The Challenge

The Dark Horse Anniversary MAKE:Philly robot challenge

The Challenge

joshkopel 01-11-2007, 11:52 AM
OK so just in case you did not get the memo (check your email) the next meeting on 2/11/07 is going to include a make-it-at-home challenge.
We are building and "racing" these http://www.instructables.com/id/E6PN27M4CPEP286H58/
Here is a PDF of the original article that appeared in Vol. 2 of Make.
I also just want to mention that the original mousey the junkbot was designed and built by Gareth Branwyn who runs an amazing site called streettech.
Thanks Gareth!

The basic model is cute, but maybe kind of boring. I strongly suggest you consider alternate designs, painting, decorating, modifying etc.

The scoring will weight functionality and design equally, so if it looks great you have a shot at the prize (TBD), as long as it works at all.

Anyone have a great idea for a prize?

I am working on a list of sources for the parts, but if you are looking for a cheap mouse to start with find a local thrift store. I have rarely been in one that does not have a box of random mice for a buck or two.

Good luck, and post your questions as they arise!

Josh

Re: The Challenge

cyenobot 01-15-2007, 1:31 PM
Thanks Josh,
I hope to participate, but I am scratching my head trying to figure out where to get the parts. I checked the instructables and although they have a photo of parts list, I don't know what each part is or where to get them.
This might be above my simpled minded skill level. Hmm... can I go with a rubber band powered mousebot? ;)

Re: The Challenge

bbustard 01-29-2007, 2:14 PM
Hello,
I'm trying to make one of these for the next meeting and I ordered a few of the harder to find parts from http://www.goldmine-elec.com 10.00 minimum order but most items were cheaper than solarbotics.com

Ben

Re: The Challenge

joshkopel 02-01-2007, 12:02 PM
Well unfortunately it is too late for Ben (sorry Ben!), but...

We are looking into putting together mousebot kits!
We think we can get all the hard to find parts (mouse included) for around $12.00 - 15.00.
You will need to supply a few pieces of hardware, a battery, and you own skill and creativity.

I am hoping to get these together for the meeting since we have not had many people respond that they are working on them.

josh

The kits are here!

joshkopel 02-06-2007, 4:05 PM

I just received a box full of treasures from UPS and I am starting to put the parts in piles.

I also picked up a bag of mixed mice at a great local source for old hardware at NTR - NonProfit Technology Resources

(thanks to Ed Cummings for pointing this out on the Local Resources page).

If you want a kit email makephilly@gmail.com. They will cost $15 each, but it is well worth it.

We only a limited number, and when they are gone you will have to start scrounging!

We only have enough parts for about 10 kits, so get one EARLY!

INSTRUCTIONS

joshkopel 02-12-2007, 7:46 AM
For those of you using the parts kit we put together, these are the instructions and wiring diagram as a PDF.

http://www.makephilly.com/Community/forums/322/PostAttachment.aspx

I really only detailed out the construction of the circuit, so for mechanical details and building hints go to: http://www.instructables.com/id/E6PN27M4CPEP286H58/

If you are running into trouble, post in this discussion and if you see a question you can answer, then please answer it!

josh

Re: The Challenge

jmejia 02-19-2007, 7:56 PM
I have a simple question about your schematic for these mousebots. The relay is drawn in sort of three dimensions on your schematic which makes me wonder if it is meant to be read the standard way (with the pins facing down as is you are looking at it from above) or the way it sort of looks ... which is with the pins sticking up out of the page. I guess the core of my question is this:

Schematic aside, if you look at the relay with the pins facing away from you and the grey stripe on top, is pin 1 on your top left-hand side, or top right-hand side?

Thanks!

-Jesse Mejia

Re: The Challenge

joshkopel 02-19-2007, 9:17 PM
Jesse,
I sort of copied the way they drew it in Make, but I guess it ended up being confusing anyway.

If you are holding it with the pins facing away, and the bar at the top, pin 1 is the top left.

It is drawn "dead bug" fashion. If you are holding it in your hand with the pins sticking towards you, the grey bar (on the side you cannot see ;-) ) indicates pins 1 & 10 in the drawing.

As an aside... the relay is symetrical along its center axis! So even if you switch the two sides it will still work correctly.

Let me know if you are still (or more) confused

josh

Re: The Challenge

bbustard 03-14-2007, 8:32 AM
Can someone help me. I can't seem to figure out why one of my motors gets half the power of the other. Everything else works great, but when I put my multimeter on the Relay for the positive to one of the motors I get -2.5v and the other has +5.v Do you think the relay is broken? Also will there be any tweaking time before we race our bots?

Thanks
Ben

Re: The Challenge

joshkopel 03-15-2007, 5:38 PM
Ben,

I doubt it is the relay... they are pretty tough little buggers.

you should not be getting a negative V on either of the positive pins, it sounds like something is backwards or busted.

I would start by double checking your wiring (although I am sure you have).
Then look at the light sensors.
The whole light tracking thing works by running the tiny voltages they generate through the amplifier chip, and then using the output to change the voltage applied to the two motors.
If you disconnect the sensors from the circuit and check each one with your meter they should be reading the same in both dark and light.

You might also disconnect the wire running to the motors from pin 5 (the amp output) of your chip then check to see if the voltage of the output changes when you cover up one of the sensors (and that it goes up or down equally depending on which sensor you cover).

Post back with your findings!

Josh

Make:Philly 2007