I'm making an autonomous sumo bot for a competition, and I need help! I've already designed a pcb and sent it off (the fusion pcb service at seeedstudio), but I need to work out other things like sensors and motors! I'm planning on using some sort of ultrasonic sensor (like the parallax ping?) mounted on a scan servo to track the 'enemy', and some kind of photosensor to detect the white edge of the boundary (not sure what to use here). Also, I'm using an L298N to drive two motors, but I'm wondering if the 2 amps it can supply per motor will be enough? It's the mini class (20x20cm, 3kg max), and I've got it fully heat-sinked, so I'm hoping there won't be any problems with torque and using large enough motors here...
I'm planning on using some sort of ultrasonic sensor (like the parallax ping?)
"You guys get busy coding. I'll go get their requirements." No, it doesn't work that way. You get the requirements first. Then, you write code. Pick the sensor first, then write the code.
What is your custom PCB for? How can you have designed that without knowing what you were going to connect to it?
and some kind of photosensor to detect the white edge of the boundary
What boundary? Inner or outer edge?
Also, I'm using an L298N to drive two motors, but I'm wondering if the 2 amps it can supply per motor will be enough? It's the mini class (20x20cm, 3kg max), and I've got it fully heat-sinked, so I'm hoping there won't be any problems with torque and using large enough motors here...
The current will be enough for motors that draw less than 2A. It will not be enough for motors that draw more than 2A. Simple arithmetic.
I designed the board with 3-pin male headers (signal, VCC, GND), with the signals connecting to the ADC pins. I plan on using this board for other projects as well, so I wanted some flexibility in the sensors I choose (hence the pins that let me plug in said sensors). I made the custom PCB because I don't like the idea of shields much. They're great for prototyping, but not for standalone projects IMHO. Also, who doesn't like the feeling of pride when you design something yourself :)! Got it done pretty cheap as well, $35 for 10 boards with solder mask and silkscreen.
What I meant to say was the white edge of the ring! The ring is a black circle (150cm diameter), with a white boundary (5cm thick I think) painted around the circumference so your robot can sense if it's going to fall off! The goal of the competition is to push the opponent out of the ring, and you can't have your own 'bot jumping off on its own, can you?
About the motors, what I mean is that can motors that only draw up to 2A supply enough torque, and at a reasonable rpm, to be of any use? This might sound like a noobish question, but I'm doing this for a high school project, and don't have much experience in this field! Of course, I'm expecting to get thrashed (gonna be up against some hardened college students), but I figured, why not give it a go :D?
nanohex:
About the motors, what I mean is that can motors that only draw up to 2A supply enough torque, and at a reasonable rpm, to be of any use?
Hi, unfortunately there's just too many variables involved to make a judgement for you on this. If you check out the L298 data sheet the motors can be driven to 2A as you state, but anywhere between 5V and 46V so that's a huge range of options for how powerful your motors are, and that's even before you consider what kind of gearing, size of wheels, and the limits of your battery versus motors as trade-offs in your class maximum weight.
nanohex:
Of course, I'm expecting to get thrashed (gonna be up against some hardened college students), but I figured, why not give it a go :D?
but anywhere between 5V and 46V so that's a huge range of options for how powerful your motors are
So more voltage doesn't result in a higher current draw?
Thanks!
If two motors are rated at the same power, but one has a higher voltage, it will require less current. Or, to put it another way for this situation, the higher the voltage the greater the power you can get from your supplied 2 Amps current. It will be determined by how much battery/motor/etc you can fit into your class weight and size limits.
There's also gearing to consider. A motor with a given voltage and current can be geared up to increase speed, with a reduction in torque, or it can be geared down to increase torque, with a reduction in speed.
You have to decide whether torque or speed is more important. And, of course, which is a limiting factor. A 40000 RPM router motor is going to be next to useless if connected directly to the wheels of your bot.
If you wan't to find some solutions about mini sumo robot, feel free to visit my blog.
I am making a professional level mini sumo robot called "Destroyer 3000"
I've started a blog recently about the project.
All the data and solutions, also tests and videos I put there.
Also I use a Finite State Machine theory application for this autonomous platform.
DarK_AlximiK:
If you wan't to find some solutions about mini sumo robot, feel free to visit my blog.
I am making a professional level mini sumo robot called "Destroyer 3000"
I've started a blog recently about the project.
All the data and solutions, also tests and videos I put there.
Also I use a Finite State Machine theory application for this autonomous platform.
Looks nice but your website has a symbol that resembles arduino trade mark with the infinity and plus minus.
If you wan't to find some solutions about mini sumo robot, feel free to visit my blog.
I am making a professional level mini sumo robot called "Destroyer 3000"
liudr:
Looks nice but your website has a symbol that resembles arduino trade mark with the infinity and plus minus.
I didn't like the blogger icon, so it just came to put there an infinity icon, because this blog is about arduino implementation in mini sumo robot.
If the arduino is an open source hardware, are they realy so strict for a single icon?
So should I remove it or try to ask the officials to use them as reference for Arduino.cc?
The entire arduino core files and bootloader software is open source. The entire hardware design for all arduino boards is open source. On the other hand, Arduino and the trade mark you are using are both properties of the Arduino team and you need their permission to use them. There is a line between open source and commercial trade marks
I don't see the problem with using the Arduino logo to "link" to the Arduino website,
although I might add the word Arduino next to it. Checking just one other place,
digikey does it too.
Arduino - Arduino is an open-source electronics prototyping platform based on flexible, easy-to-use hardware and software. It's intended for artists, designers, hobbyists, and anyone interested in creating interactive objects or environments.
oric_dan(333):
I don't see the problem with using the Arduino logo to "link" to the Arduino website,
although I might add the word Arduino next to it. Checking just one other place,
digikey does it too.
Arduino - Arduino is an open-source electronics prototyping platform based on flexible, easy-to-use hardware and software. It's intended for artists, designers, hobbyists, and anyone interested in creating interactive objects or environments.
digikey is an official distributor of arduino products. Certainly arduino team authorized that use. If you go to a bestbuy, do you not see Apple or Sony brand names? Same reason. What I refer to is the website in question is using the arduino trade mark as its website icon like arduino official site. I noticed this when I opened the website in my browser. See below:
oric_dan(333):
I thought I was looking at a link to the Arduino site, whatever.
That was my original thought. I thought I was directed to part of Arduino site but not really. I don't know how to change that logo either now that some of you also noticed it
