Modified Robonova
Modified Robonova
by Tohm
Thu Sep 14, 2006 7:45 pm
Ok, I’ve put it off long enough. Here are some shots of my modified robot. Like Matt, I can’t really call it the Robonova or the RN-1E(evil) anymore. But since it still does have some original brackets, I decided to post here.
Showing some attitude
Did this watching the Giants/Colts football game
Right now, it looks a little rough. I plan on adding a plastic shell and head later. My oldest daughter says I’m playing with dolls so why not make it look like one.
For the last few weeks I’ve been testing and tweaking it and am very pleased. Like Viking, I was originally inspired by Omnizero, but only the upper leg servo configuration has changed, the lower half is the same. This gives it a lot of flexibility which I tried to show in the photos. It has the same arms from Robogames…at least for now.
Both the legs and chest swivel 180 degrees. They’re stabilized by thrust bearings purchased for $3 bucks each from Stock Drive Products. Two modified gyros are in the middle of the chest. I removed the LEDs and adjustment pots and placed them on separate boards mounted on top of the shoulders for easy adjustment. A 2-axis accelerometer is also in the chest (only 1 axis being used). Latter I plan on adding two IR distance sensors to the front and back for edge detection and a MaxSonar EZ1 in the head for object avoidance. HSR-8498 servos are used throughout.
The custom brackets are made from 6062 T6 aluminum. The torso uses .064” and the rest .040”. I used the heavier sheet for the torso because I didn’t want the thrust bearings to warp the brackets. Over-Kill, probably. Temporarily, a Radio Shack aluminum enclosure is protecting the controller.
I started the design in Alibre Express, one because it was free, the other because it was easy to learn. It helped with the hole alignment but unfortunately it doesn’t have a sheet metal function so I had to modify the drawings in Illustrator so I could print them out on the stickers used to cut the aluminum. After a couple of brackets, I just used Illustrator.
I was going to use a Li-Po battery. That’s the reason for the empty space in the belly. But rather than adding a regulator or such, went with a custom NiMH pack instead. This has worked out so well I may decide to keep it. For now, 45 minutes of run time is good.
I’ll try to post some video once I figure the best way to get Hi-8 onto my PC or borrow a digital recorder. So for now I’m going to fade into the background and continue to get inspiration from all the great posts here. Everyone keep it up. I can’t wait to see the next mod or video.
I would also like to wish Matt good luck at the Robo-One games this weekend. Hopefully, tempusmaster will post the vids at Robot-dreams.
Tony
Showing some attitude
Did this watching the Giants/Colts football game
Right now, it looks a little rough. I plan on adding a plastic shell and head later. My oldest daughter says I’m playing with dolls so why not make it look like one.
For the last few weeks I’ve been testing and tweaking it and am very pleased. Like Viking, I was originally inspired by Omnizero, but only the upper leg servo configuration has changed, the lower half is the same. This gives it a lot of flexibility which I tried to show in the photos. It has the same arms from Robogames…at least for now.
Both the legs and chest swivel 180 degrees. They’re stabilized by thrust bearings purchased for $3 bucks each from Stock Drive Products. Two modified gyros are in the middle of the chest. I removed the LEDs and adjustment pots and placed them on separate boards mounted on top of the shoulders for easy adjustment. A 2-axis accelerometer is also in the chest (only 1 axis being used). Latter I plan on adding two IR distance sensors to the front and back for edge detection and a MaxSonar EZ1 in the head for object avoidance. HSR-8498 servos are used throughout.
The custom brackets are made from 6062 T6 aluminum. The torso uses .064” and the rest .040”. I used the heavier sheet for the torso because I didn’t want the thrust bearings to warp the brackets. Over-Kill, probably.
Temporarily, a Radio Shack aluminum enclosure is protecting the controller.
I started the design in Alibre Express, one because it was free, the other because it was easy to learn. It helped with the hole alignment but unfortunately it doesn’t have a sheet metal function so I had to modify the drawings in Illustrator so I could print them out on the stickers used to cut the aluminum. After a couple of brackets, I just used Illustrator.
I was going to use a Li-Po battery. That’s the reason for the empty space in the belly. But rather than adding a regulator or such, went with a custom NiMH pack instead. This has worked out so well I may decide to keep it. For now, 45 minutes of run time is good.
I’ll try to post some video once I figure the best way to get Hi-8 onto my PC or borrow a digital recorder. So for now I’m going to fade into the background and continue to get inspiration from all the great posts here. Everyone keep it up. I can’t wait to see the next mod or video.
I would also like to wish Matt good luck at the Robo-One games this weekend. Hopefully, tempusmaster will post the vids at Robot-dreams.
