Mark's Antweight build

All things antweight

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MarkR
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Re: Mark's Antweight build

Post by MarkR »

Getting a little bit fraught now...

I plan to get to the AWS55 on Saturday.

My robot was operating ok several weeks ago, then had a major problem which fried several key components. After replacements were ordered and the whole thing rewired (finally) - I had it driving again only *last night*.

The flipperweapon will be very powerful if I can get it working. The only problem is it might destroy itself on the first test-fire. So now I have only two evenings (less really, I have a lot of personal committments) - to get it assembled and working. Also the software needs some tweaks.

It's a terrible design and badly made. But it was a fun experiment :)
Robots: Betsie - RaspberryPi controlled flipper bot with gyro stablisation - too clever for her own good?
Stacie - tidy flipper; 4wd driven by hair bands
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MarkR
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Re: Mark's Antweight build

Post by MarkR »

I suppose it needs to be in one piece.

But ok, hardware is basically working and it is drivable. The flipper flips and the control is sort-of ok.

So almost good to go.
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Robots: Betsie - RaspberryPi controlled flipper bot with gyro stablisation - too clever for her own good?
Stacie - tidy flipper; 4wd driven by hair bands
Derek Dudge
Posts: 135
Joined: Thu Dec 07, 2017 9:32 pm

Re: Mark's Antweight build

Post by Derek Dudge »

Hi again! Martin here fron next to you in the pits yesterday. I enjoyed seeing your robot, such a different approach to most and even though I don't know a great deal about the tech you have in there I found it interesting. My robots are dumb bricks compared to Betsie lol.
My robots:

Third Law (antweight) - push/ram bot
Manticore (antweight) - hammer bot
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MarkR
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Re: Mark's Antweight build

Post by MarkR »

Yes well it basically confirmed my suspicions that brains does not always win over brawn.

Also very interesting seeing your robots, the (relatively) simple but well-made pusher (Third Law) got much further than the hex-nut of death (Manticore).
Robots: Betsie - RaspberryPi controlled flipper bot with gyro stablisation - too clever for her own good?
Stacie - tidy flipper; 4wd driven by hair bands
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MarkR
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Joined: Mon Dec 18, 2017 12:46 pm
Location: Reading Hackspace
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Re: Mark's Antweight build

Post by MarkR »

Here is Betsie at AWS55 in June 2018:

Image

Here is Betsie today (12/10/2018) after some modifications. Same basic design, but should now be much more competitive. Ready for tomorrow (?)

Image
Robots: Betsie - RaspberryPi controlled flipper bot with gyro stablisation - too clever for her own good?
Stacie - tidy flipper; 4wd driven by hair bands
Paulmchurd
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Re: Mark's Antweight build

Post by Paulmchurd »

Looks awesome! Glad you got it finished and into combat in the end. I fried one of my micro controllers and gave up on it hehe.
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MarkR
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Re: Mark's Antweight build

Post by MarkR »

I have rebuilt Betsie for Ant Freeze on Saturday.

I replaced many mechanical and some electrical parts. My custom PCB isn't great but it is working (after a few mods) and smaller than the previous monstrosity. I replaced the failed Raspberry Pi (Whoops! Short circuit, Pi does not like 17v )

Betsie drives, flips, and is more controllable than ever. She is the correct weight with new armour and a new chassis which is a bit more rigid than the one Pete's spinner helpfully "modified".

So now she looks like this:

Image

Image
Robots: Betsie - RaspberryPi controlled flipper bot with gyro stablisation - too clever for her own good?
Stacie - tidy flipper; 4wd driven by hair bands
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MarkR
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Re: Mark's Antweight build

Post by MarkR »

I have now got two robots which are potentially ready for the AWS58 event:

* Betsie - has the same design and firmware as for Ant Freeze (with the Raspberry Pi, IMU sensor etc), but with the fault (voltage boost module failed!) fixed. I will also put some new tyres on and redo the flipper.

It seems highly likely that the Ant Freeze robot Betsie, does not actually fit in the 4" cube with flipper and acetate, but John's cube was a bit tight so he gave me the benefit of the doubt (plus the weather was bad and everyone was late, etc)

So I'm remaking the flipper slightly shorter so I can put some acetate on and still fit in the cube.

* Stacie - it is my new flipper bot with a somewhat better design in some ways, it has a more conventional RC system and uses my own Malenki ESC. She is fairly low profile and 4wd. Looking at the amazing array of flippers now fighting, I don't think I'm in with much of a chance, but at least the bot works.
Robots: Betsie - RaspberryPi controlled flipper bot with gyro stablisation - too clever for her own good?
Stacie - tidy flipper; 4wd driven by hair bands
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MarkR
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Joined: Mon Dec 18, 2017 12:46 pm
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Re: Mark's Antweight build

Post by MarkR »

Pictures of Stacie in "final" configuration

Image

Image
Robots: Betsie - RaspberryPi controlled flipper bot with gyro stablisation - too clever for her own good?
Stacie - tidy flipper; 4wd driven by hair bands
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LimaHotel
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Location: West Devon

Re: Mark's Antweight build

Post by LimaHotel »

Now that is a pretty ant!
What material have you used for the scoop?
A grabber? I CHALLENGE IT WITH JIGGY!
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