HBRC 2013 Club Robot

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Wayne C. Gramlich

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Feb 2, 2013, 6:42:17 PM2/2/13
to hbrobotics, Wayne C. Gramlich
All:

As I mentioned at the HBRC club meeting last Wednesday, I am
proposing that the HBRC sponsor another club robot class. We did
it in 2011 and it was quite popular. Like the 2011 robot, the
2013 robot would use an Arduino as the main processor.

This robot would be open to all HBRC members. HBRC membership
is $10/family this year. The class is suitable for both children
(boys/girls) and adults (men/women.) Any children students
will need parental supervision.

I expect that basic platform to cost about $75. The more people that
sign up, the lower the costs go. The optional rechargeable battery
upgrade will be a little over $50. The optional Raspberry Pi upgrade
will probably be ~$50. And so forth.

The classes would take place at the Menlo Park Tech Shop on
2nd to last Wednesday of the month during the HBRC SIG meeting
that starts at 7:30pm. SIG stands for Special Interest Group,
but it is really just another HBRC meeting with no organized
show-and-tell or organized presentation. My vision is that
there would be four classes -- one for February, March, April,
and May.

Below is the working document that contains the initial goals,
bill of materials, and required tools. This should provide some
insight as to what the class teaches. After the basic classes
have been taught, follow on classes can be scheduled based on
interest.

In order to pull this off, we need both "students" and "instructors".
I think we need at least 6 students and at least 3 instructors.
Somehow, I do not think that will be hard to do.

So if you want to sign up for being either a student or instructor,
please respond to this message with a response that says "I would
like to sign up as a [Student] / [Instructor] (pick one) for the
HBRC 2013 club robot class. Please trim the message appropriately.

Regards,

-Wayne


--------------

HBRC 2013 Club Robot Working Document

Introduction:

For 2013, it is proposed that there be a "club bot".
The goal is to learn from the 2011 "club bot" and
improve upon it.

Most introductory robots are "dead-end" robots that
tend to strand people after they have the first
few robot behaviors are implemented -- obstacle avoid,
wall follow, line follow, don't fall off table, etc.

One of the primary goals of the 2013 robot is to try
to make it expandable from simple to more complex in
reasonable incremental steps.

The base is organized around 1in x 1in grid peg-board
which is readily available from locations link Home
Depot, Lowes, and lumber stores.

Basic Platform:

The basic robot would be built in three phases:

Phase 1: Arduino + Blinky LED's:

Goals:
- Cut peg board to size using hack saw
- Get Arduino IDE installed on laptop.
- Drill Arduino mounting holes in peg board
- Mount Arduino to peg board using screws
- Mount Mini Breadboard to peg board
- Install LED + resistor on breadboard
- Hook up LED to Arduino
- Download Blinky LED program

Bill of Materials:
1 Arduino(tm) board + USB Cable (SainSmart: 20-011-110: $24)
1 Mini BreadBoard (Ebay: ~$2.50)
1 Breadboard cables (Ebay: )
1 ?in x ?in peg board
1 8" of double sided tape
4 #4 Philips flat-head screws
12 #4 washers
8 #4 lock washers
2 Red LED's
2 Yellow LED's
2 Green LED's
6 330 Ohm Resistors

Required Tools:
1 Laptop Windows or MacOS or Linux
1 Hack saw (to cut peg board)
1 Phillips screw driver
1 Pliers
1 Drill + Drill Bits

Phase 2: Build Robot Platform

Goals:
- Cut 2 peg boards to size
- Mount Motors to brackets
- Mount brackets to brackets to base
- Cut off base of roll-on deoderant
- Clean out deoderant
- Attach to peg board using glue gun
- Attach peg board to base
- Attach Arduino+Breadboard to peg board base with screws
- Solder 2 motor wires to each motor
- Install L293D + Optoisolators + resistors on mini breadboard
- Connect motors to breadboard
- Connect Arduino to breadboard
- Download a program to make the base move forward and backward

Bill of Materials:
2 GM3 gear motors (Solarbotics: $11.50/2)
2 GMPW Wheels (Solarbotics: $6.50/2)
2 wheel brackets (custom: ~$3/2)
1 Battery Holders
8 AA Batteries (Costco)
1 Ball Castor (Walgreens: A&H Roll-on Deoderant: ~$3)
1 ?in x ?in peg board for robot base
1 ?in x ?in peg board for robot base
1 L293D (or equiv.) H-Bridge
3 2 channel opto-isolators (PS2501-1: Jameco: ~$2/3)
3 470 Ohm resistors
3 10K resistors
2 #6-32 Phillips screws
2 #6 Washers
2 #6-32 Hex Nuts
2 #6 internal tooth lock washers

