Projects

EasyMSP

EasyMSP Is a project aiming to make developing and prototyping on the MSP430 fast and easy by providing a set of C libraries, drivers, and hardware.

makingthings-flex-bot

MakingThings FlexBotA personal project to create a mobile robotic platform, started more than a year ago. Desktop software (originally created in .NET C# and then ported to Flex/ActionScript) communicates with the mobile platform, can monitor its surroundings via a mounted webcam, operate it ... [More] remotely and activate autonomous mode. Initially planning to use a Lynxmotion 4WD2 chassis, but ended up using the excellent updated 4WD1 chassis from Lynxmotion. The rover is driven by 4 12vdc 50:1 175rpm motors, which are powered by a 12v 5000 mAh batter. I am able get around the 1A per channel limitation of the Make Controller by using a Sabertooth 2x10 motor controller from Dimension Engineering. The Sabertooth is controlled by two servo ports on the Make Controller, each port controls two motors simultaneously. The host application communicates over ethernet via a pair of Logitech Play Link wireless bridges, originally intended to hook a game console to a local network. One bridge is connected to a router, the other to a Linksys five port hub on the rover. The hub also connects the Make Controller and a D-Link DCS-900 webcam. The webcam is mounted on a pan/tilt servo setup from Budget Robotics so it can be positioned. All these electronics are powered by a 6v 1000mAh battery. For autonomous navigation a MaxBotix LV-MaxSonar-EZ1 connected to AnalogIn 4 and mounted on a stepper motor. The stepper setup allows for very smooth panning. The EZ1 gives very reliable readings and I can't recommend it highly enough on ease of use! Major Components: MaxBotix LV-MaxSonar-EZ1 - distance sensor Logitech Play Link wireless bridges D-Link DCS-900 webcam Lynxmotion 4WD1 chassis Dimension Engineering Sabertooth 2x10 motor controller Linksys 5-port hub Make Controller - of course! Also, thanks to Alistair Rutherford (www.netthreads.co.uk) for the IFrame.as. [Less]