Beginner's Robotics Kit

[Keith Chester]

Off to St. Thomas for a week- we have off from school. Naturally I'm bringing a pad and such to draw ideas down for robotics, but while I'm away, I'll let the think tank of CD churn away at a question I am yet to find a suitable answer to.

I need a robotics kit, or a beginners one. I say beginners because it will be the easiest to build up and modify. I am doing this for two reasons- for a prorgam design I'm thinking about, and for personal use.

I'm between buying, for personal use, a robotics kit or the slightly more expensive robotics controller found at www.roboteq.com . I don't have the money to put down on an edubot kit.

So, if CD could suggest a good kit keeping COST in mind, as well as telling me overall how difficult said kit would be, let me know. Heck, if I had it my way, I'd buy the FIRST controller. Of course, few things go my way.

Thanks CD! I'll bring everyone back a seashell or something.

[Andrew Rudolph]

The lego mindstorms kits are totally made of awesome for beginners. If you want somthing more powerful than the RCX you can get a handyboard.

[GregTheGreat]

Originally posted by Andrew Rudolph
The lego mindstorms kits are totally made of awesome for beginners. If you want somthing more powerful than the RCX you can get a handyboard.

I agree, the mindstorms kit is great, it is cheap easy to use, and best of all easy (super super easy) to program. The kit will give you just about everything you need to build. You might want to buy a few more lego kits just to have sum extra blocks, and maybe get a lend of an extra RCX from a FLL team. That way you could have 2 separate "bot projects" being built.

-Greg The Great

[Aignam]

Originally posted by GregTheGreat
I agree, the mindstorms kit is great, it is cheap easy to use, and best of all easy (super super easy) to program. The kit will give you just about everything you need to build. You might want to buy a few more lego kits just to have sum extra blocks, and maybe get a lend of an extra RCX from a FLL team. That way you could have 2 separate "bot projects" being built.

-Greg The Great

I believe that Replic was searching for a bit more complex robot project, along the lines of building a small, cheap RC robot with metal and motors and the whole nine yards, but not quite a FIRST robot or a BattleBot.

[GregTheGreat]

Originally posted by Aignam
I believe that Replic was searching for a bit more complex robot project, along the lines of building a small, cheap RC robot with metal and motors and the whole nine yards, but not quite a FIRST robot or a BattleBot.

Ohh, well than what about buying a basic stamp kit, then buy a trans and receiver, throw in some FP motors and gearboxes, and you have a mobile robot. You could prolly do this for under $300, you would have to do the programming yourself though (Its not to difficult)

-Greg The Great

[Aignam]

Originally posted by GregTheGreat
Ohh, well than what about buying a basic stamp kit, then buy a trans and receiver, throw in some FP motors and gearboxes, and you have a mobile robot. You could prolly do this for under $300, you would have to do the programming yourself though (Its not to difficult)

-Greg The Great

Can you reccomend any specific transmitter/receivers. That's the bulk of the money, and it is rather difficult to find a cheap, effective unit.

P.S. Replic says hi from St. Thomas. He's having a good time so far, though he still is having trouble locating his hotel room.

[Andrew Rudolph]

http://www.robotics.com/rbfd/

Here is a product you may be interested in.

[GregTheGreat]

Originally posted by Aignam
Can you reccomend any specific transmitter/receivers. That's the bulk of the money, and it is rather difficult to find a cheap, effective unit.

P.S. Replic says hi from St. Thomas. He's having a good time so far, though he still is having trouble locating his hotel room.

Sorry for the delay in answer, I do have the info for you if you are still interested.

Here is the FF and communication stuff...

http://www.parallax.com/html_pages/p...ation_main.asp

and here is the basic stamps...

http://www.parallax.com/html_pages/p...sic_stamps.asp

If you wanta talk about what stamp ya need, Ill be more then happy to help you pick out the right one for your project...

Also, If you don't want to buy the transmitter and receiver, You might be able to get your teams transmitter and receiver, then integrate them with the stamp. Or ask on CD if any one would want to sell one of their old trans/rec. (Might be cheaper)

Well Just My Input.

-Greg The Great