Additional Required Tools:
1 Soldering iron
1 Roll of solder
1 Solder tip cleaner
1 Diagonal cutter
1 Wire Stripper

Phase 3: Build TableTop Challenge Phase 1

Goals:
- Cut out two pieces of Peg Board
- Drill mounting holes for sonar module
- Crimp connectors to cable
- Mount Sonar modules to Robot base
- Plug Sonar modules into breadboard + Arduino
- Develop table top challenge code

Bill of Materials:
1 ?in x ?in peg board sonar holders
2 Sonar sensors (EBay: HC-SR04 ~$4/2)
4 2x8 .1in Female IDC connectors
2 12in 8 conductor ribbon cable
2 1x4 .1in Male-to-Male Headers
4 #4-40 Phillips Pan Head Screws
8 #4-40 Hex nuts
4 #4 Washers
4 #4 internal tooth lock washers
2 #6-32 Phillips Pan Head Screws
2 #6-32 Hex Nuts
4 #6 Washers
2 #6 internal tool lock washers
1 18" of twine (for a Wyland leash)

Additional Required Tools:
1 Benchtop vice

That provides the basic configuration.

----------------------

There would be a variety of independent upgrades
that could be done in whatever order the user
feels inclined to use:

Upgrade: Rechargable batteries:

2 7.2V 1300mAh LiPo Battery Packs (Trossen: BAT-7V1300M: $26/2)
1 LiPo Battery Charger (Trossen: KIT-CHG-LIPO: ($16+$11)/1)
2 Female Deans Connector (TBD)
1 DPDT Power Switch (TBD)

This gets rid of the hassle of buying and throwing
away AA batteries.

Upgrade: Raspberry Pi:

1 Raspberry Pi Model B 512MB (Newark: $35)
1 OKI-78SR-5/1.5-W36: 5...@1.5A DC/DC Switcher (Digikey: $4.30)
1 2x13 Female Ribbon Cable Header
1 16-conductor chunk of ribbon cable
1 2x8 Female Ribbon Cable Header
1 1x8 Male to Male pins header pins

The DC-DC convert is rated for 1.5A and can be
plugged into the breadboard. The ribbon cable
can be assembled with just a vise. The RasPi
allows 5V to be injected over the cable. Obviously
the RasPi allows people to start trying out ROS.

Upgrade: Odometry:
2 AS5055 ($10/2)
2 AS5055 PCB's
2 Appropriate magnet ($2/2)
2 GM3 to magnet shaft adaptor

An adaptor from the GM3 to Magnet is needed;
this would be custom made out of some plastic.
In addition a custom PCB is needed to hold
the AS5055 which is a surface mount chip.

This upgrade requires some work.

Upgrade: WiFi:

1 USB WiFi Dongle with decent antenna (Amazon: ~9)

Something like the GMYLE using the RTL8191SU should
do the trick. With this it is possible to network
into your robot. There it may be necessary to have
separate power injection for the Wi-Fi.

Upgrade: Camera:
1 RasPi Camera (~$25)

This RasPi camera has not shipped yet, but it seems
to be nearing the end of prototyping. A USB camera
is another alternative.

Upgrade: Cheap Arm:
4 Hobby servos (base twist, shoulder, elbow, gripper)
1 Gripper (Jameco 358811: $20)
Appropriate struts

This is a low payload arm that can lift 10-20 oz max.

The list above should convey basic concept.

Wayne C. Gramlich

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Feb 2, 2013, 6:45:42 PM2/2/13
to Wayne C. Gramlich, hbrobotics

> So if you want to sign up for being either a student or instructor,
> please respond to this message with a response that says "I would
> like to sign up as a [Student] / [Instructor] (pick one) for the
> HBRC 2013 club robot class. Please trim the message appropriately.

Here is an example reply:

Hi, I'm interested in being an instructor for the 2013 HBRC club
robot class.

-Wayne

Wayne C. Gramlich

unread,
Feb 4, 2013, 7:34:18 PM2/4/13
to Wayne C. Gramlich, hbrobotics
All:

I have uploaded some pictures of the HBRC 2013 Club Robot up to

https://picasaweb.google.com/101490633880849426651/HBRC2013ClubRobot

There are five pictures total. This version has a Raspberry Pi Model B
mounted as well. None of the wiring is done yet. Two of the pictures
contain have the family cat in the background because, well, she
insisted on being in the picture.

