I want to make a little (trivial) robot. Its main purpose will be a Test Mule for some new features I want to develop into the InqPortal library... namely binary I/O between the client and the server and SSL. The ESP8266 will be the one and only MPU/CPU in the robot and be hosting the web-server. The client will typically be a smart phone typically using the Built-In access point (SoftAP) to control the robot.
First incarnate, I want to keep it brain-dead simple - Totally just an RC vehicle. I may decide to use it teaching classes and want something as cheap as possible so the price isn't a road-block for taking the class.
Second it becomes the mule for the new software features.
Third start playing sensors and adding capabilities.
@inq If you don't mind me lurking in the background? The idea intregs me: Specificially the "simple" maybe brainDead device that can be nurtured and grown into a "whatever" based on personal taste.
I am not sure I will ever build one - I might? I am subscribed. Maybe I can take what I learn and make an amphibious drone (not necessarily flying; under water though not like a submarine either: say, a crawling/rolling thing to play in a swimmingPool, bathTub or kiddiePool)? Now I am meandering along the, "What if" that extends outside where you said you were taking this.
Parts list is good. I would never know what to buy. I'll wait a bit for it to finalize and learn if it fits here?
@inq If you don't mind me lurking in the background? The idea intregs me: Specificially the "simple" maybe brainDead device that can be nurtured and grown into a "whatever" based on personal taste.
I figure it being three parts:
The hardware in that picture above covers it.
The design and 3D printing of the chassis will be rather involved, but I'll supply the STL files if anyone is interested.
The software for just the RC portions, will be trivial and I'll supply that as well.
I just had a Dah! moment... I've been writing in your thread without knowing what the purpose of the thread was. Dah... I assume there are some good sources recommendations for getting some 18650 cells??? I don't need them for myself. I have plenty of "laptop" cells. 🤣 But, I'd buy new ones for students.
I was just getting started CADing up a chassis to mount all the parts and strategizing how to lay them out.
I loathe wires... behind my computer, behind my stereo, behind my TV... in my projects. I also would rather avoid having to solder the pieces together because this is just a test mule. It will come apart.
I was deciding on whether to use a WeMos or a NodeMCU. The NodeMCU has more pins for future additions, vision, touch, sensors... but I found something that addresses the wires issue a little and that takes precedence.
The NodeMCU has all the D* pins on one side. The WeMos has D1-D4 on one side and D5-D8 on the opposite side. 😆
BOOM...Flip them over and plug them in... Voilà! (No... not a great revelation, but 8 wires gone... priceless!)
Just have to change the constructor on one of the steppers...
Digikey resells these and I have purchased a bunch of them. I had one that wouldn't take a charge and Digikey send me out a new one, no questions asked!
Have you noticed how the price of everything is going up lately? I'm sure that I didn't spend $6.50 USD for these six months ago.
Tom
To err is human.
To really foul up, use a computer.
@thrandell 2 years ago I got 10 NCR18650B 3400mAh from AliExpress for $39.99 including shipping. Here is a link to the Panasonic 18650 3400mAh. These are the good ones. in units of 10 I will pay $56.48 CDN, not too bad. I just ordered them!
First computer 1959. Retired from my own computer company 2004.
Hardware - Expert in 1401, 360, fairly knowledge in PC plus numerous MPU's & MCU's
Major Languages - Machine language, 360 Macro Assembler, Intel Assembler, PL/I and PL1, Pascal, Basic, C plus numerous job control and scripting languages.
My personal scorecard is now 1 PC hardware fix (circa 1982), 1 open source fix (at age 82), and 2 zero day bugs in a major OS.
Have you noticed how the price of everything is going up lately? I'm sure that I didn't spend $6.50 USD for these six months ago.
I'm glad you said this. I've always discounted SparkFun and DigiKey... they've always been at least 2x Amazon, eBay... etc. Although I haven't done a thorough search yet, a quick 10,000 foot view number seemed nearer $8 on Amazon. Seems they're out though. Like I mentioned in another thread... I tear apart laptop bricks and usually get about 75% good 18650 batteries. Those are fine for my purposes, but I'll buy new for students.
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