Building a Small Autonomous Robot?

Nedward asks: "For Christmas I would like to give a friend all the equipment to build a small (approx 1 ft^3) mobile autonomous robot. I have looked up some kits online, but I would like more freedom than the kits offer (fully programmable, etc). The challenge: I only have $200.00 to spend. Has anyone put together a robot (CPU, motor, sensors and so forth) with that kind of a budget? Any other suggestions?"

Lego Mindstorms

[nuxx]

Two words:

Lego Mindstorms [legomindstorms.com]

The perfect getting started programmable robotics kit...

Only two motors

[mark99]

Last I looked (and bought), they only had two motors. Althoug it really is amazing what you can do with only two motors, everything I really wanted to build really needed like 6 or so.

Lego my robot

[BortQ]

What about the robotic Lego packs? Seems like that would be a good fit for what you seek. Don't write it off if you have never seen one, they are pretty cool. (Although it cannot be used like a general purpose CPU).

Lego Mindstorms

[bjz]

Take a look at the Lego Mindstorm kits http://www.legomindstorms.com/ [legomindstorms.com]. They're in the $180 to $200 dollar range and come with all the parts your friend would need. Plus, there are several choices for programming the Lego Mindstorms programmable brick on both Windows and Linux, including BrickOS, Lejos(Java), and NQC(Not Quite C).

One word response

[FueledByRamen]

MC68HC811E2P.

I've built a few robot platforms around the 68hc11 brain, and that chip is the easiest one to get started with:

• 8 bucks each, from any number of suppliers
• Single-chip solution - the only external components are an 8 MHz crystal and 2x 22pf capacitors
• DIP package - fits into Radio Shack solderless breadboards nicely
• It's fast - a whopping 2 MHz
• 256 bytes of RAM, and a 2K EEPROM for program storage
• 16 lines of digital I/O, 8 ADCs, input compare and output compare timer lines, 2 serial ports, and a few other nicities

You can download code to it over the serial port (and write it into the EEPROM), with the addition of 1 more chip - a MAX232 serial level converter. Tools for its instruction set (compilers, assemblers, etc) are very easy to find, as are schematics for a basic setup for the chip and for the serial converter. A google search should reveal a BASIC and a FORTH compiler for it, among various other (free) tools.

The guys at the Seattle Robotics Society [seattlerobotics.org] do a lot with this architecture, and they have plenty of articles and links pertaining to it.

+5 Informative? Are you slashbots morons?

[Anonymous Coward]

The HC11 has been nearing the end of its life for years now. You'd be nuts to use that chip in a new design.

Consider using an AVR [atmel.com] chip. Its a nice, modern RISC (32 registers, compared to the shitty HC11's handful). They are much cheaper, have a shitload more memory and peripherals, and tons faster (16/24 MIPS). Even a common-as-dirt PIC chip would be better then this. [microchip.com]

The tools are much better for PICs and AVRs because they are much more popular.

Re:One word response

[jacobdp]

DS89C450 [dalsemi.com].

• Costs around $10, or you can get two free samples from Dallas Semiconductor, the manufacturer.
• 8051 archictecture.
• Also a 40-pin DIP package; just add a crystal and some capacitors.
• 33 MHz, and most instructions are executed in 1 clock cycle.
• 1k RAM, 64k Flash.
• Two serial ports, 32 pins of digital I/O, timers, counters, etc.
• Serial port programmable with just a MAX232 and a 74HC125; there's a bootloader program in ROM built in on the chip.
• Programmable in whatever, but there's a free C compiler [sourceforge.net] available, which is quite easy to get started with

And it's a recent design (last year, IIRC) - but it's based on the incredibly popular 8051 architecture, so there are tons of software tools available for it.

Another good chip to work with

[Andy Dodd]

The higher end Atmel AVRs are nice chips, and you can program them with GCC too, although I actually prefer CodeVisionAVR.

