12 Oct 08 The Robot: Hardware List, Wheel Plan, More Ideas, Steps to launch

Thanks to some further thought and some great comments and suggestions, I’ve got a clearer idea of what I’d like to build, and I’ve devised a preliminary hardware list. I’ve divided this into various categories to help planning and ordering.

Discuss this in the forums here: http://www.adamsinfo.com/forum/linux-robot/the-robot-hardware-list-wheel-plan-more-ideas-steps-to-launch/

Hardware
My bad wheel plan mockup for 4 wheels and omnidirectional movement:

Base Layout

Please excuse the awful graphics

The base layout should be as follows. The diamond shape is a very thin metal plate which will have the motors and motor casing attached. The metal plate will be at the very bottom of the device. The square (overlayed) will be the acetate base of the unit, and build up to form the base “box”.

I’d like the motor’s to be simple 6-9v, 10W max. motors

Each motor will be held on it’s own bracket and will not be connected via an axle. Each motor will require independant control via a motor controller. The motor controller will be required to convert digital input to variable voltage (5v/7v/9v?) output. 4 speed (4.5v/6v/7.5v/9v>) would also be fine.
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Tags: alix, analog, camera, cf card, digital, electronics, i2c, io ports, LED, Linux, Linux robot, microphone, motors, Robot, sensor, speaker

08 Oct 08 Linux Robot, more hardware ideas

Follow on from: http://www.adamsinfo.com/linux-robot-watch-this-space/

I’ve been giving the layout and hardware of the device some thought. Hardware should be split up as follows:

Main board
At minimum, CPU, IO pin out, RAM, CF/SD, and USB controller. Wifi and/or ethernet would be nice. It will need to be linux friendly of course.

Custom IO board
Connect to Main board via 16 bit bus. The custom IO board will have some logic gate chips and maybe some memory. It will then connect child boards for LEDs, the ultrasonic sensors, switches and relays. The relays will then be connected to the wheels. I’ll consider adding other sensors for temperature, light, etc.
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Tags: beagleboard, custom io, Hardware, Linux robot, relay, Robot, sensor, switch, temperature, ultrasonic sensor