Here is the part list (so far!):
2 Radio Shack SPDT switches (Part number 275-016A)
5 Radio Shack photocells
(Part Number 276-1657 - I only needed two, But I just bought them in an
economy pack to save.)
I've been working on it a lot lately, cutting out the frame, trying to hack the servos, looking for heat shrink, connectors, hookup wire, and assorted stuff. But I was very flustered that Radio didn't have anything I needed. I've bought the ni-cd AA batteries,adaptor, flux, and solder. I plan to make it an experimental robot, as this is my first robot- I am going to need to test out my different theories.
I'm just sorta stuck on the Solar panel thing. If anybody has done this before, let me know about it and how you did it as I want to do the same thing.
Now time to assemble it.
I'll post some pictures on here soon.
I'd like some advice from Other Micromouse
owners on assembling it.
UPDATE!
The Controller is tottally assembled, as is the frame.When it was all finished, I took it home and plugged it in to the computer's parralel port, fired it up, loaded the program, (mobil1.bas) and lo and behold, It didn't work! Yes you read right, it didn't work. I tested for continuity: Ok, Power, fresh Dollar General 9v,Cable plugged in PROPERLY, But why won't it work? The answer:Most likely BLOWN stamp...they don't come cheap...The one I am using is the Basic Stamp 1.4, or "D" as it is lovingly referred to.
( it always happens to me, my hd,computer, my monitor, etc..The usually high tech devices that run my life .....well,almost.)
Hmm... Maybe I should have Jim check it out (Jim is the Guy at Lynxmotion who knows how to fix Lynxmotion's products)
He checks them out for free fortunately, and unfortunately I'm out of money to spend ....No money and Robotics don't mix.
Well, I sent off my robot kit today, (Thursday, January 21,2000, Hail
the millenium robot!)
The guy at the USPS station said it might get there by saturday, but
Lynxmotion isn't open saturdays!
So this means even f it gets there by saturday, it will still
be opened up on monday.
UPDATE! Dadalup!Dadalup!
Lil' cricket took his first steps today. Well, first step wouldn't
be an accurate conclusion, it would be
more like the hokey-pokey.
I ran the Mobile1.bas file included on the disk Lynxmotion sends out
to all of the robots and microcontrollers,it was excellent code overall.
The problem with the cable was that the jacks on both sides had the
spring pointing up-it is not supposed to be that way! One should be pointing
down, the other pointing up.
A remedy to this problem was to buy a modular rj-11 (9.99-yikes!)crimper
and 10 jacks to be crimped (3.99). I cut the jack off,stripped off the
insulation, and inserted the wires into the new
jack, then crimped it. Presto! A good cable!
For the adapter I went to Radio Shack and bought a modular adapter.
(db25 to RJ11)
Assembly wasa breeze because Jim Frye had put the wiring code in the
First step manual, so building it was as easy as snapping the 3 (yea 3!)
wires into thier places on the adapter.
I could have spent less and got it from lynxmotion, but I was not into waiting a while for it to come here- I wanted it to go NOW!
The only problem is only one of the servos work, I did a very bad job
on hacking one of the servos, thus it does not work.
So I guess I get to " cannibalize" (in the words of my dad) the busted
one, and use the motor for my other 'bots.
My other choice might be to try to fix it, which might prove difficult.
More to come soon.......