I think Atmel's midrange chips (in the $8 range) beat the HC11s, and have LOTS of nice features.

Get down!

[AbsurdProverb]

You may have some trouble getting your hands on a neural processing computer for under 200$.

Just one question

[Odocoileus]

Can I be your friend?

Check out some sumo resources

[TomGroves]

You might find sumo-related resources helpful or inspiring. Full-size (Japan) scale sumo's are 20cm^2. Mini-sumo (the most popular scale in the US) is limited to 10cm^2. Many of the designs focus on low-cost parts, tricks, etc.

I have a list of some mini-sumo links here [tomgroves.net]

lots of different options..

[hari]

Trusty 'ol HandyBoard [robotstorehk.com]
68HC12 [technologicalarts.com]
Lego Mindstorm [legomindstorms.com]
8051 development board [pjrc.com]
Good 'ol Parallax [parallax.com]

There are also chips/development boards from Microchip (manufacturers of PIC series of ucontrollers) and Atmel.

Most of the above DO NOT come with motors, sensors, base, wheels etc. However, these are not difficult to find at a nearby hobby shop.

For a little more challenge, get a DSP board (TI, Motorola, Analog devices etc). You can get a good new/used one for pretty cheap from eBay [ebay.com]

Re:lots of different options..

[alienw]

For most microcontrollers, a dev board is not necessary. PICs are in-circuit programmable, and the only external part they require to run is a ceramic resonator. You can make a programmer for PICs for about $5 (see here [homepage.dk]). I would just make a board with the programmer, a PIC, and a jumper to switch it to programming mode. Route all the I/O pins to a header and put all sensors and electronics onto that board.

Re:lots of different options..

[Anonymous Coward]

The PICmicro platform is pretty good, but frequently new users have to get started with MPASM, since free compilers are pretty sparse (JAL is okay, and some makers have limited use demos). MPASM really turns people off because of the sheer amount of code you have to write to do something useful.

The Atmel AVR systems have a full free toolchain based on GCC, and can be in-circuit-programmed for cheap. You can't get the highest-end chips in DIP, but you don't need Mega128's for most projects.

Best solutio

Re:lots of different options..

[alienw]

I started with MPASM and that's the only thing I use still. I really think things like the OOPic are kinda pointless (not to mention overpriced). Half the fun is being able to use the processor directly for microsecond-definite timing and other neat features. Microcontrollers are for simple things. If you are doing something that is too complex to write in assembly, you shouldn't be using an 8-bit microcontroller.

I don't see any point in using a compiler, really. Compilers generate very inefficient c

Here's one under $100

[Anonymous Coward]

http://www.junun.org/MarkIII/Info.jsp?item=1 [junun.org]

"This is the complete Mark III Robot kit, everything you need to build a working autonomous robot including controller board, sensors, pre-programmed PIC, chassis, wheels, motors, documentation and software. Just add batteries. Assembly required."

Alternative suggestion...

[quamaretto]

But you'd have to have gotten started on it in March.

Handy Cricket

[Grond]

The Handyboard [handyboard.com] is a favorite of robot hobbiests and researchers. We use them in our Mobile Robotics class at Uni. The full-on Handyboard is about $299, though. A somewhat reduced version of the Handyboard, the Handy Cricket [handyboard.com] is available for $99 from Gleason Research [gleasonresearch.com] with a sensor/motor kit included. If you check the Handyboard page, there are several other vendors, including ones that sell unassembled kits for less, if you're not afraid of a little (okay, a fair bit of) soldering.

I recommend using Lego to build the body of the robot as it's highly reconfigurable, cheap, and fun to play with even without the robot parts.

Budget

[cowbutt]

Wow, $200 is a quite astonishingly low budget for this project, nevertheless - good luck!

