Yaaarc members have several projects under development:
As of May, 2000
See Jeep for details about the "Jeep" project.
As of our April meeting, we have agreed to move forward on a group project substantially larger than any we have worked on before. This latest project is to start with a base platform that more involved robotics projects can be constructed upon. The platform is based on one of those electric kiddie cars, consisting of a square-tube metal frame, two 12-volt gearbox driven rear wheels, and rack steering. The metal frame is then covered with a plywood sheet that additional hardware and electronics can be easily mounted to.
A PWM motor controller has been purchased from http://divelec.tripod.com to drive the rear wheels. This controller takes either a POT input or PWM, and can drive up to a 30 Amp load at 12 volts. A lead-acid battery for a garden tractor has also been purchased to provide power to the platforms motors and onboard electronics.
A steering assembly has yet to be acquired. We are invisioning a jackscrew assembly comprised of a reversable DC motor with a worm gear attached to its shaft. A nut, attached to the cross-link between the front wheels, will ride across the worm gear. By driving the motor clockwise or counterclockwise will control left and right turning. A feedback method is yet to be designed, and will certainly be application specific.
Applications for the platform could be: Experiments in high current motor controls, navigation, fluxgate compasses, jewel compasses, GPS navigation, machine vision, stereoscopic vision, SONAR ranging, voice regonition & response, Spread Spectrum radio control, RF data links for telemetry and remote control, payload delivery, etc. It was even suggested that the platform could be entered into local parades and throw candy to the bystanders.
This platform should prove to be an asset to the YAAARC in the development of our skills and knowledge of robots.
I propose that we name this robot platform "YAAARC-3" as our last group project was YAAARC-2...
As of April 29th, 1997
David Warner is building a robot based on two nice, small, gear motors and some
Lego parts. He designed and built a PWM motor controller and PIC programmer. He
has made some really nice circuit boards in his kitchen with artwork from his
laserprinter. His next step is to start learning to program the PIC.
Erik Kauppi designed and built the Y2MD. (Yaaarc 2 channel motor driver). This is
a high current, PWM motor driver. Erik may still have some for sale. It is the
drive unit for several Yaaarc robots.
Pete Hines designed and built a visible LED based distance measurement circuit for
his 68HC11 robot. It gets 4 channels of detection out of one quad op-amp and some processor
help. It has a range of about 8 to 12 inches. If he gets _really_ motivated, he will
post the schematic here (hint, hint). With
David's circuit board technology it would be _much_ easier to produce more copies. The
original unit is done with hand wired perf board.
Paul Haas is working on a number of small robots based on commercial RC type cars, controlled
by Y2MD drivers and PIC micro's.