New To Robotics

[thegathering]

That actually sounds like alot of fun. An RC car can be bought for not too much. Then you just need to fix the weapon on top/front/side whatever.

[The Haser]

Yeah I suppose that, a few people are taking apart remote control cars like you said.

Just mount the drill and tweak it a bit, but we can't use the actual car itself, we can really only use parts.

[LordTalps]

I don't want to think RC cars have much torque? Make something with a bit of power and some weight, you'll own the sumo and control competitions.

[The Haser]

I basically want to have more spin on the bot than have it moving. So like, move it to a standard speed in the sumo, but have it spin a hella lot faster than its moving.

[Cuog]

You may want to check out http://robotroom.com this guy competes and runs mini-sumo competitions in the seattle area I think. His site and books have alot of very useful information for building these robotcs completely from scratch

[bear24rw]

As far as making it wireless you should look into hobby controllers

http://www.futaba-rc.com/radios/futj63.html

I have that one and iv been pretty happy with it. It comes with a receiver and batterpack. If you dont know already the receiver will out put PWM (Pulse width modulation) that will control speed controllers that will controller your motors (you can also hook a servo up directy into the receiver)

Good Luck!

If you want a high speed, yet fairly light and small weapon, May I suggest going for a cordless dremel? It's simple to wire one to a speed controller or other power source, and they also come with some nice blade choices, like zip cutters and small endmills.

As far as a driving system, I'd go with a vex tank tread kit, as it's not too expensive, yet it still has decent tourque and grip, as well as the fact that it's more maneuverable than a normal rc car (tank style turning).

[The Haser]

I"m sorry but again I am new, and I don't really know the parts.

Only thing I know how to control something with is a potentiometer...

[LordTalps]

Originally Posted by The Haser

I"m sorry but again I am new, and I don't really know the parts.

Only thing I know how to control something with is a potentiometer...

You have the power of the internet -- and all semester. Go learn

[KenWittlief]

If the purpose of this project is to build something with the information you are learning, then they may not allow you to use Radio Control systems from RC cars, or VEX controllers. They may require you to use pots and wires to power the motors

you could still have something like a tank turrent spinning on your robot, if there is a non-spinning surface on the top for the control wires to exit the vehicle upwards.

BTW: For Sumo cars (competition where the car at the center of the table after 1 minute is the winner) fast is better than slow and torque-y. When two sumo cars are in a pushing match there is only so much force (energy) at your disposal. But if your car flys across the table and smacks the other one, it will send it flying (impact and momentum). Usually it will knock the other car right off the table.

[The Haser]

To Ken:

We are allowed to use anything that is 'relatively' safe (like no flame throwers, explosions etc). When I have the weapon spinning fast enough, I want the other just to repel off. Pretty much more work on the weapon than the bot itself.

To Andy:

Thegathering suggested I come here for help. This is a really good place . I don't really have money to buy books atm (no job...just lost it) - so I was suggested to come here.

My teacher has a lot of the supplies and stuff. We'll probably have to buy extras ourselves. I was at a store earlier checking stuff out and I mentioned that potentiometer stuff too. That's pretty much what I'll be using haha...

My teacher suggested the same thing. Get hte bot working first then worry about the rest.

[The Haser]

Okay here's another question.

If I take apart a remote-controlled car and I want to put a weapon on it (a saw), and the car is wireless, how do I do it, as in how would I make the weapon wireless?

[Andy A.]

Just for clarity- This website is the unoffical discussion forum for the FIRST robotics compeition. It is a highschool level international oganization that seeks to promote science and technology. As such, most of the expertise here centers around that, although you'll also find some very, very smart people here from all fields. People such as your self stumble on this site all the time looking for help on problems not directly related to FIRST, and will at least get pointed in the right direction. Certaintly, during the off season we all welcome a chance to help someone. So, Welcome. I hope you keep coming back.

If that is the case, forget about a weapon. Don't even worry your self about it. Focus all your attention on developing a working and powerful (relatively speaking) drive train and control system. Then consider 'up armoring' it. Keep in mind that any of the weapons likely to be carried will not be terribly powerful. There isn't room or electrical power for a real novice to get anything really destructive working.

Turtle up. Get a drive system that will run all day with out breaking, is easy for you to control and provides you with an agreeable ratio of torque and speed. Armor it to the point that BB gun can't damage it and it will survive you kicking it across the floor. Then practice. The more time you have to run it the more you will know what will break, what it's limitations are and how to best control it. Experience in FIRST has shown time and time again that driver skill is at least important, if not more so, then the features of the actual machine.

If it is legal, I would second the purchase of a Vex starter kit. It is something of an erector set for robotics. It will start you off with some basic hardware, a powerful control system and a basic set of ideas for making moving robots. You can then proceed from there with things like more powerful motors, armor, treads and so on.

If it is not legal, and you really do have to create your own kit, then it sounds like you already know the basics of creating a circuit and are not in so bad a situation. Consider controlling a robot using 'tank' steering by switching power and direction of each side of the robots drive system using simple switches in your hand with a tether to the 'bot. This is the simplest and fastest way of getting something working. You can elaborate on this by including things like potentiometers to introduce some speed control.

I am curious. You said that everything had to be hand made. What sort of manufacturing tools do you have? Do you have simple hand tools? A drill? Drill press? Lathe? What sort of materials are you going to use? What your capabilities, and budget, may have a very large impact on the advice you get here and elsewhere. Make sure you are clear on what you can and are willing to spend on this. Robotics can really burn through your spare cash.

There are a number of excellent books on amateur robotics available at any decent bookstore, and probably libraries. I highly suggest you look into them, as they can go into much more detail then we can here.

-Andy A.