My alma mater had an 'Intelligent Autonomous Vehicles Lab', which consisted of M680x0 VME machines mounted to a motorized chassis with a bunch of sensors (collision, light, ultrasound, video). I'm pretty sure they were powered by rechargeable lead-acid cells when they were 'off the leash'. I dread to think how much all that must have cost back then. Probably a few grand per robot. :-/

More details can be found in thi [essex.ac.uk]

Hobby Engineering

[mwilson]

These guys [hobbyengineering.com] sell a sumo platform (BASIC Stamp powered) for $90. That leaves room in the budget for upgrades. or buy two so they can battle :)

Robot Builder's Bonanza

[thomthom]

Go to your nearest library (or bookshop if you want to buy it. good reading if you like that stuff) and get a copy of "Robot Builder's Bonanza". It's a big book on how to make small robot projects on low budgets. I got it my self and it's really interesting. The projects are easy to understand and easy to manipulate to your own desires.

Re:Robot Builder's Bonanza

[TheOtherChimeraTwin]

That book lists for $25 (OK, you can find it cheaper, but it is still a big chunk of the tiny budget.)

I'd recommend instead making a robot costume [chevroncars.com]. You could show up in the costume with a nice red bow, vacuum the carpets, serve a couple of drinks, and sneak out after everyone goes to bed.

Does he own a Palm?

[Bastian]

If so, give him the PalmPilot robot kit!

It doesn't do a whole lot - 3 infrared rangefinders for sensors, not much (if any room) to add more sensors or devices, but it does move holonomically. =D

Re:Does he own a Palm?

[AndroidCat]

If he doesn't have a Palm, I'm sure he can find a cockroach [machineproject.com].

Re:Does he own a Palm?

[magefile]

Holonomically?

Re:Does he own a Palm?

[Bastian]

It can move in any direction, it can turn while moving in a straight line, blah blah blah.

robot controller from compubotics

[malice95]

Check out compubotics robot controller.. 70$
plus pick up 2 servos, modify them for continious
motion and wammo.. easy and cheap robot for about
100$ Spend the rest on sensors, etc.

Re:robot controller from compubotics

[harrkev]

The parent is right about the servos. You can get gearhead motors for under $20 each and fifteen minutes of work.

Here is my complete recomendation:

***Brains***
Anything that you are familiar with. Can be a palm, PocketPC, microcontroller, or PC104 board. Just be sure that whatever you choose has a good compiler and debugger. You will also need some digital inputs and outputs. And an analog-to-digital converter is VERY nice to have (almost manditory).

One approach to use if you have an old Palm/Pocke

RoboSapien + PDA Phone

[sonamchauhan]

This Slashdot story: "Hacking the RoboSapien" [slashdot.org] shows how to control the Robosapien - a $100 humanoid-ish toy robot - with the infrared port of a strapped-on PDA.

Two options for the PDA controller:

1. You can use a PocketPC and a free Visual C++ API
You may get a cheap PocketPC on Ebay.

OR

2. You can use a PalmOS PDA, along with a program called SAPBench that works out to $25.
You could either use a cheapo palm Zire, or get a Treo 300 PDA + phone which I saw on sale for as cheap as $85 on Froogle.google.co

Handy Andy...

[seanellis]

My robot [ntlworld.com], scratch build. Total cost about $100, if you bought everything new. I scavenged most of the bits from my "box-o-bits", though.

Using RC Model vehicles

[riedquat]

For the mechanical side of things, consider buying a cheap radio controlled vehicle and modifying that for autonomous operation. For about $50 you get the batteries, motors and transmission done for you - building them from scratch can be more problematic than you might think.

On models I've bought, replacing the controller was as simple as cutting four tracks on a PCB and connecting them straight to a microcontroller. This leaves you with plenty of money left for sensors and processors.

Re:Using RC Model vehicles

[kah731]

It has been found that most RC vehicles run too fast for most hobby robot applications.

