Robot ground vehicle, just add brains. See it running at:
I thought I would like to start building ground vehicles & high powered servos and offering them for sale. This is the first attempt at a large rolling chassis - it happily carries people around for rides and has a wheelbase of approx 865mm (a bit less than a yard).
It is:
- 24V with 12V and UBEC available on board
- Large slow revving brush motor that is ultra reliable and very quiet
- Massively powerful steering servo
- Simple RC inputs for steering and motor drive
- Forward and reverse controlled by transmitter stick position
- Heavy duty 25mm frame to carry sensors, arms, manipulators, etc
Cost? Somewhere around the sort of price you would expect to pay for an RC car at your local hobby shop.
Comments
I'm really keen to know what components were used in this build or if they are still available? does anyone know? I realise i'm posting 4.5 years late!
I did indeed, though I still have the original!
It seems that people want custom designs and I'm good with that sort of thing. I can't show any photos of work that I've done for other people, but if you want an all terrain electric or gasoline (petrol) vehicle with any sensor mounting you desire, and robot arm/manipulator that you like, just drop me a line.
After a bit of work, I can tell you that to ship from our location (near Byron Bay) to Epping 2121 is about $98. Other places around Australia would be proportional.
Oh yes, servo design. I recommend that anyone contemplating such a thing should read a series of excellent articles:
http://brettbeauregard.com/blog/2011/04/improving-the-beginners-pid...
Otherwise, the motors (worm drive is generally the go) are available commercially, as are the h-bridge drivers. Feedback is generally by a pot, as in any RC servo. Shaun, if you want to swap recipes, drop me a PM.
Delivery in Australia won't be too much. I've had a lot of experience shipping old engines and those things are serious heavy but shipping was very reasonable. Mark, I'll get you a quote ASAP - I've been away in a place that didn't have WiFi. True wilderness.
For those interested in shipping costs, I have a funny story relating to the fact that everybody wants to import stuff INTO Australia. It really throws agents off their game if you ask for a price to EXport an item - you have to imagine frantic scuffling and tense whispers behind the scenes as they try to find someone who knows something about the subject.
Anyway, as for shipping to the US, the cheapest option is an actual ship at around $220 in shipping plus another $220 for customs clearance in the US. You can fill in all the forms and save yourself most of the customs cost if you do it yourself.
The most expensive option is FedEx at around $850.
For some reason, quotes for shipping to the UK & Europe are much harder to obtain, but I imagine that they will be around the same order of magnitude. More news as it comes to hand.
Nobody is keen to ship anything with batteries so the cost of the vehicles themselves without batteries but otherwise ready to go (that includes an RC transmitter) is looking to be around $AU1300
Thanks for all the comments and questions. Here are a few general answers, and please ask again if I miss anybody.
I can ship them anywhere using the usual services like Fedex, UPS, TNT, etc. I will get a list of prices to various destinations ASAP. I probably can't ship batteries, but the motor driver is good for 30V, so two deep cycle lead acids or perhaps a 5S or 6S lithium pack would do ya.
The systems are all compatible with RC inputs. At the moment it is all being run by a simple RC receiver, but simply add an APM or other autopilot and you've got instant autonomous vehicle.
The wheels and tires are 4.10/3.5 - 4. These are hugely common and used for everything from farm implements to gas (petrol) scooters to wheelchairs. Available in any tread pattern from knobbies to slicks as well.
All parts are off the shelf and available around the world, so no problem with spares. The motor/transaxle is a true differential drive (as opposed to a single wheel drive) and available brand new from around $200.
I don't have power specs for the steering servo, but don't get your fingers in the way. The servo itself is 12V, and the signal cable simply plugs into the RC receiver or APM using a standard servo cable. Too easy!
And finally, high powered servos in pretty much any size are always available. Standard is RC input, but you can have any special design you like.
I'd like to see pricing for the US as well. Or at least for the electronics. Are you running a live drive axle?
Very nicely made,
Great welded chassis and cage and really sturdy looking steering knuckles and linkage.
I hope it is possible to get this in the US at a reasonable cost because I would like to buy one.
If you don't mind my asking what are the wheels and tires - Go Kart?
Best Regards,
Gary
Cheers,
Stephen
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