The Tiny Wanderer is a complete robot design for beginning robot builders. It was built as a learning tool to accompany a set of tutorials done at the Dallas Personal Robotics Group (DPRG) in 2011.
This robot can move around on a tabletop without falling off the edge. Its smarts are provided by an AVR ATTINY microcontroller. It uses two edge sensors composed each of a discrete IR transistor and a discrete IR LED. The controller board is built with the idea that it could be re-purposed for other robot configurations.
Both laser cut and scroll saw / drill versions are included in this instructible.
The video below shows the Tiny Wanderer in action:
The Dallas Personal Robotics Group (DPRG), founded in June of 1984, is one of the nation’s oldest special interest groups dedicated to the development and use of personal robotics. DPRG members are interested in autonomous robots, movie replica robots, vintage robots, robot and kinetic art, as well as just about anything involving electronics, technology, or science.
The DPRG invites you to come visit if your travels take you to the Dallas, TX area. They meet every Tuesday night and every 2nd Saturday of the month,. see http://www.dprg.org for location details.
This robot can move around on a tabletop without falling off the edge. Its smarts are provided by an AVR ATTINY microcontroller. It uses two edge sensors composed each of a discrete IR transistor and a discrete IR LED. The controller board is built with the idea that it could be re-purposed for other robot configurations.
Both laser cut and scroll saw / drill versions are included in this instructible.
The video below shows the Tiny Wanderer in action:
The Dallas Personal Robotics Group (DPRG), founded in June of 1984, is one of the nation’s oldest special interest groups dedicated to the development and use of personal robotics. DPRG members are interested in autonomous robots, movie replica robots, vintage robots, robot and kinetic art, as well as just about anything involving electronics, technology, or science.
The DPRG invites you to come visit if your travels take you to the Dallas, TX area. They meet every Tuesday night and every 2nd Saturday of the month,. see http://www.dprg.org for location details.
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Signing UpStep 1: Materials
Controller Board:
1 -- switch with 200 mil pitch leads
1 -- 0.1 uF capacitor
1 -- 100 uF capacitor (it can be a larger capacitive value)
1 -- diode (almost any will do)
1 -- 10K ohm resistor
1 -- 150 ohm resistor
2 -- 100K ohm resistor
1 -- strip of single row 100 mil pitch pin connectors that can be broken apart
1 -- 2x3 100 mil pitch double row pin connector (6 pins)
1 -- AVR ATTINY 85 micro-controller (ATTINYs with less memory could also be used)
1 -- DIY PCB board or proto-board
Robot Chassis :
2 -- 11.5 x 12 inch pieces of either 1/8 inch Masonite or acrylic plastic (Plexiglas)
2 -- 12.5 inch pieces of 0.175 inch window screen spline
18 -- 5/8 inch #4 screws
14 -- 3/8 inch #4 screws
18 -- #4 washers
32 -- #4 nuts
2 -- small tie wraps
1 -- o-ring or window screen spline o-ring that fits the outer race of the inline skate bearing
2 -- inline skate bearings
2 -- 1 inch long 5/16 inch bolts
2 -- 5/16 inch nuts
note: if you are making the scroll saw / drill version of the Tiny Wanderer you will also
need several 5/16 inch washers and some #4 nylon washers or spacers.
Locomotion:
2 -- continuous rotation regular size hobby servos (ex. Parallax or Pololu continuous hobby servo,
the robot in the video is using modified T PRO SG-5010 -- not recommended for the beginner)
1 -- four AA battery holder (original used a 2x2 holder with a 9V style battery clip from Radio Shack)
4 -- AA batteries
1 -- piece of Velcro to attach battery case to chassis
Sensors:
2 -- 940nm IR LED (ex. LTE4206 -- available from BG Micro)
2 -- 940nm IR photo transistor (ex. LTE4206E -- available from BG Micro)
note: Radio Shack part 276-0142 - IR Emitter and Detector will work for the the parts above
2 -- DIY PCB sensor boards or small pieces of prototyping board
2 -- 3 pin single row 100 mil pitch pin connector
2 -- 10 inch, 3 wire ribbon cable with 3 position single row female connector on each end
1 -- switch with 200 mil pitch leads
1 -- 0.1 uF capacitor
1 -- 100 uF capacitor (it can be a larger capacitive value)
1 -- diode (almost any will do)
1 -- 10K ohm resistor
1 -- 150 ohm resistor
2 -- 100K ohm resistor
1 -- strip of single row 100 mil pitch pin connectors that can be broken apart
1 -- 2x3 100 mil pitch double row pin connector (6 pins)
1 -- AVR ATTINY 85 micro-controller (ATTINYs with less memory could also be used)
1 -- DIY PCB board or proto-board
Robot Chassis :
2 -- 11.5 x 12 inch pieces of either 1/8 inch Masonite or acrylic plastic (Plexiglas)
2 -- 12.5 inch pieces of 0.175 inch window screen spline
18 -- 5/8 inch #4 screws
14 -- 3/8 inch #4 screws
18 -- #4 washers
32 -- #4 nuts
2 -- small tie wraps
1 -- o-ring or window screen spline o-ring that fits the outer race of the inline skate bearing
2 -- inline skate bearings
2 -- 1 inch long 5/16 inch bolts
2 -- 5/16 inch nuts
note: if you are making the scroll saw / drill version of the Tiny Wanderer you will also
need several 5/16 inch washers and some #4 nylon washers or spacers.
Locomotion:
2 -- continuous rotation regular size hobby servos (ex. Parallax or Pololu continuous hobby servo,
the robot in the video is using modified T PRO SG-5010 -- not recommended for the beginner)
1 -- four AA battery holder (original used a 2x2 holder with a 9V style battery clip from Radio Shack)
4 -- AA batteries
1 -- piece of Velcro to attach battery case to chassis
Sensors:
2 -- 940nm IR LED (ex. LTE4206 -- available from BG Micro)
2 -- 940nm IR photo transistor (ex. LTE4206E -- available from BG Micro)
note: Radio Shack part 276-0142 - IR Emitter and Detector will work for the the parts above
2 -- DIY PCB sensor boards or small pieces of prototyping board
2 -- 3 pin single row 100 mil pitch pin connector
2 -- 10 inch, 3 wire ribbon cable with 3 position single row female connector on each end
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The things that would need to be looked at are pin assignments, register names, the names of the registers' internal bits and clock settings.
The general algorithm and program flow should work.
This link starting at step 13 shows you how to program the chip. http://makeprojects.com/Project/Tiny+Wanderer/1685/2
You might consider using an Arduino instead of the Atmega8.