Robotics 101 help

Forum 2005-2010 (read only) General Frequently-Asked Questions
1

Looking to get my hands dirty in robotics. Really want to build my own robot using an arduino. I searched here and other places and there are so many projects out there I don't know where to start.

Can someone please point me in the right direction? Simplest robot I can start with? Is there a HOW TO or ARDUINO ROBOT 101?

Thanks,

Roman

2

Can someone please point me in the right direction? Simplest robot I can start with? Is there a HOW TO or ARDUINO ROBOT 101?

Don't know of an "Arduino Robot 101" tutorial, but the simplest robot with a Arduino you could make, would be a desktop-rover style robot.

Get a couple of continuous rotation servos, mount them using double-stick tape to an old CD or similar "throwaway" platform (a piece of foamcore would work great, even a thick piece of cardboard). Put each servo on opposite sides of the base, with the shafts in-line and parallel with the base. Add a couple of wheels (hot glue or more double-stick tape to the control horn of the continuous rotation servo) by using anything lightweight and round (but not too large - maybe a 3-4 cm in diameter). Hot glue halves of a pingpong ball to the underside to act as "sliders" on the front and back. Add the Arduino on top (it can just sit on top, or double-stick tape it). You might want to add a protoboard shield on top of the Arduino, too. Power the whole thing with a 6V battery pack (for the servos) and a 9V (for the Arduino). Simple sensors can be microswitches, or an ultrasonic pinger, or IR distance sensors, etc.

3

a line follower?.... same setup as what crash described with a couple of IR LEDS & Photodiodes.. mounted on the front..

4

Check out http://www.societyofrobots.com/robot_tutorial.shtml
or
http://www.robotliving.com/building-robots/two-wheeled-robot-2/

5

Arduino's awesome, you can make as basic of a robot as you want...
Servo + photocell sensor and you can make yourself a robotic version of a window shade, thingy, amabob.

6

I agree with pracas the line follower is pretty simple

7

You might want to check out the roboduino as it is more geared towards robotics unless you want to go with a different board and processor.

8

Thanks guys, i'll be ordering some parts and get to work :slight_smile: