*Updated 2011-01-03: Added an additional video that demonstrates the EZ-Builder software.
Intro
This robot is the best platform at getting started in custom robotics. The parts used in this build, and the knowledge you learn can take you deeper into the robotics world! The EZ-B and EZ-Builder software will start you off nice and easy. There is plenty of room to grow with the EZ-B as your software and hardware solution. It won't take much to build impressive robotics to impress your family and friends.
Purpose
I've received many questions on how to start getting into robotics... People see my completed projects and think it is too difficult for them. Well this instructable is going to change all that!
Building this robot with the EZ-B board and the free software will get you started onto bigger and better things. The parts from this robot can be recycled to use in your future projects.
Parts
1 x EZ-B Board
http://www.ez-robot.com/Shop/View.aspx?id=1
EZ-Builder Software
http://www.ez-robot.com/EZ-Builder
1 x Tamiya Bulldozer Kit
http://www.hvwtech.com/products_view.asp?ProductID=57
2 x modified gws servos for drivetrain
http://www.hvwtech.com/products_view.asp?ProductID=877
1 x gws servos for head
http://www.hvwtech.com/products_view.asp?ProductID=878
1 x sharp gp2d05 distance sensor
http://www.hvwtech.com/products_view.asp?ProductID=88
1 x battery pack
http://www.hvwtech.com/products_view.asp?ProductID=1206
Tools
- Hot Glue Gun
- Flat head Screwdriver
- Small Side Cutters
Video
The video will show in detail how each step is taken. It might be best to watch the video before executing the photo steps.
Assembly Video
EZ-Builder Demo Video
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Don't go any further then i have demonstrated.
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Some questions...
*What made you decide to create your own environment like this? Something along these lines would have made my life soooo much simpler a year ago!
*Why no linky to your website or promotion as such?
*Could you mass produce and get this into schools etc etc as this would be absolutely perfect to learn the basics of robotics/programming.
*Would you be willing to share some of the processes involved in creating a robotics platform esp. the design of the motherboard
*What microcontroller are you using?
Why no arduino?!? (Kidding ;-)
Totally impressed and inspired by this! Apologies for the wot!
I started the project because i was having trouble keeping up and answering e-mail requests for help. From my other robots, I've been receiving emails for years asking where to start, etc.. I didn't notice anything being done to introduce people to the microcontroller/robotics world. At least nothing that allows for the transition from beginner to advanced.
The EZ-B project has the ability to start very simple by using the EZ-Builder software, and move all the way up to building autonomous and remote control robots like on my website. I also release the code for most of them, so anyone can do it :)
I guess i'm a bit too modest and didn't feel that my name would matter much to the popularity of the project. Maybe i'll try it out and see how its received :) Thanks for the idea.
The board isn't being mas produced, i'm only doing 50 at a time. I'm currently sold out, and taking the break to work on version 2. It should be released sometime this week. It has a more powerful voltage regulator and a cleaner configuration. It's really just a hardware upgarde, not software. The software will always be compatible with every future version of the board, i suspect.
I wouldn't know where to start on introducing this to schools. It's been mentioned to me before also. I have been unsure on the how to direct marketting for the project. I'm far too technical LOL. Maybe someone will volunteer to help push this project into schools.
The EZ-B board is actually quite simple. The cost of the PCB itself is very minimal, at around $15 each. The real cost is in the parts and assembly. I mean, this thing comes with a bluetooth module AND a usb bluetooth dongle AND its assembled AND it has 20+ I/O AND it can handle 14 servos AND it has 10 ADC and and and and :)
The microcontroller is a Pic 18F4685 @ 40 mhz by PLLx4. It's a very fast processor with a lot of hardware support, which is why it exceeds what ATMEL (arduino) is capable of. Also most of the code is in assembler, which allows for the crazy ammount of functionality and speed.
I could probably even lower he price if there were more sales. Then I could by larger stock of the peripherals. I had thought about contacting some online robotic websites to sell it.
I just wish i had more time :) Amongst my other hobbies, i barely have enough time for sleep LOL
Thanks for the compliments and good luck with your projects!
DJ
I've had another look at your EZ-Board and I'm still impressed as hell!
Got a few more ideas/questions for you.
Why no AC power source?
The price seems a little high, but considering you're creating these yourself I think it's justified. The fact that color vision and voice recogition is inbuilt make up for the higher cost.
What's the power output of each of the IO pins.
What about some sort of case, leaving only the pins exposed, this will allow children to plug and play.
As far as schools go, I've done some asking around and it would more than likely have to be professionally manufatured and tested before it could be used in a school. Not sure if you've seen the link below, but Oomlout is a small company specialising in robotics components for end users, and it may be worth contacting them as they'd probably be able to assemble a few kits and get the ball rolling as it were.
Good luck with this, it's definitely something worth pursuing!
Jason
http://www.instructables.com/id/Open-Manufacturing-How-to-Build-30-SERB-Kits/step3/Materials-and-Suppliers/
the power output on the pins is +5v @ 3.5 amps . there are two voltage regulators, one for the pins and one for the chip. the servo pins have an alternate power source plug if desired.
i'd most definetly not consider the price as being high at all. in fact, i have received feedback from buyers who think its too cheap compared to what is out there. the fact that i include an sdk with a billion support modules and a free gui for non programmers. also it comes with the bluetooth antenna, and a usb bluetooth dongle... plus it is assembled and fool proof.
i'm 100% i didn't cut any corners on this thing :) and its sellin fantastic with great feedback. i can't stop smiling and feeling great about it
also, the no power is because ppl can chose their own power source.. batteries? ac adapter? its up to the user...
this board isn't designed to replace lego mindstorms :) .. it's a hobbyist board
i can tell you are trying to compare "picaxe" to ez-b. its unforteante you commented before reading my reply to the this thread. you were to quick on the trigger to push the reply button :) . since you didn't take the time to investigate what you tigerbomb were replying too.
i don't feel like re-typing what ez-b is again, or what ez-builder is. but maybe you'll demonstrate diligence by reading on your own. robotics and electronics attract intellegent minds... prove to me and other readers that you are able to thoroughly understand before making empty comments. :) look forward from hearing back from you.