The one of the battery packs is going to be changed from a 6V to 9V.
Each battery pack has its own on/off switch built into the battery
holder. Yes, the batteries are held on with rubber bands.

If you have any questions, please post them to the list.

Regards,

-Wayne

On 02/02/2013 03:42 PM, Wayne C. Gramlich wrote:
> All:
>
> As I mentioned at the HBRC club meeting last Wednesday, I am
> proposing that the HBRC sponsor another club robot class. We did
> it in 2011 and it was quite popular. Like the 2011 robot, the
> 2013 robot would use an Arduino as the main processor.
>
> This robot would be open to all HBRC members. HBRC membership
> is $10/family this year. The class is suitable for both children
> (boys/girls) and adults (men/women.) Any children students
> will need parental supervision.
>
> I expect that basic platform to cost about $75. The more people that
> sign up, the lower the costs go. The optional rechargeable battery
> upgrade will be a little over $50. The optional Raspberry Pi upgrade
> will probably be ~$50. And so forth.
>
> The classes would take place at the Menlo Park Tech Shop on
> 2nd to last Wednesday of the month during the HBRC SIG meeting
> that starts at 7:30pm. SIG stands for Special Interest Group,
> but it is really just another HBRC meeting with no organized
> show-and-tell or organized presentation. My vision is that
> there would be four classes -- one for February, March, April,
> and May.

[snip reference to working document]

> In order to pull this off, we need both "students" and "instructors".
> I think we need at least 6 students and at least 3 instructors.
> Somehow, I do not think that will be hard to do.
>
> So if you want to sign up for being either a student or instructor,
> please respond to this message with a response that says "I would
> like to sign up as a [Student] / [Instructor] (pick one) for the
> HBRC 2013 club robot class. Please trim the message appropriately.

[snip reference document]

Osman Eralp

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Feb 4, 2013, 10:49:20 PM2/4/13
to hbrob...@googlegroups.com, Wayne C. Gramlich


On Monday, February 4, 2013 4:34:18 PM UTC-8, Wayne Gramlich wrote:
All:

I have uploaded some pictures of the HBRC 2013 Club Robot up to

   https://picasaweb.google.com/101490633880849426651/HBRC2013ClubRobot

Nice pics. I like how the bot is shaping up. I have a couple of questions:
1. Can we do away with the "stalks" for the cliff sensors? The front of the robot is already several inches in front of the wheels. It seems like the cliff sensors could be placed at the front left and front right corners.
2. It looks like all of parts are "off the shelf" except for the brackets that attach the motors to the peg board. Where does one buy those brackets?

David Crawley

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Feb 4, 2013, 11:01:46 PM2/4/13
to hbrob...@googlegroups.com
Do you have mechanical drawings (or links to the same) for the interface to the gearbox? I'd like to make up some of the brackets.

David



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Wayne C. Gramlich

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Feb 4, 2013, 11:40:53 PM2/4/13
to hbrob...@googlegroups.com, Wayne C. Gramlich
On 02/04/2013 07:49 PM, Osman Eralp wrote:
>
>
> On Monday, February 4, 2013 4:34:18 PM UTC-8, Wayne Gramlich wrote:
>
> All:
>
> I have uploaded some pictures of the HBRC 2013 Club Robot up to
>
> https://picasaweb.google.com/101490633880849426651/HBRC2013ClubRobot
> <https://picasaweb.google.com/101490633880849426651/HBRC2013ClubRobot>
>
>
> Nice pics. I like how the bot is shaping up. I have a couple of questions:

> 1. Can we do away with the "stalks" for the cliff sensors? The front of
> the robot is already several inches in front of the wheels. It seems
> like the cliff sensors could be placed at the front left and front right
> corners.

Osman:

I don't know what length the sensors need to be in front. My
bigger issue is how high they have to be. Many of these sonar
sensors do not like to work up close. The original SRF04's by
Gerald Coe were only spec'ed for 6 inches, but in practice, they
worked just fine at 1 inch. I've never used sonars for edge sensors
before. Historically, sonars used to cost $20-$30 each (e.g. the
Parallax Ping!), but now they cost $2 each on EBay. At $20 we
always used less expensive switches or IR optical sensors.
At $2, sonars make all the sense in the world. We want to be sure
that we do not get a side lobe where the sonar sees the edge of
the robot by accident. We'll figure it all out after the sonars
are ordered and arrive from EBay.