Tony
by rep001
Thu Sep 14, 2006 7:53 pm
Tohm
WOW !! 8O . That is awesome, i would like to start making myself some brackets as i have some ideas .Tell me how did you bend the sheet,was it as simple as a long jawed vice or do you have access to a press or metal folder .
really good job.love to see some video footage when your done tweeking please !!
WOW !! 8O . That is awesome, i would like to start making myself some brackets as i have some ideas .Tell me how did you bend the sheet,was it as simple as a long jawed vice or do you have access to a press or metal folder .
really good job.love to see some video footage when your done tweeking please !!
staying alive....
The key to immortality is to first live a life worth remembering
The key to immortality is to first live a life worth remembering
by BillB
Fri Sep 15, 2006 9:40 am
8O Wow. Top marks - Trailblazing stuff.
Like what you have done with the hip joints and arms. Having these extra DOF will be great fun.
Can't wait for the vids.
Not sure about making it look like a Doll - but colour it green and it would make a great incredible hulk.
Like what you have done with the hip joints and arms. Having these extra DOF will be great fun.
Can't wait for the vids.
Not sure about making it look like a Doll - but colour it green and it would make a great incredible hulk.
by Tohm
Fri Sep 15, 2006 5:58 pm
rep001:
To bend the larger brackets I picked up an 18" bender/breaker from a local hardware store - Harbour Freight - for $18. I think they are online also. For the rest I used a standard vise and the methods I found here:
http://www.robotsfx.com/robot/robohow/R ... How17.html
http://www.asurada.jp/
Hope this helps
Tell me how did you bend the sheet,was it as simple as a long jawed vice or do you have access to a press or metal folder
To bend the larger brackets I picked up an 18" bender/breaker from a local hardware store - Harbour Freight - for $18. I think they are online also. For the rest I used a standard vise and the methods I found here:
http://www.robotsfx.com/robot/robohow/R ... How17.html
http://www.asurada.jp/
Hope this helps
by CaptKill4Fun
Sat Sep 16, 2006 4:39 pm
Hi, Seems the RoboNova-1's of the world are having an identity crisis ...
My RoboNova-1 still mostly looks like a RoboNova-1, but I am testing body mods too including adding a POB-Eye from POB-Technology.com to the center of its chest ...
Here is an picture of its first fitting ... a 15mm bore in the center of the chest plate:
. . . . . Click the images to see a larger view ...
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Click here to see more Pic's
When the POB-Eye coding and testing on the BoeBot are completed, I hope to be moving the POB-Eye to a permanent connection on the RoboNova-1 ...
My aim is to keep my RoboNova-1 looking like a RoboNova-1 and as close to the same size 'n shape as the RoboNova-1 as I can ... This image is a transistion as I am still working on new "c" programming (I really don't know c) ... and get things placed in the best positions for the RoboNova-1 ...
Because there is room to fatten-up the RoboNova-1 the plastic chest and back guards can be positioned slightly further out from the metal body frame making room for improvements inside ... because the RoboNova-1 can bend down or bend back and turn, the eye can see up 'n down saving two servo positions (Pan&Tilt) on either the RoboNova-1 controller or the POB-Eye ...
The POB-Eye uses a PIC controller so this adds more ports for more functions ... in the future ...
==============================================================
Things that are still needed:
Wireless connection between POB-Eye and RoboNova-1 (BlueTooth?, ZigBee?, WiFi? ... still ... which is the best?)
More software routines for the two robots ...
==============================================================
My Sources:
POB-Technology nfo: POB-Technology.com
POB-Eye Sales: RobotShop.ca
BoeBot: Parallax.com
Last edited by CaptKill4Fun on Sat Sep 16, 2006 8:37 pm, edited 3 times in total.
by CaptKill4Fun
Sat Sep 16, 2006 6:34 pm
rep001 wrote:Hi i am keen to see the body mods when finished as the eye is a far size.It will be a great addition will you run this from a seperate controller or the 3024.
Hi, The POB-Eye fits nicely inside the RoboNova-1 chest guard ... it's an easy addition and will be extremely useful when the rest of the program routines are completed.
Imagine, your RoboNova-1 able to autonomously walk to a specific place on command? Recognize patterns and be able to distinguish between objects ... and hopefully recover a specified object sans constant remote control?
That is my quest with this project! A nearly fully autonomous RoboNova-1 ...
I only want to give the RoboNova-1 mimimal remote guidance (mission commands like longitude and lattitude of target area and what target look for, longitude and lattitude to goto when the mission is completed) ... rather than step, step, step, turn, turn, turn, step, step etc ...