

I don't think that is correct.

I believe he can do whatever he wants in the offseason. However, any physical items have to be remade during the build season. Any software produced could be used. If he made a circuitboard he will have to just remake it during the build season. Anyone else see it this way?

EDIT: Design work can be done anytime. However, manafacturing must take place during designated times, such as the build.

[KenWittlief]

I agree- if he makes a new one after the kickoff then its not a problem

but anything you build or fabricate over the summer cannot be used - thats why I suggested he offer them for sale to all the teams - that way, he could have the bareboards fabricated over the summer, and if he sells them, he can use them too.