Sample Robots
Here are a few of the many choices you have to pick from if you want to participate in the LVBots Challenge.
You can build and program a bot with Lego Mindstroms! This is a very popular way for kids and teens to create an autonomous robot. They can be programmed with the easy Lego graphical "drag and drop" programming language, or, for more control, with the Not Quite C (NQC) language.
You can also purchase a robot kit, and even modify it with your own ideas. Some popular robot kits are:
The Solarbotics Sumovore - $89
This is a great little sumo robot kit that can compete with no programming required. It also will do line following standard.
You can also get a microcontroller brain board for it, and program it with your own code. The kit requires soldering.
The Mark III - $92
This is another nice sumo robot kit that comes with a PIC microcontroller. It programs with the computer serial port,
and sample code is available. It cam be programmed in BASIC, C, Assembly and other languages. The kit requires soldering.
The Parallax SumoBot - $149
A great beginnaer Sumo kit. Two can be purchased as a competition kit.
Available in USB or serial version. BASIC stamp based, so very easy to program. No soldering Required
The CBA Robot - $89
This robot kits looks to be too large for a mini sumo, but is programmed with the BASIC Stamp, a very easy controller for beginners.
The kit requires soldering.
The BOE-Bot robot kit - $199Also from RadioShack - $150
Another popular robot kit. Too big for mini-sumo, but available with lots of options, including line following. Available in USB or serial version. Also BASIC stamp based, so very easy to program.
You can also find robot kits from:
http://www.lynxmotion.com/
http://www.budgetrobotics.com
http://www.robotstore.com
http://www.acroname.com
Finally, you can build your own bot using plastic, metal, or wood. Buy a controller or build your own to design the entire robot from the ground up.
If you choose to buy a controller, the
Pololu Orangutan and Baby Orangutan are good choices for an inexpensive, yet powerful robot brain.
Pololu also has
Motor Controllers
for all sizes of motors.
2012-02-09
Emily: RGB LED Halloween CostumeAdd yourself here!
2012-01-26
6:00-6:10 Robot help - ask questions about anything6:10-6:20 Introductions & group matters
6:20-6:30 Kevin - Zumo prototype and QuadBot
6:30-6:50 Kevin - I2C
6:50-7:00 Nathan - Quick intro to 3D scanning with Davidscanner (free version).
At ~7pm we will adjourn to a nearby bar or restaurant for general discussion.
2012-01-05
Neil and Michael: Navigation project with TReX JrEric and Mark: Big Traxx
Kevin: 5m LED strip synchronized with music
Ryan/Paul: General organizational discussion for LVBots
At ~8pm we will adjourn to a nearby bar or restaurant for general discussion.
2011-10-27
Show and tell: everyoneVintage electronics: Eric
Dual VNH5019 Motor Shield RyanTM
2011-10-13
David: New servo control library for the WixelNathan: Hackerspace Status Update
2011-09-29
Kyle S: Heathkit HERO jr. Robot from 1984, educational robot. it has a few problems.
Nathan: ST L6384E H-Bridge MOSFET driver troubleshooting.
David: AVR Studio 5 demo, featuring the Pololu USB AVR Programmer
RyanTM: New arduino shield
2011-09-15
2011-09-01
Dave: 2-way wireless communication with PICAXE using Wixels
Brian: RGB led strip demo
RyanTM: exciting new motor driver
Kevin: IMU board (gyro+compass+accelerometer) demo
2011-08-18
Paul G: reflectance sensor demo (requested by Paul I)
Dave/Paul/Kevin: Try to wirelessly program a PICAXE - should be much easier since they just use RX, TX, and GND.
2011-08-04
Paul I: Line follower
Dave: Request a demo of how to wirelessly connect a Parallax Sumobot with a serial interface to a computer using Wixels. I have the Sumobot and will purchase the Wixels.
2011-07-21
Paul I: HexapodDiscuss contest ideas.
Dave: Flea and Ant fighting robots (live demo), Boy Scout Electronics Merit Badge Kit (before and after assembly) and a FingerTech motor controller demo.
Andy H: DSO QUAD pocket oscilloscope
Kevin: Tank chassis sumo battle
Paul G: new shiftbrite LED modules
2011-07-07
David: Programming the ATmega2560 with ICSPRyanTM fun small-robot drive: link
2011-06-23
Kevin: more tracked chassis examples using new tracksNathan: Sailboat motor regeneration bench demo
2011-06-09
Kevin: 3d gyro
RyanTM: Wixel Shield for Arduino
David: Programming the Wixel on Linux and maybe a Mac
Someone: new current sensors
2011-05-26
Kevin: building a tank chassis with Tamiya plates and Pololu wheels & treads
Nathan: Regenerative Motor Control Demo (Untested!!)
2011-05-12
RyanTM: new Satellite LED modules (003, 004)
Ben: 25D gearmotors
Ben: tank treads and bolts
Ben: m3pi POV LEDs
Jan: USB microscope
2011-04-28
Kevin: Wixel i2c interface demos - wireless compass and barometer
RyanTM: m3pi (a board for mounting an mbed on a 3pi)
Mark: ?
2011-04-14
Kevin: Wixel wireless tilt mouse and joystick
Paul: new robot arm from Dagu, several new metal gearmotors
2011-03-31
David/Kevin/Paul: new Wixel apps
2011-03-17
David: Deskpet Robot Body from Shapeways
David/others: Wixel
2011-03-03
Paul: Scorbot-ER III robot arm (dropped off by Eric O)
Nathan: Even more regenerative electric motor stuff (batteries included).
2011-02-17
Nathan: Regenerative electric sailboat motor part IIKevin: wireless robot with Rover-5 tank chassis, wixel, and Arduino SVP
David/JanH: wixel bootloading software
RyanTM: AutoHotKey demo (easy way to control servos and other things with a keyboard or joystick)
RyanTM: CHR-UM6 Orientation Sensor
Fang/Paul: torque meter
2011-02-03
Nathan: Regenerative electric sailboat motorRyan: Wirelessly controlled 3pi Robot
Ben: 25mm-diameter encoder motors
2011-01-20
Kevin/Ryan: 3d compass / accelerometerDavid/Kevin: wireless serial port
Paul: absolute encoder
Travis: mbed-based robot ?
Kevin: wireless router robot
Henry: XMOS
2011-01-06
Ryan: barometric pressure sensorByon: removing email addresses
Byon: email requesting help with Sahara West Library robotics program (see Yahoo Group)
David & Kevin: wireless serial port demo
2010-12-16
Henry: XMOSHenry: Windows CE touchscreen computer
Aaron (visitor): demoing his REVO 1 robot
JanH: update on Pololu AVR library support for OSX
RyanM: Relative humidity sensor.
Byon: Minimal progress on the encoder bot chassis
2010-12-02
David: mbed robot racing videoRyan: Demo of computer cable for Agilent meters
Paul: Demo of Octobrite DEFILIPPI driving 24 LEDs
Jan H: Preview of support for Pololu AVR Programmer
Kevin: Demo of 20x4 Character LCD with LED backlight