Building a Robot

[MTsoul]

Hey all,

For my school graduation (12th year in highschool in Canada), I have to create something to enter a Science Fair with. 4 out of the 6 categories are biological stuff, which I plainly dislike. One was engineering of software/hardware. Software is.. not really anything in a Science fair competition; so I can't really do anything with that. So i thought of making a robot of some kind..

But how hard is it to make one? I've learned the basics of electricity/magnetism stuff in physics.. i'm sure I can find some resources about making one, but would it take a lot of time? This is due in February, I've got 5 months. Hopefully, the bot can.. move, and be remote controlled. I've seen many guys on TV making robots for a living; they make a really nice, pro one, in 2 years, which sort of scares me.

Anybody have any idea? I might sound crazy, i watch too much TV i guess. Or any ideas on what I should make/research for this science fair?

Thanks :afro: :cap:

[G]

sounds fairly straight forward but you'd prob have to think this one out for a long time! If you can pull it off great.

I'd probably research cybernetics or some other robotic subject.

[λ]

Ahmed has done this kind of thing, I'll tell him about this thread :)

[Mik3]

What about those Lego robotic things... I saw them at Kirupa's site...

[MTsoul]

Yeah I was thinking of Lego too.. but I'd still have to build the electronic stuff; Lego is just a coat for the robot.

[Mik3]

Hey, can you program the Mindstorm microprocessor?

EDIT:
I think LEGO should make a more seriouse robot company. The Robotics club at my school is made fun of and called the "Lego Club." They should make some seriouse metal robot system with a stylish microcomputer (witha harddrive)!

[MTsoul]

So far.. no, not yet. If Lego is the way to go, I think i can learn how to program mindstorm. Some sites said that the definition of a "robot" is not just some mobile piece of plastic/metal - it should have a mind of its own. Technically, building a robot would have to include sensors and stuff. I'm quite sure I'm not.. that advanced yet.

But then, just having a mobile piece of little machine would do?

[MTsoul]

Wow! I just checked out the Lego Mindstorm sets. Truly quite amazing.. light/energy sensors, and a custom programming language. Isn't that a bit.. too simple? After all, this is a senior science fair competition. :/

[Mik3]

A Java powered robot would be cool. You can try to get some microprocessor and then have the shell as lego stuff. You'de win for sure...

[MTsoul]

Yeah! but An independent microprocessor that supports Java and is adapted to all input/output can be quite hard to find. Can't I just stick in an mp3 player or something and download a java program..

I ought to go to the library and check this out :D

[fester8542]

Hey MT you are bound to run into electromagnetic shielding issues. If you need any RFI materials let me know, I work for a shielding company and can make sure you get all the "samples" you need :Beam: :thumb:

[MTsoul]

Wow that's great fester! Thanks a lot :D

Man I can't wait to get my hands on these pieces!

[fester8542]

no prob bro....just send me a PM if you know what the deal is :beam:

pssst...and for you overclockers we also make thermal management materials..... tee heee

[MTsoul]

Awesome! =)

[DariusMonsef]

I would think you would want to choose a specific task you would like your robot to do. A simple robot that moves and stuff witha remote you can buy at Toys R Us. If would be cool to choose a robot to do some daily task for you.

[The_Vulcan]

Well I read once that students at MIT had to program a RC helicopter to hover as a part of their finials.

It would be cool to have your own drone......

[Vexir]

Here's what you do. You email all the major companies specializing in robotics and ask them for parts because you're interested in studying robotics and building a few. Since oyu're a student they may donate hte parts or chop down the price.

Connect the motors, wheels and metal pieces together, and hook it up to a battery. Make a simple circuit to have the motors move in a way to do something (i.e. roll forward 2 feet pick up a can and throw it into a trashcan from 10 feet away...) and you've got it made :-D

I've done that with Lego Mindstorms actually, it worked beautifully. I used treads not wheels though. My robot was 14 inches tall and actually threw a coke can 10 feet. Amazing.

[ahmed]

Hey all,

For my school graduation (12th year in highschool in Canada), I have to create something to enter a Science Fair with. 4 out of the 6 categories are biological stuff, which I plainly dislike. One was engineering of software/hardware. Software is.. not really anything in a Science fair competition; so I can't really do anything with that. So i thought of making a robot of some kind..

But how hard is it to make one? I've learned the basics of electricity/magnetism stuff in physics.. i'm sure I can find some resources about making one, but would it take a lot of time? This is due in February, I've got 5 months. Hopefully, the bot can.. move, and be remote controlled. I've seen many guys on TV making robots for a living; they make a really nice, pro one, in 2 years, which sort of scares me.

Anybody have any idea? I might sound crazy, i watch too much TV i guess. Or any ideas on what I should make/research for this science fair?

Thanks :afro: :cap:

Some of this might have been already mentioned, by anywho.. How hard is it to make a robot? I wouldn't say it's hard provided that you can work with your hands and know a bit of programming, but it's rather costly.

I was given a kit at school to play with, it's very similar to the LEGO Mindstorm kit except it comes with metal instead of LEGO pieces. I managed to make this piece of crap (http://24.141.60.208/mycar.jpg) with it, but I have seen what others have managed to . The kit (http://www.innovationfirst.com/FIRSTRobotics/edu-kits.htm) costs $595 USD, which is too expensive.

Like others have said, the LEGO Mindstorm kit is your best bet. It's cheaper, easier to work with, and has tons of possibilites.

Also, this might be of some interest:

www.chiefdelphi.com

[MTsoul]

Wow. that forum is full of lego geniuses. Seemingly, lego is really nice isn't it. Everybody who's played around with it says it's great. Like Ethan said, I should build it around a purpose? I mean, what's there something that a machine cannot do already? there are appliances for almost everything..

[Vexir]

Its too hard to build something with a purpose and still be unique because there are tons of companies building robots all over the place which accomplish the same task and do it with the efficiency and compactness that comes out of great loads of thinking and mass manufacturing.