I guess i like to use picaxe because its easier to program and cheaper.
Oh yeah,I forgot to mention i like this instructable. 5 stars
also, the ez-sdk and ez-builder have features that are very difficult to do with a microcontroller. for example, the Voice Recognition, Camera Color Recognition, Voice Synthesis aaaaaaand quite a few other little features :)
the processor for arduino is an atmel and it is limitted in low level functionality and speed compared to the microchip pic series. the reason i chose microchip pic is due to the speed required for the features provided by ez-b.
arduino also doesn't offer a complete solution like the ez-b does, with its .net sdk and ez-builder library.
it's unfortunate that you didn't click on the link or read about the ez-b and ez-builder to understand what you were commenting on. hopefully you will be more diligent onn your research before commenting in the future.
if you can find a project that combines as much functionality and simplicity in its design as ez-b, its sdk and ez-builder please tell me.
Arduino is to other micro-controllers like PC is to MAC.
More of a joke than any real comment.
Anyone who codes against the SDK DLL can release their code opensource, if they wish. Much like anyone with the Arduino doesn't have to release their code. Oh politics!
best of luck with the Arduino!
I don't know about the word "cheap" in the title though. I mean, check my math, but this thing comes out to like $170+shipping.
So in reality it'd actually cost average to slightly *more* than a lot of robot kits out on the net. I mean, that's fine. You did a good job, and a project costs what it costs. Just don't label it as the "cheap" way is all.
Example:
http://www.robotshop.com/dfrobotshop-rover-tracked-robot-bluetooth-kit.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=base&utm_campaign=jos
The circuit board on your linked kit is not reusable for other projects. And it takes a long learning curve and time to develope anything that will impress your friends. Coding directly to a microcontroller is annoying when you have a real life, check out my robots and I can speak from experience :)
"In Reality" my kit and the demo that you commented on provides the most functionality for the dollar. The expandability, useability and user-friendliness of EZ-B is superior to anything else on the market for the price... Making it cheap VS the functionality.
Additionally, if you were to order your servos and kits off Ebay, the cost of the robot would be a lot less then $170.
Think of the possibilities the EZ-B and the free EZ-Builder offers you for the dollar. Also look at the EZ-B SDK and recognize the infinite custom control you have over any sensor for any project. :)
Thanks for your comment! Hope I was able to explain what "Cheap" in a functional sense means...
DJ
i would like to tell you why i didn't use stepper motors... but anyone who understands stepper motors wouldn't make a comment like yours. for example, how many I/O would be required for a stepper is determined its phase count. that would greatly limit the number of "motors" ez-b could support (it currently supports 16, could have been more but i stopped the array in the timer at 16 i/o, figured it was more than enough)
also, stepper motors would require a transistor per phase wire. so the size of the board would increase dramatically.
this next comment assumes you bothered to visit the www.ez-robot.com website and read about what the ez-b project is...
and next would be the SDK/EZ-Builder interface to the ez-b. you would need the user to specify each port of each phase of each stepper. that would not be a very fun way to program.
i could add stepper motor functionality to the ez-b if there are enough requests. but quite honestly, i can't forsee that.
So in other words, anybody who follows this instructible has to pay you $84.99?
i don't recall a instructable that involves free items. unless there is an instructable for breathing. but sadly, you'd need to stand somewhere in order to breath, so technically the taxes will cost you. :)
i put together ez-b and every tutorial on the website as a contribution to the robot community. my robots have been featured in magazines, television and many websites. sadly, all of the emails i receive are "how do i program my robot?". that was nearly an impossible question to answer, until it hought of the ez-b concept.
your comment implies that it is a bad thing that i charge for the circuit board and hardware. i can't understand why you would think i should give the circuitboard away for free? aka nothing is free, so i would have to pay out of my pocket. however, i need to pay bills, eat and live. it is very selfish of you to assume that i should buy chips, sockets, pins, bluetooth receiver, pcb printing, solder it all together and give it to YOU for no charge.
from the comments i have received since i released ez-b, it has made many people very happy. finally there is a product that is more DIY than lego mindstorms, and much more affordable and re-usable. it can be used by beginniners with the ez-builder software, or it can be used by advanced users with the .Net SDK. there is nothing else out there that provides an all-in-one solution.
i don't see how you can have a negative comment towards my contribution to the robot community with ez-b. its not like i can make a living off it hahaha!
Can't servos only move a certain amount in one direction, rather than "forever", like DC motors?
They provide greater control to the programmer. So your robot doesn't fly around the room at insane speeds :)
If interested, there is an active PWM discussion on Lets Make Robots website regarding DC motor vs Servo for drivetrain use. You can of course apply a rotory sensor, disc wheel, gear set, etc to a dc motor and monitor its speed with a dedicated circuit and control it by PWM... but man that's a lot of work :)
I just wanna build robots with little hastle :D
on note of your comment, i put together a video last night of modifying a standard servo. if i have time today, i'll edit it and throw it up as an instructable. thanx for the idea!
The title of the product is "2.4GHz GFSK RF Mini Wireless PC Webcam Camera Receiver"
And here is the link while the item is still available: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150503971338
Get a 1.2 ghz camera instead. It doesn't interfere.
http://www.amazon.com/1-2-Ghz-Wireless-Surveillance-System/dp/B000RZUUWG