CE Project: CE Bot

[ash]

Ok, Ive created a CE Projects thing at Zoho. Using the Free package, I can only do one project. Other limitations include the 100mb space limit, which I think is high enough already!

xhx, can you pm me an e-mail add you'd like to use to access the projects page? I'll add you as a member. I'll invite biggie too! We can test it out together and see what its like. The place is here:
ce

Heres the list of different plans available:
https://projects.zoho.com/signupplan.na

I think we can aim for the Basic package if we finally choose Zoho. I certainly wont mind chipping in for the $8 monthly charge When we get more active projects, we can aim for the Express package

But anywayz, back to topic. Sanih pm'd me about the use of the I2C bus.. that should be no problem, I believe. Won't really conflict with anything else

So there are two very important things now.

1. Designing the body, and choosing minimum of neccessary hardware. rite?

2. Designing the software part. What should be processed onboard what sould be processed offboard.

Yep That should form the nucleus of the whole project.

[ash]

If CEans are wondering about the status of this project, me and xhx are still doing on going testing at both Google Sites and Zoho Projects. Hopefully we will be done in a couple of weeks

In the meantime, feel free to contribute to the discussion. Perhaps you can draft a rough design of the bot? Remember to look through the posts in this thread!

here is the Google Site link: https://sites.google.com/a/crazyengi...-projects/Home

[ash]

^ A sample CE bot model using Google SketchUp. It took a lot of fiddling just to extrude the shapes properly. I suppose this program can only be used to draft ideas without the need of accuracy, cause it's pretty hard to get used to the views. I'll try out Blender next, and finally Alibre (which is a true CAD software). I really miss using Catia V5 Oh, did you guys know V6 is coming out soon? I hope that'll drive the price of V5 down substantially!

If your wondering why there is a hockey stick at the top, it was supposed to be a flag pole. But I dragged some kinda node and it bent the shape. I'll just let it be.. haha. Maybe you guys can try it out? I bet you'll have better luck than me

[ash]

Okay, I skipped the Blender software.. too complicated to learn quickly Above is part of the tracked wheel system designed in Alibre, didn't take me long to do it. If you have learnt CAD software before, Alibre is relatively easy to understand. You can download it for free HERE, but you'll need to register first. Its a 30 day trial of the full software before it disables some features (like assembly). I think theres a register-free edition here.. am downloading it now to check it out.

I think I need some more time to learn the Blender software.. its not really a CAD software, rather a modeller and animator of some kinda. But you can get really awesome looking outputs with it!

[raj87verma88]

Nice design ash. you can also add one more set of wheels and chain at an inclination of 45 degrees with one end. This will be free to move and in case the bot falls in a pit, it will make the bot do a somersault and get out. This will increase the reach.

[raj87verma88]

Using of WiFi will be suitable. The IEEE 802.11y is estimated for a release in June this year. It's range(radius outdoors is 5000 m), 3.7Ghz, throughput (typ) 24 Mbits/s, data rate (max) 54Mbits/s.
The long range WiFi my be better option for this project though.

[ash]

Thanks for the input, bro! The 802.11y is an interesting choice, though I kind of worry about it's power consumptions. We will compile all the possible technologies soon and see their pros and cons.

Raj, which CAD software do you use at your uni? Can you try out your wheel and chain idea and post it here? Me still a rookie when it comes to CAD, hehe. Today I was testing out different softwares that are freely available on the net, so we can easily share the data files.. wasn't really aiming to design possible ideas yet. You know any other good free CAD software? I might try BRL-CAD out.

[raj87verma88]

We use AutoCAD and ProE but i will learn Solid Works Catia and Ansys(an analysis software) in my holidays.
Yeah sure i will but it may take some time as my end sem exams are starting. They will be over on 17th of the next month.

[ash]

Oh, best of luck bro!

[xheavenlyx]

Ash, did I tell you before those designs are reallllyy good. you must have worked hard on it in Google sketch, since making a grove is a little difficult for me still. and on my Vista crap, Google Sk does not work, have to find out why.

I can work mainly on AutoCad for drawings.

Raj, Catia, is one hell of a bomb. And Ansys!? wow both are crazy softwares. Ash you know, Catia is used by Boing to design their 747/777's ! sadly it's kindof not free: Catia MD2 (Basic?) costs about $14,000 ^_^ plus 14% every year for renewals. But if we are not using it for commercial design then its a different matter (I guess).

[joe3204]

if the bot is fitted with tracks (or something on those lines) won't it consume more power as compared to wheels? tracks will have more surface area in contact with the ground and hence friction will be more. how about using independently suspended wheels? they'll be more suitable for rough/uneven surfaces...

[xheavenlyx]

As for 802.11y. Its seems like a good choice until it comes to implementation which is very very new and what IC's? Programing it will be new?

And as Ash pointed, we will compile pros/cons soon, moreover, we shoild also get info on what modules are available in the market which impliment WLAN and compare them too.

Till then here is the wiki on 802.11a/b/g/n/y : IEEE 802.11 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

EDIT:

I tried looking for some info on this, but mainly the wiki gives info on ranges. Power consumption may vary a bit between different vendors and implementation IC's.

[xheavenlyx]

Jow, thats a valid point. Yea, we didn't think of it. I think everyone should read this for an idea:

Team for Robotics Research and Development at TU - Brainstem R & D

What do you think guys?

[ash]

Catia V6 is coming out soon Ah, I didn't do the grooves in Google Sketch. Used Alibre for that. Though, I'll try working on G.Sketch more.

Ah shucks, I was looking forward for the threads.. better looking Besides, what steering method are we using? differential or rack & pinion?

[raj87verma88]

Rack and Pinion will be better