Links to Robots:
IR Detector How to build a simple IR detector, schematics and alternate links
ARM Basic Robot Arm Pictures, AVIs, and short description
Cheap1 A very cheap robot built as an experiment to see if we wanted to do a robot class for high schoolers or beginners (and to learn more about parallel port stuff). Pictures, AVIs and a short description
Stella, the
"daughter of cheap1" (see above). An inexpensive robot (but not
cheap) built to be a follow on for the
cheap1. Pictures, and a short description
Seeka (see cheap1 above). A smaller
robot based on 'cheap1' that uses an IR TV remote for control (also has
autonomous modes). Pictures, and a short
description
NEWT - my attempt at making a real test
stand robot. This one is retired, but there are some interesting pictures
of Sonar at work.
Hexapod I got bored with Newt and made
a hexapod (Whew! Was that expensive!). Pictures and some discussion. The
hexapod is now defunct.
DR - what you do with a windfall robot
kit that is pretty kewl. Pictures and a Real Movie.
SAM - The current design for our class
robot.
CCS-PCM and PICs Programming a PIC with
CCS-PCM C compilers.
Simple SSC A Serial Servo Controller
using a 16F84 PIC(discussion).
CCS LCD A Serial LCD hookup using CCS
(unique to CCS).
Skinny A PWM/PID example in the making.
Uses PicBasic Pro.
RF Control Controlling a robot with
RF from a PC
PID Tutorial/Project A PWM/PID
tutor.
Wheels Robot Wheels made
easy.
Wheels Some hints on how to make
plexiglas robot wheels.
Puff1 A steam powered robot!
Pittman Modifications Adding an encoder disk to a Pittman Series 8000 Gearhead Motor.
Bench Power Supply made from an
old PC power supply.
Vex and FIRST Prototyping FIRST
requirements with VEX kits
These are all the videos that you may find on the above HTML pages.
arm1.rm ARM - a five degree of freedom arm.
parallel1.rm CHEAP1 - an inexpensive robot made for about $30.
newt.rm NEWT - Newt finds a clear path using SONAR.
anakin.rm ANAKIN - Anakin avoids stairs and walls using IR.
skinny2.rm SKINNY - takes a P (PID controlled robot).
ss1.rm SS1 - Skinny's sister (about the same thing as Skinny).
skinnyIR.rm SKINNY - uses IR on a servo to avoid walls.
skinnyIR3.rm SKINNY - uses IR, A Bobird, and precipice detectors.
puff1.rm Puff1 - a steam powered robot!
vex3a.wmv Vex and FIRST prototypes
I have purchased and had good results from these online sources:
Acroname - good deals on difficult to find stuff (like PIR)
Digikey - parts, parts, parts, PICs
JDR Micro - parts, parts, parts
Jameco - parts, parts (cheap parts! - try their solderless breadboards!)
Peter Anderson's page. Really interesting and reasonable stuff
Find Chips - a very nice resource for finding ICs
The following are general links (I haven't purchased from any of these):
Seattle Robotics - pretty good information - be sure to read their newsletter.
Robots, Androids, and Animatrons by John Iovine, ISBN 0-07-032804-8 Moderately useful - not a waste of money like some other texts - but watch out for some of the circuits - they don't work as advertised
Robots, Inspiration to Implementation, Jones, Flynn, Seiger, ISBN: 1568810970 Highly Recommended (by me and everyone else):
The Parallel Port Complete by Jan Axelson, ISBN: 0965081915 This and the following book are interesting if you are wondering how to program that silly parallel or serial port: The Serial Port Complete by Jan Axelson, ISBN: 0965081923