Hobby Robot Options

[kah731]

Lego Mindstorms can be a great way to start. But it can be limiting. It comes with only 2 motors. It can control only 3 motors and have 3 sensors. The programming environment can be limiting too, but there are other options on the web to help.

If you think your friend would be interested in something a little more complex, I can point you to some other resources...

There are some robot kits on the market. A pretty good one is: SumoBot Robot [parallax.com] ~$150

Or you could get a platform and controller board se

$200 for an autonomouse robot kit...

[cr0sh]

...is easily do-able.

You basically have 3 main parts or units for an autonomous robot - the body, the brains, and the sensors. You want to do this cheap, and you want to do this fast. So, start off with the body:

Go down to the Goodwill stores in your area. Look around. See something that can be used for the body? Grab it. Miscellaneous parts? Grab it. Go on 50% off day, all the better. You are looking for things like remote controls, old joysticks, used VCRs and cassette recorders, old radio controlled cars or other similar things (or remote controlled tank devices, etc). I was at some Goodwills these past two weekends, I managed to score 2 old "battlebot" toys (nice battery operated simple tank drives), 1 full direction radio-shack dune buggy, and a complete Star Wars Droid Mindstorms kit (cheesy, yeah - but goes great with my full RCX 1.5 kit) - spent less than 10 bucks (!). You want the remotes for the IR LEDs in them, and the other stuff for motors and gears, etc.

Another possibility (though more expensive) is to get some cheapo toys and such from bargain places (like Big Lots) that will work for a robot body. Don't forget ideas like a piece of 2x2 plywood, a couple of casters, a couple of lawnmower wheels, and a couple of cheap power screwdrivers (all that should be doable under $50.00).

Get him the "Robot Builder Bonanza" book - he will need it and cherish it - buy a used copy for cheap. Don't worry about the condition much, if he likes your gift, he won't care.

Alright, so you got the body - you need the brains. Hopefully, you didn't spend much more than 10 dollars on the body - but no more than $50. And the book should be cheap, too ($10.00 if you bought it used). So, for the brains you need something easy to use - go for a Basic Stamp 2 (Parallax). The hardware is cheap ($40.00), the software is plentiful (even free), and there is a lot of documentation and tutorials online. Interface electronics will be needed - a good pack of resistors, transistors (throw in many NPN and PNP power transistors for H-bridges, too), diodes, capacitors, and some relays and LEDs. Also, add several "glue logic" chips (most won't be needed for the Stamp, but they're cheap, so put some in). Toss in a breadboard, and add a few copper-holed protoboards, too.

Now, for sensors: remember those remote controls from Goodwill - well, there is where you get some of your sensors: You want simple devices for the sensors, so go with IR LED/phototransistor pairs - easy to drive and sense from the Stamp. The remotes and such will have one or more of the IR LEDs you will want (and some of the LEDs, as well). The VCRs, etc that you pick up will also have the receiver units or phototransistors needed (or, just buy some phototransistors). The reason I say get the stuff from Goodwill, is that the parts can sometimes be cheaper to get this way than buying new - but shop around, it may be cheaper to buy many of the parts from say, All Electronics or something.

Throw in some double-sided tape, some corruplast or thin plywood, a pack of screws and/or bolts - and hopefully he (or she?) will have enough imagination to supply to turn it all into a functional robot...

Basic Kit

[neuroneck]

PIC 16f877
Protoboard
Wire
Caps and resistors.
IR-rangefinder by sharp
Photoresistors
2 DC motors with gearbox/wheels
Plexi, screws
20Mhz crystal
5-volt regulator
9-volt battery pack
Pic programmer
Free download of PIC assembly from Microchips website.

Done.

check this out

[deimors]

Solarbotics [solarbotics.com] makes a pretty cool mini-sumo kit which can have a couple different brains slapped in.

At $120 canuck, how can you go wrong

what about a personal robot from japan?

[mcmonkey]

Don't overlook the AWESOM-O 4000 [twiztv.com]