Afghanistan robot

[JesseK]

Something tells me that other troops who see the robot will think "Oh cool, let's go blow some s*** up!". Or, if the robot gets left behind, other troops who come in after the ones who built it will think the same thing.

So if we send them some AM transmissions, let's please remove the AM stickers and labels. I think it'd be very interesting to see just how tough the toughbox and toughbox nanos are though...

[Dick Linn]

Here are some pictures from Camp Leatherneck and the area:

http://www.duggback.com/world_news/C..._Big_Pictures/

Hopefully Nathan will be able to get on this thread and communicate directly. He has what amounts to dial-up access. Plus, he has a job to do keeping the generators going.

[Bob Bonczyk]

Would kit of parts frame material be helpful. We have one maybe two kits still in the box that we could donate to this cause. I don't know if this would be to big to ship over there, If this helps let me know.

[Dick Linn]

He's a generator mechanic, so he has access to various things. He did say he found some treads and chain/sprockets, but I have no idea what they have in mind. Just have to wait and see.

I'm sure that he'll need some speed controllers and a control system. That's not something you find laying around just anywhere.

[Andrew Schreiber]

Originally Posted by Dick Linn

He's a generator mechanic, so he has access to various things. He did say he found some treads and chain/sprockets, but I have no idea what they have in mind. Just have to wait and see.

I'm sure that he'll need some speed controllers and a control system. That's not something you find laying around just anywhere.

Control System MIGHT be, I'll look into it. Would the old 883s and an old IFI system work? But depending on what they want to do with it might be worth putting together a custom control system using something a little longer range (Zigbee comes to mind) which could be done cheaper than the IFI system at a cost to the power of it.

Specifics, I am going to guess they would need 2 speed controllers and a full control system including joysticks and radio equipment. Anything else?

Anyway, I'll see if I can find an old control system that would be able to be donated or look into the cost of a custom one. If we can swing a control system I just ask that we get a picture of the finished product (posted on CD would be fine).

[Dick Linn]

I appreciate all the interest and we'll see what can be worked out. Keep in mind that these guys are WAY out there and don't have a lot of leisure time. I'm inclined to see what they can scrounge and cob together as a base platform and go from there.

[enrgizerbunny]

Greetings! I am the said deployed Marine of this thread.

I'm not asking for a kit or anything major, just looking for some electronics that I won't be able to find out here. We haven't decided exactly what this bot is going to do, but we're going to start with making a drive train, tread driven(that's all we have currently). Haven't figured out motors yet, there's some winch motors which I'm sure would have ample torque for the task, I'm still searching for a wiper motor (looks like the window motor with a worm gear in the FIRST kits). I found a gearbox witha 1.84 ratio, don't know what it went to, but it had chain and sprockets attached. I'm hoping they throw another one away soon. There isn't much to choose from, but I think I've got most the hardware that is required already out here. We're still seeing if we can get enough scrap together to make this hunk of junk (literally) come together and work. It's 4:15 am here, I'll be busy for the next couple weeks, so I've got a kink in the project for a little bit. There are issues that I need to work out too, most things around here are 24VDC, not 12 since that's what all the vehicles batteries are, so I've gotta make sure all that will work too.

I'm looking for a controller (an old IFI controller would be a godsend),two joysticks and couple speed controllers, a copy of the software to program said controller, and any ideas on making the latter work with Windows 7. I don't want to ask for much, but my preference would be one that is programmed in C. If not, I can figure it out. I'm still figuring out a couple things like circuit breakers, etc. I figure I might order some from radio shack or online.

Oh, of course there will be picture of the finished product, probably video, and I wouldn't doubt there will be at least one case of an out of control, stuck in autonomous, HOLY-CRAP-CUT-THE-POWER-IT'S-GONNA-KILL-SOMEBODY robot.


It took me an entire hour to register, confirm and get the link for the picture on my sig from another forum I'm on. I haven't been on a connection this slow since the 20th century, haha.

[enrgizerbunny]

Oops double posted somehow. But I figured I would add that this is a purely recreational thing to occupy time when there's nothing to do (happens more than you think). So ranges and things would be well, about as far as a regulation FIRST playing field is more than enough.

[Andrew Schreiber]

I'll see what I can find as far as controllers/oi/speed controllers/breaker panels go.

[Paul Rodi]

Nathan,

I hope your doing well. This seems like a really good idea.

If you need help with programming or teaching it to the students over there just contact me by email (rodipj@vcu.edu) or by my aim. I'll walk you through it and give you some demo codes. I'll also try to get you a copy of the software which I should have lying around.

As for a microcontroller, I think Mr. C has given most of ours to other teams. I'll keep an eye out for one and try to figure out if anyone that I know around Richmond has any extra.

Keep me posted about what's going on with this.

Thanks,
Paul Rodi

[Kingofl337]

I'm pretty sure they will need 883's for the speed controllers as they will take 24v if you change the fan. The RC / OI will need a voltage regulator to drop the 24v to 12v. So, a LM7812 that can handle 1-2A should do it.

[EricVanWyk]

Originally Posted by Kingofl337

I'm pretty sure they will need 883's for the speed controllers as they will take 24v if you change the fan. The RC / OI will need a voltage regulator to drop the 24v to 12v. So, a LM7812 that can handle 1-2A should do it.

Apparently the Black Jaguars can do 24V too, but they aren't for sale yet.


EDIT: I just finished checking, it would only take a couple of hours to make a PD 24V compliant. We could get a 2009/2010 control system running at 24V pretty easily, with the right modifications.

[MarioGal56]

Nathaaaaan
tis my brother, You can send toiletries and stuff to him. Im pretty sure you can send just about anything to him except Purel Hand sanitizer (apparently its alcohol content is too high haha) So sending robot part would confuse people, but it should be allowed. If you are interested in sending him or the marines he's stationed with supplies email me at Katwaters91@yahoo.com

Other than gearboxes he wants: Candy, (chocolate isnt the greatest idea due to the temperatures), games, and anything to prevent boredom.

-Mario

[MrHance]

As a Engineer that has recently spent two year at Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan. This is the main Air Force Base north of Kabul (the capital city). They have a military robotics operations there. As far as individuals making robots, I do not think this would be a good idea unless it was properly supervised to insure that no ideas or drawing or components got into the hands of the people that are using IED (Improvides Explosive Devices) to kill or injure the military soldiers trying to free the Afghanistan Nation from the Taliban or Al-Quida. These people are vey resourceful in items that they use. They could use robots to carry explosives into and maybe thru the barriers the protect the forces over there. You may think that I maybe paranoid, but I have seen many thing while over there. I do hop that one day we can have robotic teams from Afghanistan and other countries from the middle east perticapating in FIRST.

[MarioGal56]

Dream crusher