I'm sorry if this is very obvious or easily searchable, I haven't really found the answers that I'm looking for and I'm still a newbie!
My question is this : Is it possible to run an Arduino Uno and control motors (DC motors and servos) off a source made up of 4 AA Batteries? If it's possible, how many motors could I realistically use?
I'm asking this question because I have a school project that involves me building/programming a little robot that is able to drive around and pick/drop off objects.
There are tiny arduinos that run on 3,3v but they typically run on 5v, and I assume you have that in mind.
It doesn't matter what sort of AAs you have in mind, or how much power is required by the motors and servos, none of which you are forthcoming about, I believe you will be better off with six of them.
The minimum recommended voltage is 7v. This is mainly because of the inefficiency of the on-board voltage regulators. Even if you use a separate regulator, which might not be a bad idea, you may find with 4x1.5v alkalines that you are simply moving the problem rather than solving it. If you intend to use 4x1.2v NiMhs, you are probably doomed before you start.
The extra cells, if nothing else, will ensure reliability - and make it look like you know what you are doing.
I can't help feeling that a pair of 18650s would be a pretty good way to go. They have heaps of power
You can run an Arduino off 3 AA batteries connected to the Arduino 5v pin - but as someone else said, don't expect them to last very long if they are also powering servos or motors. I have used them just to demonstrate something.
It would be wise to have separate batteries for the Arduino and for the motors and servos as the first problem with low voltage is likely to be strange behaviour by the Arduino.