Hi all -
So glad I found this group and forum. I've been interested in this topic for a couple years now.
I've decided to start with an ArduRover project and perhaps later upgrade to a quadrotor proj.
I see, from his thesis paper, that James used a Traxxas Stampede RC truck as his vehicular platform for the ArduRover project.
Looking at eBay and Amazon, I can see that the Traxxas vehicle starts around $100 used and goes up to $350-$500 new.
Being that we just bought another house and had a baby, I'm wondering if I can safely trim the costs of this project by using a less expensive RC car. (Without introducing costly complications?)
Can someone tell me what criteria I should bear in mind when looking at RC vehicles for ArduRover? (Channels? Power? other?)
Also, I'd very much appreciate flat-out recommendations for other, more economical vehicles to build on.
I don't want to use this forum to troll for used hardware, but DO contact me if you have working hardware to unload. :D
Recommendations appreciated. THANKS!
- Dave F.
Replies
davefer,
Any rover that will last and have endurance as an expeimental platform will not be cheap. I have considered the Traxxas electric vehicles on eBay also. I think the thing to do is buy a new basic chassis and add components as your budget permits. I presently have two six wheeled rovers without independent suspensions and they were unfortunately not cheap by any means. I think that my approach will be to buy either a used or bare bones Traxxas chassis and gradually upgrade it as my budget allows. The Traxxas can navigate over uneven terrain and go where my skid steering rovers would have a difficult time.
Just a thought.
Regards,
TCIII