LTBot

Finally actually beginning to come together, the LTBot will hopefully track the development of this particular hobby robot. It will be a BX24 low level / Laptop drive high level semi-automonous robot that will roam around our living room at will... Hopefully.

"GB"

11/2002 - This thing is currently just setting in the junk pile waiting for more ambition from me.

02/20/2001 - Playing around here again - Added a couple pics
This one I call "GB" for short which stands for "Gear Box". Basically the robot is toy gearbox with wheels and a brain. The gear box IS rather interesting... it is a dual motored unit with a magetic coupler that allows the platform to run straight forward if both motors are running. If only one motor is running, the magnets will unlock allowing the unit to turn like a normal two motored robot.

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ProtoBot ^v2

11/2002 - Again this is put to rest due to servo issues and interest in the other robot projects I have going on.
2/20/2001 - Starting working on this again
2/22/99 - Renamed from ProBot
ProtoBot is a scratch built robot using RC servos for drive. The chassis is I'm scratch building the chassis and will again use the BOTBoard 68HC11 for brains. Unlike many small 'bots I've seen, I will be using nice big squishy radio control truck tires for the main drive. The tires have a standard tractor tire tread and will hopefully provide some suspension effects avoiding the bouncy and jarring ride most small robots seem to have. Also I hope it will better equip the robot to travel on carpet, dirt, gravel and grass.

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RADHack

11/2002 - Updated, base has BX24 installed and is roaming around by itself at this point.

Just another project. We ended up with two RAD 2.0's after Christmas 2000 and I couldn't resist hacking into one. The basic project covers using a desktop/laptop for remote control and an RF data link back for telemetry and sensor data.

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The Two RADs
One to Be Hacked

Lego BattleBots

Just a side track on the main hobby but still a lot of fun. My 5 Year son and I have played with our Lego Mindstorms and come up with our own BattleBots.

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Other Critters

• PC Based Bot
  11/2002 - See LTBot for development of this
• 03/06/99 - Current have parts in hand using the FerretTronics FT639 Servo Controller and FT629 Switch Input chips. Both these chips use 2400 baud RS232 for talking and can be easily integrated into a PC controller. The FT639 will drive up to five (5) servos and the FT629 will provide five (5) digital inputs. Each is a tiny 8 pin dip.
  Related Links: FerretTronics