Introduction to Robotics

What is Robot?

An electromechanical device which is capable of reacting in some way to its environment, and take autonomous decisions or actions in order to achieve a specific task. A toaster, a lamp, or a car would not be considered as robots since they have no way of perceiving their environment. A vacuum cleaner that can navigate around a room, or a solar panel that seeks the sun, can be considered as a robotic system. Any solely remote controlled device would not fall under this definition and would be closer to a more complex remote controlled car.

Robotic Benefits
Robotics incorporates aspects of many disciplines including engineering (mechanical, electrical, computer), sciences (mathematics and physics) and arts (aesthetics) and users are free to use their imagination.

Purpose of Robot Building

Knowledge : learn how to use individual components with the objective of building your own knowledge library to use to undertake a larger, more complex design in the future Amusement: Amusing others with your creations (especially if they are userfriendly and interactive) helps others to become interested in the field. Competitions: Competitions give the project design guidelines and a due date. They also put your robot against others in the same class and test your design and construction skills.

Purpose of Robot Building (Cont)

Autonomous Life Form : Humans are natural creators and innovators. The next great innovation will be to develop a fully autonomous life form that rivals or surpasses ourselves in ability and perhaps creativity. Domestic/Professional Tasks: help liberate people from unpleasant or dangerous tasks and give them more liberty and security. Security/Surveillance: Venture into areas where humans either should not or cannot go (semi-autonomous or fully autonomous).

Our Workshop Robot

Focus is on knowledge and amusement of overall innovation and creativity. Utilizes participant knowledge in order to get an understanding of motors, sensors, microcontrollers and programming. Weve kept the overall cost of the robot project at a minimal as to encourage everybody to built their own robot/s after the workshop has concluded.

Robotic Platform

Types:

Land wheeled, tracked, and legged robots Aerial planes, helicopters, and blimp Aquatic boats, submarines, and swimming robots Misc. and mixed robots Stationary robot arms, and manipulators

2WD Robotic Platform

The workshop utilizes a two wheel drive robotic platform Can accommodate a variety of sensors and actuator Well suited with Arduino Romeo or Uno with motor drive shield Smaller size for better testing opportunities (tabletop) Allows improvements, additions and rework

Motors (Actuators)

Actuators: Converts energy to physical motion. Types of actuators:

AC Motor DC Motor (speed) Geared DC Motor (torque) R/C and Industrial Servo Motors Stepper Motor DC Linear Actuator Solenoids Pneumatic & Hydraulic

Actuator Selection

Is the actuator used to move a wheeled robot Lifting or turn a heavy weight (speed vs torque) Limited range of motion (degrees) Precise angle of movement Straight line motion (linear)

DC Motor - Micro Metal Gearmotor (50:1)

The workshop provides the following motor: 13000 rpm @ No load 50:1 Gear ratio 260 rpm @ 6V 40mA @ 6V 360mA stall current @ 6V 10 oz inches torque @ 6V

RC Servo Motor

Servos allow a movement range of 0 to 180 degrees. Operating voltage is 6Vdc max. Speed 0 deg to 180 deg in 1.5 seconds on average.

Assembling 2WD Robot