> 2. It looks like all of parts are "off the shelf" except for the
> brackets that attach the motors to the peg board. Where does one buy
> those brackets?

I couldn't find any brackets that I like. The GMB39 from
Solarbotics at $2.70/2 is the closest that I could find.
My current thought is to just buy some 2" angle aluminum
and machine them up on my CNC mill.

Regards,

-Wayne


Wayne C. Gramlich

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Feb 11, 2013, 3:53:46 PM2/11/13
to Brahm, hbrob...@googlegroups.com, Wayne C. Gramlich
Brahm:

To sign up, please send $65 (for class) plus $10 (for HBRC 2013
annual dues) to "trea...@hbrobotics.org" via PayPal. In addition,
please sign up for the HBRobotics Google group, since that is where
all class communication occurs.

Regards,

-Wayne

On 02/11/2013 12:18 PM, Brahm wrote:
> Hey! I would like to sign up as student too - what should I do?
>

Kyle Mulroe

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Feb 11, 2013, 5:30:08 PM2/11/13
to hbrob...@googlegroups.com
Just making sure I'm on the roster and Paypal received.
Thanks
Kyle M

Julie Dequaire

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Feb 11, 2013, 9:09:22 PM2/11/13
to hbrob...@googlegroups.com
Hello Wayne

just to check my payment  of 75$ went through PayPal

thanks,
Julie

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KM6VV

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Feb 11, 2013, 9:42:51 PM2/11/13
to hbrob...@googlegroups.com
I don't think I'm going to build this generation of the club bot, but I
would like a set of motors and wheels. I can improvise the rest.

Alan KM6VV

Wayne C. Gramlich

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Feb 11, 2013, 10:49:55 PM2/11/13
to hbrob...@googlegroups.com, Wayne C. Gramlich
Julie:

Excellent.

Regards,

-Wayne

On 02/11/2013 06:09 PM, Julie Dequaire wrote:
> Hello Wayne
>
> just to check my payment of 75$ went through PayPal
>
> thanks,
> Julie
>
> On Mon, Feb 11, 2013 at 2:30 PM, Kyle Mulroe <ear...@gmail.com
> <mailto:ear...@gmail.com>> wrote:
>
> Just making sure I'm on the roster and Paypal received.
> Thanks
> Kyle M
>
> --
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> Groups "HomeBrew Robotics Club" group.
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> <mailto:hbrob...@googlegroups.com>.

Wayne C. Gramlich

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Feb 11, 2013, 11:10:04 PM2/11/13
to hbrob...@googlegroups.com, Wayne C. Gramlich
Alan:

Ordering the gear motors and wheels is around 2 weeks from now.
You are not the only person who wants to order some extra gear
motors and wheels. For selected items, we will let local members
piggy back onto the class order. We can not go overboard on
piggy backing because it starts to make keeping track of who
ordered what too complicated.

Regards,

-Wayne

KM6VV

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Feb 11, 2013, 11:41:45 PM2/11/13
to hbrob...@googlegroups.com
Thanks Wayne!

Alan KM6VV

SalTorr

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Feb 12, 2013, 12:03:58 AM2/12/13
to hbrob...@googlegroups.com, Wayne C. Gramlich
Hello Wayne,
Payment sent through PayPal.

Thank you,
Salvador T.

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Wayne C. Gramlich" <wayne.gra...@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, February 11, 2013 7:49 PM
To: <hbrob...@googlegroups.com>
Cc: "Wayne C. Gramlich" <wayne.gra...@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [HBRobotics] Re: HBRC 2013 Club Robot

S. K. ("KG") Ganapathi

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Feb 12, 2013, 10:48:52 AM2/12/13
to hbrob...@googlegroups.com

Hello, Wayne:

I also just want to make sure my son Adi is on the roster; I sent the payment in on Saturday…

 

Best Regards,

KG

 

S. K. ("KG") Ganapathi

650-704 7714 (c)

 

From: hbrob...@googlegroups.com [mailto:hbrob...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Julie Dequaire
Sent: Monday, February 11, 2013 6:09 PM
To: hbrob...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: [HBRobotics] Re: HBRC 2013 Club Robot

 

Hello Wayne

David Madsen

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Feb 12, 2013, 10:46:32 PM2/12/13
to hbrob...@googlegroups.com, Wayne C. Gramlich
Hi Wayne,

I am a newcomer and would like to join HomeBrew Robotics Club and the Club Robot class. I have sent $65 + $10 over PayPal. I look forward to the experience.

-David "DJ" Madsen
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