PWcommBot by Doug Simpson

DESCRIPTION

PWcommBot is my first attempt at any project of this sort.  While it
lacks such sophistication as some of the other robots here, it has
been a challenge to me.  As you can see, it is grafted from an old
PowerWheels vehicle.  It is funny to watch it run around in the house
as it more closely resembles a bull in a china closet.

CURRENT FUNCTIONS

So far, the only sensors it has are the bump whiskers on the front.

PARTS USED

PowerWheels vehicle motors, gears, and other components (very sloppy!)
Commodore64 Computer, modified to operate on 12VDC, otherwise unmodified.
Tape Drive on board for field loading of software.
Relays for motor drive control (inefficient, but cheap)

PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED

The biggest problem so far is the sloppiness of the PowerWheels drive
train.  By the time the program figures out it has hit something and stopped the
motor, (EMF braking) the sloppy drivetrain has let it plow through what it
bumped.  The other was all the mods to make the C64 battery-friendly.

TIME TO BUILD

So far, about 6 months, off and on.
Continuing. . .

COST

So far, $0.  I have used nothing but salvaged and junk box parts.

FUTURE ENHANCEMENTS

Camera and RF video link.
Infrared 'following' system.
Speech (fully software synthesis, runs on the C64).
Encoders on the drive wheels for distance measurement.
H-Bridge motor controllers.
Programming console.

If you have any questions please feel free to email me at

veewee77@alltel.net

Doug Simpson


Email: veewee77@alltel.net