SRL Archive - General

Right, so i've never really done anything with electronics or engineering.
For my science project (which will take up the end of my AS time, and to the end of A2).

My first actual idea is to create a robot of some form, and test certain things with it (eg, resistance and forces acting upon them, and then changing things one by one and testing/comparing results).
The robot would have two powered wheels from moters, and then two at the front that are controlled by 1 or 2 servos. As I said to begin with, i've never made anything so would something like this be a good start?
Is this a realistic idea?

http://letsmakerobots.com/node/27172
http://letsmakerobots.com/files/How_To_Make_Your_First_Robot.pdf

Can't answer your question, as I don't know.

Just wanna throw Tesla Coil up in this thread. =P

Holy win, I'm allowed to make a tesla coil. I just need to check the legal issues with size and whatnot!

From: HarryJames
Holy win, I'm allowed to make a tesla coil. I just need to check the legal issues with size and whatnot!

Don't kill yourself. =) Also I want pics if you do!

It'll be a long time beforee I nake it liekely, I need to find out about legal issues (mainly size), health and safety, and my project is a research project, so I'll need to test what the best type of chemical capacitor to use, and the best ratio of what to use etc etc.

I'll take pictures once I've done it, if I do actually finnish/make it.

From: HarryJames
It'll be a long time beforee I nake it liekely, I need to find out about legal issues (mainly size), health and safety, and my project is a research project, so I'll need to test what the best type of chemical capacitor to use, and the best ratio of what to use etc etc.

I'll take pictures once I've done it, if I do actually finnish/make it.

Had mine all planed out and everything, then the project kinda fell apart =(

Personal Project not for school.

robots are better. :)

you can even controll them via internet/iphone if you want to ;)

you will need a microcontroller to make a decent robot, i HIGHLY suggest getting nerdkits, it will help you learn about electronics, and you will learn about programming microcontrollers :)

like i said, if you want to make a bad ass science project, a microcontroller rc car/robot is the way to go. you might even want to make a tesla coil rc car, i already got the plans thought up ;)

It's more a research project, where variables need to be tested (one by one etc). I wouldn't be able to do much with a car unfortunately. I was thinking more of a robot arm after making this, then the Tesla Coil was suggested.

From: Awkwardsaw
you might even want to make a tesla coil rc car, i already got the plans thought up ;)

That def wouldn't work.

From: Dgby714
That def wouldn't work.

im just saying, a mini tesla coil on a car that's rc. All you need is sufficiant motors

From: Awkwardsaw
im just saying, a mini tesla coil on a car that's rc. All you need is sufficiant motors

sufficient power….. You do know what a tesla coil is dont you?

Why build a tesla coil on top of it tough? don't you think that could get a little dangerous ?

Also, a tesla coil will just fry electronics most likely. :3

From: Dgby714
sufficient power….. You do know what a tesla coil is dont you?

I've made one before :p

and there's no danger, as long as your not stupid.

as to why, because i can, not that i will

Wow this is so cool. I want to make my own robot too!

http://www.vexrobotics.com/


Great shit. We had 5 kits in High school for a class and built random task acheiving robots throughout the year.

http://www.youtube.com/user/mrklean93?feature=mhee#p/a/u/0/UOWapE5Qfb4

Probably our best bot. It ended up climbing about 5 8" high stairs and then turning around and coming back down. I don't have the video of that though. THe video is the prototype.

What kind of forces besides resistance will you be testing?

As I said erliar, I am more likely to do the Tesla Coil.
But I will be testing the chemical capacity of different ratios and materials and such.