An $800 robot...

Refering back to previous discussions: This is the $50 tank base with the $200 DDM added I've mentioned before.

Encoders are on output shafts. It has two PID loops, and odometry, steering, navigation. It will do "drive to a point" navigation. It has inputs for sonars, IR Rangers, bump switches. It has serial (115200), SPI (20MHz) and CAN (up to 1MHz) interfaces.

Maxstream RF links and Zigbee Bluetooth interfaces work great with it, if you want to get off-bot communications.

It's about to get GPS, shown, but not yet installed. (Although software is already proven in other vehicles.)

Of course, as you add things the price goes up (GPS, Blueetooth, sensors). Still, this is a rugged, large platform with plenty of open payload space. The electronics is tiny in comparison to any other feature on the tank.

Nice base - is NMI selling that for $50? Looks pretty nice especially if it includes mounted encoders. I'd like to use my own electronics of course, but the base is definitely something I'd be interested in. Do you offer that seperately?

-Brian

I would be interested to know if the base is available surplus anywhere....so is it?

As we all know, Walmart cleared them out and that source is long gone.

TMT

My local WalMart (State College, PA) still had them as of last week.

-- D. Jay Newman

Price?

I didn't ask and they didn't say. :)

-- D. Jay Newman

"D. Jay Newman" wrote in news:db75ki$n98$1 @f04n12.cac.psu.edu:

If anyone can supply me with the manufacturers name, maybe I can track down the sweatshop in China that actually built them, and we can all put in together and order a conatainer of them.

Joe

21st Century Toys. They have a web site. Dr. Brian Huff of UTA has been in contact with them. I don't think a container sale interests them. So far, it's cheaper to buy them on eBay or Walmart. I'm sure they'll have a new set in a few months for the coming Christmas season.

They still show up on ebay. This one is cheapest right now at $81.

The one I have is 1:6th scale. In the category "Toys & Hobbies > Radio Control > Tanks" there are many other tanks of smaller scale, which can be converted.

The idea behind the new DDM product is it will operating any differentially stearable robot with closed loop feedback. While the 1:6 M5 Stuart is a nice big platform, the same principle could apply to smaller platforms as well.

I think they are made by 20th Century Toys.

-- D. Jay Newman