Robot car

[Jov]

Hello,

I'm doing my first year in college (electromechanics) and they gave us an assignment.

We have to make a robot that can ride an parcour

What does the robot need to do :

- This robot has to be wireless

- This robot has to do an parcour and has to cross an ramp.

- When the robot does this parcour it has to take a pen with it and drop the pen automatticaly in an specific area.

- This robot need to be made of as much as possible recycled products


We had the idea to make a robot from an existing car with remote control.
Of this car we are going to use the motors and the weels

We also have to change the chassis into our ideas

To hold the pen we were thinking about a servomotor with a stick into it. On the stick we attach a little container to put the pen.

What do you think about the idea?
Ideas and tips are always welcome !

Thanks in advance

[jboggs]

What is a "parcour"? Is it an obstacle course?
You did not mention a budget. Do you have one? How much?
You mention a "servomotor with a stick into it". I have no idea what you mean. A sketch might help.
A servomotor is usually an expensive way to do things. Less expensive ways won't work for you?

[Jov]

With parcour i mean : Going from point A To B one straight line with an obstacle (ramp)in the middle.
This has to be done forward and backwards ( so it doesn't need to turn ).
For budget we want to stay as low as possible since we should use recycled items.
I said a servomotor becaus it's the only motor i've seen to use for such a small things.
Are there any other options?

[jboggs]

Many.

Check:
http://www.andymark.com/
http://banebots.com/
http://www.micromark.com/robotics-components.html
http://www.robotshop.com/en/robot-parts.html
http://www.usfirst.org/

[Jov]

Thanks!

I supose i can't use them to order items. Because i live in Europe.
But these sites will give me an idea what i can use.

Thanks alot

[jboggs]

I didn't post the ones I found from Europe. Google "robotics components".

[Jov]

Ok thanks

[offshoretrevelyan]

I know this sounds strange, but I remember doing lego with my son, they doing some great products in the field, easily programmable control units, sensors, motors and the like. The kits are able to much much more than how their are configured in the standard 'build' package. Plus all the control units would have been integrated testing before hand.

http://www.*********/en-us/mindstorms/support

[Captmike]

Your leaving a lot of details out of your post. The robot must be wireless. Does the robot need to traverse this "parcour" autonomously or is just going to be a remote controlled vehicle where you (the operator) control its every motion? Cross a ramp? A ramp isn't much of an obstacle unless you approaching it from the wrong end. The pen could be raised and lowered with a solenoid. I've seen people use an Ardueno board to control motors and solenoids.