inexpensive wheeled base for otherwise humanoid bot?

If you can find an affordable motorized wheel chair I would go for that for the simple reason it already has the motor control circuits that can be the hard part for someone with limited electronics skills to put together.

-- jc

I bought a used wheel chair from eBay. About $200. But then I found it needed replacement batteries, and there's about $250. Ugh.

But they're still quite a deal. I think SS must buy you one new for free, because the market for used ones is very depressed. Why buy a used one, when you can get a new one "just for qualifying".

I haven't gotten very far in conversion, but they do make an interesting base. Potential range is ~25 miles. Very stable. Quiet operation. Chargers built in to most models. And of course, most public buildings are already modified to accomodate them access.

Randy

We must NOT make robots that mimic

human movement . unproductive .

we . instead, use their best abilities .

Robots need 220vac extension cords

to be productive . forget the batteries .

The future is competition , if your

robot can't compete , your reputation

is lost , along with your employment .

By 2020 , there will be no cars , nor trucks

on the roads . Electric trains will do ALL

transport .

----------------------------------------------

The electronics I can handle. It's the mechanics that are killing me.

Thanks,

- Joe

...

Ah. That should just make things more interesting! :-)oo

I've been working on HEADS (animatronic - sort of) and find the artistic part the most difficult/interesting.

I started with my own sculpture but ran into so many problems that I decided, at least for now, to use a hairdressers mannequin instead.

In the meantime I learned a lot about moldmaking, facial expressions and sculpture.

A bit more on my web site under builders log.

DOC

Have robots. Will travel.

I looked at your log

And you've brought up another thing I've been thinking about too: what to use for a head? I know I don't want to sculpt one, but then, I'm not going for humanlike -- only humanoid. Ideal would be something like a Motocross helmet with a dark visor, so I can put lights behind it for the eyes. But helmets are heavy (and tend to be on the expensive side, too), so I'm considering other approaches.

You can get styrofoam wig stands that have a nice shape: clearly not trying to look realistic, but still clearly humanoid. Something like this:

...but I'm not sure exactly how I'd go about turning this into a robot head. I really need something hollow, because I plan to stuff it with servos and other electronics. But maybe I could use this head as a form for a mold, or drape thermo plastic over it, or some such? Has anyone successfully made a robot head or faceplate from something like this?

Thanks,

- Joe