Cheap parts for experimental robotics and devices.

[Paulwa]

Many toys at the Dollar Tree, Dollar stores etc have motors, gears and gear drives, wheels of various styles, wire and small battery packs that hold AA and AAA batteries...and cheap batteries such as 8 AA's for a dollar. Everything is $1 so cheap parts to play with to test out an idea in miniature. Also other electronic products that talk, beep and etc. Worth spending a few bucks for testing...if you can keep them away from the kids!:idea:
Paul

[wrighthobbies]

Paul, I agree completely. I've used toys for robots many times with pretty good success. They may not last forever but since you don't have a significant investment, I can live with that :)

Attached is a small line follower made by Adam Klaum. Its chassis is an inexpensive micro RC vehicle. Cool little robot that didn't cost much to make.

[Paulwa]

Thanks Eddy and for the other links you have provided on your web site. An article I found, on using tv remotes for infra red signalling is very interesting.
Paul

[Paulwa]

I in my digging have found Radio Shack doesn't have IC'son their web site nor any other parts much. But they do have circuit board making equipment at reasonable prices.
Paul

[Paulwa]

Has anyone else made use of toy parts to build a robot? Seems like a great idea, I would think. I got a sack of toys I am thinking about stripping down for parts.
Paul

[tswift]

:) I have used antique Erector Set parts and DC motors from old toys and printers for my robot applications. Toy RC cars, tanks, and trucks also make great platforms for a low cost robot as you have shown with your robot.

Myke Predko's books (Evil Genius Series) found on Amazon and Goggle describe how to control RC robots using RC Servo motors and also describes how to use a TV remote for controlling DIY robots.

[dporter]

Solarbotics has a book called "Junkbots" that covers the fine art of dumpster diving among other things in making a variety of junk robots. You could probably adapt a number toys to the projects also. Make magazine sometimes has projects like this too.

http://www.solarbotics.com/

Junkbots, Bugbots, and Bots on Wheels by Dave Hrynkiw with contributions by Mark Tilden

[dporter]

The solarbotics "Junkbots" book has come up in a couple of threads. Here is a review of it I wrote awhile back if anyone is interested in building their own robots from junk, toys, or electroncs laying around the the house.


Junkbots, Bugbots & Bots on Wheels: Building Simple Robots with BEAM Technology by Dave Hrynkiw and Mark W. Tilden, McGraw-Hill/Osborne; 1st edition (2002) available autographed from solarbotics.com for $23.00, or new and used from Amazon.

So you’ve picked up Robot magazine and have read a few of the articles and now you’re inspired to build your own robot. What if you could go into the garage, or your workshop, and pull a few parts out of some old electronics equipment and voila you have your own robot. That has been the dream at some point for of a lot of us interested in robots. But where do you start? What is good robot junk versus just plain junk? Well Junkbots by Dave Hrynkiw is just the book to answer some of those questions and to get you started. Junkbots is well written and with Dave Hrynkiw’s sense of humor the book is entertaining to read. It takes the reader through some of the history of BEAM robotics while teaching the reader about basic components such as capacitors, resistors, and transistors. The book also covers the types of tools needed, construction techniques, safety, and as well as what are good robots parts and what is actual junk.

The book is, in many ways, a guidebook for BEAM robotics. BEAM is an acronym for Biology, Electronics, Aesthetics, and Mechanics, which is a type of robot building that creates simple autonomous robots. By modeling biological organisms, using simple electronics, designing some cool looking robots (aesthetics), and by using some creative mechanics, it is surprising how diverse and capable these small robots can be.

Junkbots takes the reader through a series of individual robotics projects. Each project adds to the builder’s knowledge and skills. There are many photographs and schematics as well as very clear instructions that always emphasize safety. Some examples of the projects include small solar powered robots, solar drag racers, light tracking crablike robots, min-sumo wrestling bots and ant-like walkers. I tried a few of these projects myself and found them to be a lot of fun. One thing that I liked was that Junkbots emphasizes creativity in building each project. While the instructions give the reader a basic plan, many of the designs can be modified or adapted in many ways. One example is in the first project called the “symet”. This little solar robot is based on a circuit called a “solarengine”. In this design a solar panel is used to charge a capacitor until it is triggered to run a small motor. This motor can be used to move a robot in small jumping movements. With a little creativity this circuit could be used to power several designs. One example provided in Junkbots was a moving computer mouse that slowly scurried around on a desktop.

Another feature that I really appreciated was the trouble shooting sections found after each project. While the directions are very clear, a poor solder joint or a diode hooked up backwards can cause some frustration. By following the simple trouble shooting hints, mistakes are quickly fixed. One problem I found with Junkbots was that there were some errors in the schematics. To correct these errors my copy of the book came with color photocopies of the schematics. This works, but they are always falling out of the book and I can’t find them when I need them. The Junkbots website at http://junkbots.solarbotics.com also has a complete set of schematics and corrections to the book. The website also provides complete parts kits for those of you that would prefer not to tear apart old electronics equipment to find the robot parts you need.

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in BEAM robotics. A more experienced builder could jump straight into the projects, while a beginner could really benefit from the basics covered at the beginning of the book. Junkbots would also be a great gift for any budding roboticist, or for an educator looking for a good electronics project book for the classroom. You’ll know when you have reached true junkbot builder status, you’ll start getting excited about finding solar calculators and old cassette players at the flea market.


.

[Paulwa]

Wow, Tswift and Dporter, Good info. I will check it out. That book sounds real interesting.
Thanks
Paul

[Kevin Berry]

Second the junkbots book as a winner. Now I can't throw away an old walkman, they are piling up in the garage while awaiting being turned into an electronic single-cellular life form!

[Paulwa]

Just happened to remember getting a small rotary nose hair trimmer..AAA powered if I remember right. I think they did sell them at the dollar stores. Should have a very tiny dc powered motor inside. How about some battery powered tooth brushes also. Also been studying up on the IR remote tv controls for use in robotics. The small micro cassette recorders...telephone answering machines tape operated. The larger cassettes bigger motors. Lots of sources for parts.
Paul

[Paulwa]

Got a hot idea for a micro bot..will post on it when it gets built, so far haven't found any like my design yet. Be a suprise if it works like I see it in my mind. Very simple machine I think. It would be autonomous..self operating...if I can come up with the right electronic control circuits...kind of want to keep it modular in nature so each unit is a simple add on.
Paul

[Paulwa]

Got all my electric toys disassembled, screws in small jar, gears of all kinds and shafts in another and a sack of miniature dc motors and wheels in a bag. Lots of two cell battery remotes. Nothing left but to go to work I guess.
Paul