Mechanical Robotic Kits

[Not2B]

OK, let's try something else...

What do you want this to do?

What kind of payload (12v car battery, or 7.2v RC car battery pack? BIG robot arm or just a sensor array?)
What kind of terrain?
Radio controlled? Or auto mode all the way?
Size? (Just big enough, or room to play with other add-ons?)
Use? (Just to test sensors, or future battle bot frame?)
Speed?
Complexity? (Sounds like you want simple as possible, with bandsaw fabracation only.)
Cost? (Can we spend $35,000?)
Etc...

SO, if you could describe what you want this to do, exactly and to as much detail as possible, I bet people here could help you come up with a design good for you.

Tell us as MUCH as possible. Even if it seems obvious to you. I'm not so smart most of the time, so you'll have to spell it out for me.

This could be fun!

[sanddrag]

The wonderful country of China can help greatly in reducing the cost of this project. Did somebody say drill motors?

[Not2B]

Originally Posted by sanddrag

The wonderful country of China can help greatly in reducing the cost of this project. Did somebody say drill motors?

I just got back from a trip to China. Those drills are only the tip of the iceburg. I could go down to the local hut and buy a 200 Ton injection molding machine and have it delivered that day. CNC Mills? Right next to the chickens. Take your pick - they are laying about. Just about everyone I met could weld (not well, but they could do it.) And you can buy ANYTHING with iPod stamped on it. iPod cameras. iPod TVs. iPod memory sticks. iPod music players. Now keep in mind NONE of them were iPods, but if you are going to do copywrite infringement, you may as well go BIG.

But most importantly, everyone wanted to learn as much as they could. I've never seen anything like it. The entire City of Shenzhen was like a 24 hour a day FIRST build season.

OK, sorry - back to the base design. Sorry bout that.

[J Flex 188]

Put in a nutshell, that's exactly why Dean wants FIRST to expand and to grow across North America. How often do you see such a scene in your average North American city. There's no question that this can't be repeated in every city around China, but there is a definite eagerness to learn more, do more and be more in that country. The only problem is doing it legally. Growing up in that environment means people lack a certain sense of ethical reasoning, where you would find a different kind of collaboration amongst FIRST teams in China, probably the importation and copying of the Simbots without their permission

Now to get this post slightly back on to topic,
Has anyone experimented with old controllers and the old school PBASIC controller from past years at home? I'm thinking of buying a VEX kit and tinkering with it at home, or for something cheaper, but possibly less reliable and much more complicated, using old controllers from my team's stash (of course I'd have to clear it with them first )

Originally Posted by Not2B

I just got back from a trip to China. Those drills are only the tip of the iceburg. I could go down to the local hut and buy a 200 Ton injection molding machine and have it delivered that day. CNC Mills? Right next to the chickens. Take your pick - they are laying about. Just about everyone I met could weld (not well, but they could do it.) And you can buy ANYTHING with iPod stamped on it. iPod cameras. iPod TVs. iPod memory sticks. iPod music players. Now keep in mind NONE of them were iPods, but if you are going to do copywrite infringement, you may as well go BIG.

But most importantly, everyone wanted to learn as much as they could. I've never seen anything like it. The entire City of Shenzhen was like a 24 hour a day FIRST build season.

OK, sorry - back to the base design. Sorry bout that.

[Elgin Clock]

Originally Posted by Not2B

I just got back from a trip to China. Those drills are only the tip of the iceburg. I could go down to the local hut and buy a 200 Ton injection molding machine and have it delivered that day. CNC Mills? Right next to the chickens. Take your pick - they are laying about. Just about everyone I met could weld (not well, but they could do it.) And you can buy ANYTHING with iPod stamped on it. iPod cameras. iPod TVs. iPod memory sticks. iPod music players. Now keep in mind NONE of them were iPods, but if you are going to do copywrite infringement, you may as well go BIG.

But most importantly, everyone wanted to learn as much as they could. I've never seen anything like it. The entire City of Shenzhen was like a 24 hour a day FIRST build season.

OK, sorry - back to the base design. Sorry bout that.

Hmm.. note to self.
edit: Learn how to speak Chinese, and negotiate deals more better. LOL
THEN Go to China and visit some street markets.
w00t for capitalism!

[Cody Carey]

Why not wood? just mount stuff with drywall screws.
I'm not joking... There are robots that go into competition with wood bases, and all you need it for is testing anyway, right? It's cheap; You can work it into any simple machine with a table/band saw, and it is readily replaceable.

[EricRobodox]

R/C car? mod the electronics. im sure there are plenty of R/C cars that have programmable controls anyways.

[Jeremiah Johnson]

Originally Posted by EricRobodox

R/C car? mod the electronics. im sure there are plenty of R/C cars that have programmable controls anyways.

Any good websites that actually teach you how to mod an R/C car? I have a couple just lying around and I want to make me a robot. LOL.