custom robotic system?

[msx80]

So i've been playing with mindstorm for some time, and while i think it's a great product, it has many limitations, the biggest of all being the size of the components. It makes it impossible to create small or even medium sized vehicles or robots.. The weight often makes the models too fragile for serious mobility. Other limitations are the proprietary nature and the stiffness of the cables. I know that EV3 components have great features (motors have encoders, the IR double as both a distance sensor and a receiver, etc), but sometimes you just need a couple of motor to motorize a compact vehicle.

Being a robotic hobbist, i'd much prefer some smaller, less ingegnerized solutions. There are plenty of components of all shape and prices targeted to hobbists to choose from.

So what if we design fantasize about a robotic system based on those components ? :)

My idea would be a 5V system based on Arduino. There are very small boards with plenty of capabilities. It would be ideal to have a custom board with a couple of this drivers to control 4 motors. I bet it would all fit in some 3x5x1 stud space.

About motors, i've used Pololu micro metal gearmotors many times, and they're great. Very small but plenty of power and come with different gear ratios. My idea would be to design a custom enclosure (or enclosing brackets like the originals) with pinholes to connect to regular technics.

The same goes for sensors, servos etc. The excellent sharp IR distance sensor would be a good replacement for EV3 sensor while being many times smaller. This photocell would fit in a stud.

About batteries, it could run on 4 AA rechargeable batteries with an holder like this one, but again with some technic mounting points (maybe two pinhole at the sides). Being slim and long makes it ideal to integrate in the stucture of a vehicle. But it would also be cool to have smaller, 2 battery holders so that one could distribute two holders in a moc to balance weight and space requirements. Or any other solution really.

So in other words, the idea is to choose some fine components that can interoperate without too much trubles, design some technic compatible enclosures/attachments and have fun. Today there are many projects / shops that have access to custom part moulding (brickmania for example), so at least is not impossible. The recently funded Mechabrick kickstarter campaing just shows other people making cheap custom parts.

So now that i annoyed you, any toughts ? :)

[aol000xw]

I think everything you named here I saw it before at one or another third party like HiTechnic, mindsensors, Dexter industries etc, Third party sensors for mindstroms, adapter to use mindstorms sensors on Arduino boards, Boxes and adapters to interface Arduino boards and third party sensors and servos with Lego bricks etc etc,

Am I missing the point?

[msx80]

I think everything you named here I saw it before at one or another third party like HiTechnic, mindsensors, Dexter industries etc, Third party sensors for mindstroms, adapter to use mindstorms sensors on Arduino boards, Boxes and adapters to interface Arduino boards and third party sensors and servos with Lego bricks etc etc,

Am I missing the point?

Yes there are third parties producing sensors etc. But they're usually mindstorm or PF compatible. And i've don't think anyone is producing custom motors. The idea was to design a new complete system rather than single parts, something that fits together with some simple standards but at a lower technical level (more adapted for robotic hobbist for example requiring some understanding of electronics).

I hope i've explayned a little better.

[aol000xw]

Oh, you are describing a "System" instead of go "fishing" for parts. Yes, right now knowing what you need to make something like this is not obvious at all. http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=83403

I had my own idea for a "System", when I first heard of EV3 and the new OS I was hoping for a flexible digital interface for motors/sensors ressemblig a network, so multiplexing would be trivial, Then third parties could make different kinds of sensors and motors etc, Arduino would not be necessary.