Hide and Seek Robots - Request for Comments

@thrandell 

Thanks !

Well, I think that I’ve finally finished version 2 of the Hider robot in my Hide and Seek project.  I had to change the wheels out for larger ones. https://banebots.com/wheels/t81-wheels-hubs/   I also tried a different way to mount the Piezo buzzer.  I installed phototransistors, IR proximity sensors and a microphone up front.  I was excited to find that I can use the differential proximity sensors to home in on another IR emitter that is pulsing its signal.  This thing may just work after all!  

Using the data from the microphone has been a challenge, time will tell if these robots will be able to ‘hear’ each other.  One thing that was pretty straight forward was using the mic as a snap switch.  Now when I turn on the Hider it waits for a loud vibration, like a finger snap, before it starts its hide behavior.  That was kinda fun.

@thrandell 

I'm curious, why would you need bigger wheels ?

@thrandell 

Thanks for sharing.  I guess you need two robots to demo this hide and seek behavior?

Hi @will

In my experience with running robots indoors using differencial drive motors both an omni-wheel and the small round caster balls don't work so well over carpet.  So for this one I used a 1 inch  caster ball and some 90mm wheels I had in the junk box.  Unfortunately with that arrangement the front end was lower then the back, so It would try to drive over the edge of a rug, for example, and hit the bumper triggering the escape collision behavior.  With the larger wheels all is good.

Tom

@thrandell 

I understand now, thanks. That means it should work better on gravel outdoors too.

Hi @robotbuilder

Yep, I'll need at least two.  I'm thinking that I'll de-commision the Lewis & Clark robot and build the Seeker from its parts.  The 3D printed chassis was an interesting experiment, but I prefer using the HDPE material.

Tom