A request for help from FIRST teams

[JustinCooper]

Hello everyone,

My name is Justin Cooper and I am working on a robotics project for my Masters thesis at Tulane in New Orleans. I have designed a novel remote-control robot that will allow wheelchair users to play putt-putt golf. The robots will be used at Grace King High School in Metairie, La. at an on-campus golf course that was specially designed to be wheelchair accessible. I have constructed the robot using scooter motors and chains, and it is controlled by a Microchip PIC16F84A that I programmed to work with motor controllers I built using MOSFETs.

While I am pleased with the novel design, I am worried about sustainability for the project -- what will happen if some of the robots break down after I leave town? It would be nice if I could have a supply of motors, motor controllers, radio transmitter/receivers, robot controllers, etc. to give to Grace King High School so that they can easily replace damaged parts.

I have volunteered at the FIRST Bayou Regional in New Orleans each of the last two years as a robot inspector, so I am somewhat familiar with the parts used by FIRST. These parts could be very useful to me, as they would allow me to use an easily replaceable component and hopefully give the high school some extra parts they can install in the event of robot damage or failure. I emailed Scot Marshall, the lead robot inspector at the Bayou Regional, and he referred me to Charles Kennedy a FIRST Regional Director. Mr. Kennedy recommended that I post here at chiefdelphi.com.

To save cost, I would like to buy or acquire used/excess robot parts from teams that competed in FIRST this year. The most valuable parts to me would be some Victor motor controllers and the accompanying circuit breakers. I am building up to 10 robots, each of which will require two motors and two motor controllers. Please let me know if you have any questions about my project or the parts I'm interested, and if you would be able to send me some of your extra parts for a reduced price.

Thanks a lot,
Justin
justin.p.cooper@gmail.com