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Topic starter
2021-12-27 5:53 pm
I have a project I’m working on that needs to control an array of motors and servos. I’m a beginner and am learning as I go, so please be kind. I need to control two motors, one in servo mode, and three servo motors, all will be controlled with RC. I have an idea of how to go about this but thought I’d ask more practiced folks than myself what microcontrollers and other madness you would recommend? Thank you in advance!
2021-12-27 7:53 pm
@buckrogers
We'd recommend a 12V car battery, a starter motor, 4 windshield wiper servos and a hundred metres of clothes line; but that could change depending on what you'd like to do with them 🙂 🙂
Would you care to elaborate on your requirements/plans ?
Anything seems possible when you don't know what you're talking about.
Topic starter
2021-12-27 8:15 pm
It will be a animatronic puppet controlled using RC . The servos do need to be strong because of the mechanisms involved. Unfortunately space is a premium so a 12v car battery is out of the question. It requires 5 motors/servos..
1. Forward/backward - simple dc motor
2-3. Head pitch-head roll - either geared motors with encoders or servos, I genuinely don’t know which would be better if either is.
4. head spin - same as before, leaning geared motor and encoder because of space but not sure
5. ballast - tricky part, but it is needed for balance because this all will be housed in a ball.
Since space is a premium I’m not sure which, geared motor and encoder/servo, would be better as they both need drivers and a microcontroller. I have seen some drivers that control two motors/servos but with the way they all need to be controlled differently I’m not sure the smartest way to go about it. I may just be chasing my tail here and require a different driver per device, but that’s where my question comes in, is there a way to condense the electronics?
2021-12-27 8:55 pm
also interested. been working on making a bot myself following bill's videos on youtube. It's nothing but an Arduino mega and a couple of motors strapped down to a piece of foam. but I think I want to make it a "stranger danger" bot. have it roll up to people and have it yell stranger danger at people while spinning around and flapping some wings or something. still thinking of more ideas
2021-12-27 9:06 pm
so far I've got 2 12 motors, the Arduino Mega, a couple of them elegoo modules packs a flysky fs-i16x controller, I want to add a couple of small solar panels to maintain a charge but also have it dock into a remote power bank for charging. I'm spending more time thinking about all the things I want, when I feel I should be building it up then adding on. think I may build a frame out of cardboard when I'm happyish with it 3d printing it
2021-12-27 9:39 pm
I'm spending more time thinking about all the things I want, when I feel I should be building it up then adding on. think I may build a frame out of cardboard when I'm happyish with it 3d printing it
I think that's a sensible approach, first you brainstorm and then start implementing and testing it one part/step at a time. Then, after each new additional piece is working, re-evaluate the remaining parts and move on to the next easiest or most important.
Your first requirement is to get the robot power, propulsion, location and directional controls working. Then you can think about sensors and autonomy (if desired) and then you can add cannons, lasers and torpedoes 🙂
Anything seems possible when you don't know what you're talking about.
2021-12-27 9:58 pm
Your first requirement is to get the robot power, propulsion, location and directional controls working
yeah I've got it coded for motor control fwd, reverse, L, R. got a small bug in the "party mode" where it spins and flashes LEDs (crashes the EEPROM and need to reflash) just need the energy (stupid liver decided it didn't like me and my drinking) trying to find some small solar panels to use as maintainers that are light enough for a bot but then again I'm still deciding on how big i want to build it so i figured i would come check back with my fav. forum and maybe get a few ideas
2021-12-27 11:07 pm
Do you think you can get enough energy from solar panels to make the extra weight and support structure to make the effort worth while ? I'd think you'd need to carefully align the robot to the sun and then park it to soak up enough solar to make much of a difference robot.
You'll need to design a solar tracker to perfect your broadside positioning.
Anything seems possible when you don't know what you're talking about.
2021-12-28 12:26 am
You'll need to design a solar tracker to perfect your broadside positioning.
what I was thinking is having two really small panels to use it to make the bot look like it has wings (hooked up on serv-os so they can flap around) and try to use the panels as maintainers but mainly for astetics really then building a separate solar power bank to use for the main charging
2021-12-28 12:30 am
what I was thinking is having two really small panels to use it to make the bot look like it has wings (hooked up on serv-os so they can flap around)
Delightful 🙂
Maybe hook up a buzzer and masquerade as a fly (or painted yellow & black and pose as a bee)
Anything seems possible when you don't know what you're talking about.
Pakabol reacted
2021-12-30 9:21 pm
well, i found my "bug" after going through every line of code twice. and after trying to recreate it while it was hooked up to a serial monitor I couldn't so I replaced the 9volt battery and its working great now to design a body for it and get it printing
2021-12-30 10:00 pm
Yay !! Progress 🙂
Anything seems possible when you don't know what you're talking about.
