for hackers to have a tried-and-proven
robot base without tearing up a
Roomba vacuum cleaner. This
platform is way better for the
experimenter as it contains 30 built-in
sensors, a 25-pin expansion port for
connecting a command module and
other electronics, and a spacious
cargo bay with plenty of holes for
mounting hardware. Retail is $130 for
the basic model or $220 for an added
advanced rechargeable battery pack
and fast charger.
iRobot no longer offers the
Command module, but there is so
much Create hacking information on
the Internet that any Arduino,
Propeller, or AVR microcontroller is
easily used for experimentation.
In 2011, Yujin Robot of South
Korea developed the Kobuki shown in
Figure 19 which was modeled after
their Iclebo robot home vacuum
cleaner. It claims to have corrected
features with higher resolution wheel
encoders, built-in gyro, and an
available larger battery. Willow Garage
— maker of the ROS-powered
TurtleBot — originally used the Create
with their robot, then changed over to
the Kobuki. nfortunately, sales have
not been very successful.
I personally prefer the Create for
their support, but a Kobuki-based
TurtleBot can be found on the
Internet for $1,400 that includes
mounting plates, cables, and a Kinect.
The Pololu Arduino robot at $275
(shown in Figure 20) is a great small
experimenter's robot platform. It has
two ATmega32U4 microcontrollers
(including a 2. 5 KB SRAM and 1 KB
EEPROM), a 160x120 pixel color LCD,
a speaker, digital compass, SD card
SD card preloaded with images and
sound files used in example
Arduino robot projects.
The Parallax Boe-Bot —
starting at $170 and shown
in Figure 21 — is a perfect
small experimenter's
platform. The basic model
uses Parallax's popular
BASIC Stamp
microcontroller, but other
versions can be configured
with their Propeller eight-cog microcontroller, or the
Arduino. You can mount
ultrasonic distance
detectors, X-Bee RF links, speech
generators, optical detectors, and
other items to Boe-Bots.
Parallax has an extensive course
library to lead a beginner or even an
expert through programming and
sensor technology to industrial
applications.
All six of the above robot bases
and kits are excellent ways for
someone new to robotics to
experiment and find their ultimate
robot platform. Buy or build — it's your
choice.
Final Thoughts
This article was not intended to
teach machine shop techniques, but
to toss out some important factors to
assist robot builders in designing and
building their robot. If you are new to
robot experimentation and feel that
you need some help in designing
structures and a base for your
prospective robot project, consider
joining a robot club. Many robotics
organizations have a website that
allows members and outsiders to ask
questions, showcase projects, and
offer help to newcomers. A neighbor
or friend who is mechanically adept
does not need to know about robots
in order to assist you in designing
basic parts. You can start with one of
the robot bases described here and
build your dream robot upon it.
Simplicity in construction, readily-available bases, and friendly
assistance from other builders will
lead you to a great robot. SV
80 SERVO 12.2013
Figure 20. Pololu
Arduino robot kit.
Figure 19. Kobuki mobile
robot base.
Figure 21. Small Boe-Bot bases.