Robot portfolio
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Contents Table
Statement Of Intent
For my major works I am intending to construct some form of autonomous robot. For the best result I would be looking for a robot that thinks for itself, moves around its environment, senses the area around itself and makes responses accordingly. I would like it to look interesting and fascinating to watch.
The biggest limitation is my budget, which is just $40. My skills are limited and I am still learning about the theory and workshop attributes of electronics. I also have a limited time of 12 weeks to complete the robot and portfolio. I have other responsibilities in my life such as study, work and social commitments.
I think that the experience of completing the project will improve my electronics skills and knowledge. The project will also help me pursue my career interest in electronics by learning about the many parts of the robotics industry. I am going to have to have a research the history of robots, microcontrollers, motors, sensors, programming, gearbox and batteries.
I want to build a autonomous robot.
I’m going to have to research a lot.
I’m very keen and highly motivated.
I am going to have to be aware of the limitations.
Robot project research
The Boe-Bot robot kits are simple in concept; it’s a basic three-wheeled, roll-about robot. But in actuality, it's an advanced robotics platform that allows for 50 modifications to the robot, including building new sensors using the included breadboard, a method of wiring up circuit elements that doesn't require soldering.
The Boe-Bots are available in different configurations based on the control board included, either an Arduino or a BASIC Stamp. Both include the ability to be controlled using multiple programming languages. The Boe-Bot robots are well designed and well documented, with detailed explanations of each major component as well as each sensor. The electronic breadboard lets you easily design and wire up new components, and there's a large collection of add-on products that work with Boe-Bot.
Scarab Robot Kit is a Robot that makes use of two touch sensors to detect obstacles. When its antenna (touch sensor) detects an object in its path, Scarab will go backward first and automatically follow a two-step maneuver to help it overcome the obstacle, which can be a combination of “left turn”, “right turn”, “reverse”, or “stop”.
The Escape Robot Kit works just like an A.I. robot. It never fails to find its way out of a maze. The Escape Robot uses 3 IR emitting diodes and 1 IR receiving module to send and receive signals and detect obstacles. The Escape Robot's built-in microprocessor enables it to "think" on its own: it gathers and processes information on its environment so it can avoid any obstacle. The Escape Robot moves about on 6 legs. This kit comes complete with 2 sets of differently designed legs that move in their own distinct way.
mBot Ranger includes around 100 mechanical parts and electronic modules. The Off-road Land Raider, Dashing Raptor and the Self-balancing Nervous Bird are the three pre-set forms that students can use to base their own designs on. Choose your foundation and you get a head start in your next robot match or muddy road race. mBot Ranger is equipped with a powerful Me Auriga mainboard and comes with six types of sensors: Light sensor, Ultrasonic sensor, Line follower, Gyroscope, Temp sensor, Sound sensor, which make robots more versatile. The sensor enable the robot to perform advanced functionality including avoiding obstacles, following lines, keep its balance, and more.
Components research
Processes Table
Time Line and Finance Plan
Gantt chart
Finance plan
Get new links these not working
Record of Production
The first thing we had to do was research what robot we where going to build everyone choose two or more robots to show to the class we had to write a paragraph about how good and bad the robot was. In the end we choose the one they did in previous years the escape robot. It took them a week for them to arrive during that time we started doing our portfolio title pages. They arrived and we had to sticky tape the box together too make sure it doesn’t fall apart. We took them out of the box and we started assembling the circuit board the instructions to the parts where wrong so Mr Kennedy had to write down the part numbers and where they go.we had to make sure we grounded our selves for a lot of them. The first parts we had to put in where the capacitor and resistors. We started from the smaller ones and worked our way up.
Then was the XTAL and LED lights which where easy to find and put in there spots the IC chip and IR Receiver the IR Receiver required a seperate board that slots into the original the soldered down the receiver must be soldered flat which is a difficult task because it kept moving around. the IC chip was easy all you have to do is ground yourself. Stakes came next you had to put them in there holes then flip the board and solder them then you have to put solder on them this is called tinning. When the stakes heat up they melted the solder underneath causing them to move around and come out of there sockets.
After putting the rest of the components in without any struggle it was on to the motor and gear box to start this off you had to pop pieces of plastic from a sheet and start screwing them together then you had to put the motors into the right places after that we had to assemble the cogs this was difficult because we had to tighten the screws just enough that it doesn’t start skipping and not to much because the wheels won’t turn fast enough. Then you had to make sure they are all touching the motor enough that they spin. Next would be the wires the first three times I did these I switched them around put them the wrong way until I read the instructions properly. I connected the battery pack and screwed it in to place I connected the wires from the board to the motor and put the plastic protection over the wires then put the dome on top.
I turned it on and only one side of wheels started so I took the motor and the dome off and checked the board for and damage I couldn’t see anything but I cleaned it with metho anyway but it still didn’t work so I resoldered every joint and I still wasn’t getting any change it took me 2 lessons to find out that the stake was not soldered properly so I resoldered and desoldered many times and it still wouldn’t work the flak buildup underneath the solder on the board was stopping any kind of connection between the two so we got a small drill and made the hole bigger but the flak had eaten through the board so with a piece of wire I connected the stake through the board to the next connected component and it worked that side started moving.
But when that side started moving the other side stopped. I thought that it was the same problem because there was a massive flak buildup there as well so I used a piece of wire to skip and it still didn’t work so the only thing left to fix was the motor so I took one out of another kit and connected it worked my project run perfectly.
Evaluation
In my opinion the project wasn’t too bad the only problem is the parts supplied with tho project appeared to be of bad quality they kept braking and a lot of them where faulty especially the motor and sensors I found that the board was prone to flak buildup and track lifting which caused a lot of work for everyone. The instructions where incorrect causing you to have to figure it out your self
Bibliography