Here's a robotics platform I build using Arduino, XBee radios and a cheap R/C car. The vehicle is controlled by Processing code running on a remote computer. Check out all the details here:
http://nootropicdesign.com/projectlab/2010/03/04/wireless-robotics-platform/
Very nice write-up. I am hoping to get my son interested in programming soon.
I am fairly new to Arduino and have a question on your code. What event triggers this line to run? If this is a dumb question just pick up hte nearest brick and hit me :o
int readCommand() {
readCommand() is called from the loop() method.
Pretty nice! A couple of suggestions:
You may want to attach a flexible strip of plastic between the levers of the microswitch bump sensors (if you haven't done so already); that way you'll pick up the more off-center dead-ahead bumps (both switches closed).
Get a small piece of hobby plywood the size of the vehicle footprint to cover the top, put it on the standoffs connected to the car, then mount the Arduino to that (with more standoffs), plus add a breadboard or two for prototyping area; leave spaces for other sensors and expansion.
Where did you get the car, anyhow? I always advocate using "junk" toys from thrift stores and such; much cheaper than buying new, and sometimes you can find weird ones (I've got one in my shop that has a similar flipper-tread action to a packbot, if I ever get around to using it).
You've made a great start to a fun platform - keep the updates coming!
Where did you get the car, anyhow?
It was just a toy that my kids didn't play with anymore. I've seen some other projects that used the same vehicle: (Remote Controlled Robot) Car Vs (solar Charged) Tank | Hackaday. When you take the cover off the vehicle, there is a nice flat surface to build on. My Arduino with standoffs sits nicely on the surface and the wiring prevents it from moving around. Thanks for the suggestions.
Readers
Here is a picture of the bumper I used on two of my robots.
The design allows for detection of a touch on either the left or right side, or if contact is made in the centre, both switches activate.
Usually in the code I stop the motors, then recheck to see if both switches have operated.
This one is from my daughters robot, and is a little more rounded, as she wanted the whole robot smaller.
Currently it is running a picaxe ::), only so she can program it using flowchart.
Hopefully this helps someone
(sorry I haven't uploaded any other pics to the web, but I do have some more details available)
Readers
Here is a picture of the bumper I used on two of my robots.
That's a nice little rover; I like how you incorporated the battery box!
I recently dug out of my closet an old platform I made many years ago, but had never added a microcontroller or anything to control it; it was built on top of an old R/C toy tank. I had added standoffs, a breadboard, front and rear microswitches, and even some CdS cells (LDRs) for primitive "vision"; it was meant to allow me to use as an experimentation platform, but never went anywhere further.
Here's some old pictures on a hideously old website I had (courtesy of http://archive.org/):
I guess I called the thing "TrackBot" (really original, I know) - You can read the small "writeup" here:
http://web.archive.org/web/20001011032620/www.goodnet.com/~andrewa/hardware/trackbot/trackbot.htm
;D
cr0sh
That's a nice little rover; I like how you incorporated the battery box!
Thanks very much.
My daughter can take credit as she didn't like the battery box standing up at the front.
[edit]It was based on an earlier version (also based on another uP ::).....but not again!)[/edit]
Both of these use the l293D motor control.
Someone on the forum thought they only provide on/off control, but the enable pin can be pwm at upto 5KHz.
Cheers Mark
Oooh! I got an base similar to that laying around! Maybe I should try to make something with it too