Page 41 - Robot Builder's Bonanza

10 WELCOME TO THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF ROBOTICS!

Figure 1-6 If the mechanics of
robotics isn’t your forte, you can
learn by using a ready- made robotic
platform. This one is designed to teach
the principles of robot programming.
(Photo courtesy iRobot Corporation.)

READY- MADE BOTS
If you don’t particularly like the construction aspects of robotics, you can purchase ready- made
robot bodies— no assembly required. With a ready- made robot you can spend all your time
connecting sensors to it and figuring out new and better ways to program it. An example is
the iRobot Create, shown in Figure 1-6. It’s like the iRobot’s Roomba vacuum- cleaning robot,
but without the vacuum cleaner. It’s meant as a mobile robot platform for educators, students,
and developers.

KIT O’ PARTS

You know the Erector set— this venerable construction toy provides the hardware for building
all kinds of buildings, bridges, cars, and other mechanical things. The traditional Erector Set
uses lightweight metal girders of different sizes, plus steel fasteners to put it all together.
Several specialty robotics companies have taken the Erector set one step further, modifying
the idea to handle the unique issues of robot building. Their construction kits can be used to
create fully functional robots, or you can adapt the bits and pieces to your custom designs.
These aren’t exactly cheap, but they’re convenient and engineered to produce outstanding
prototypes.
Here are four of the more popular parts kits specifically created for building robots.

VEX Robotics Design System
Aimed at both the educational and the hobbyist market, the VEX system is based around the
Erector set style of predrilled girders and connector pieces. Most parts are fastened using
traditional techniques of machine screws and nuts. What sets VEX apart is that its pieces are
especially designed for small robotics. Kits come with motors made to fit the girder pieces,
gears, wheels, and many other hardware parts.

Lynxmotion Servo Erector Set
The Servo Erector Set from Lynxmotion is composed of various brackets and other hardware
for the express purpose of connecting together standard- size R/C servo motors. You can con-
nect these brackets to a traditional robot base to build a rolling or walking machine or attach
them to tubes, hubs, and connectors to fashion completely free- form designs.

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