Rain stopped play!

With the main build completed but still awaiting a few bits i thought i would give it a go. Sadly, it started to rain, typical U.K weather! At the moment have 3 XL running off two AAA battery cases - awaiting the third to even things out.

All in all wasn't too bad whilst it lasted.

Poor but helpful camera work from my wife!

Testing!

At the weekend i finished the main test chassis and frame as well as the new wheel design. I have opted to use XL PF motors in place of the servo motors for ease.

I am going to use 6XL to drive and 4M PF motors to activate steering.

An initial drive proved successful although I had to go back to the drawing board with regards to the steering.



Still need some more PF extension wires to fully test the steering but they should arrive soon!

I'll post a vid of the rover in my garden weather permitting!

Workspace nearly up and running!

Finally managed to unpack most stuff - little organisation left to complete before building starts.

Updates Coming Soon!

After a life time out, a house move and some other things the build is back on. Took me a while to pick up again and i quickly realised that i hadn't got all the required parts.

Parts on order - 2x new rechargeable packs, x8 newer turntables and other various Lego parts.

Should have my build space up and running soon. In the meantime, I'll be updating the blog with recent updates including new rotation sensors out, new solar pack kit and hopefully other interesting bits and bobs!

New Rover Design

After a frustrating build, i went back to the drawing board. It took me a while to dismantle my Rover and whilst doing so i realised how poor it really was - too heavy, too flexible etc.

I began drawing new designs and came up with a simple one based on two new Lego parts i received in the Technic Lego Crane Truck.

Still working on it but alot quicker this time. Still short on some parts e.g. turntables, 64178 & 64179 but i'll get these soon.

Update - page reload after deletion!

So, part way through the design i decided to test all the motors, turning circle etc.


These tests were very useful and a little disappointing. I've had to re-enforce the chassis and add a new linkage bar between the front wheels.


I'm currently testing the pf turning motors which are working well. Programming using the RXmux is causing a few issues but i hope that is temporary. The servo's appear to work well but once again programming speed and position isnt as i had hoped for.

Anyway, havent posted for a while so I thought i would add some partial pictures whilst i was testing.

Still to complete, robotic arm, robotic neck (fixing only), integrate RCX and add lego solar panels. I think looks wise this will probably be very good but in practice i have alot of work to do.

I'm think i'm going to have to buy the Tetrix set for the main chassis. But this is very expensive and not available in the U.K.

Let me know what you think! And if you have any experience with the RXMux or NXTServo please contact me!

RXMUX

With the help of mindsensors we have discovered that the problems I have been experiencing are with the type of RCX Rotation sensor I have built in my rover.

I have different kind of sensor which is not compatible therefore will have to purchase 3 more! Not exactly convenient but no choice really.

Havent been able to commit much time to the build but have put some time away for next week.

New Set 8184 - Twin X-treme RC

Whilst shopping recently I saw a new set with an unusual part. The part was essentially 2 motors in one with a receiver. The motors were controlled by a Pf remote control. One motor was a regular motor and the other was used as a turning unit.

I think it would be possible to use the main motor to act as a pump whilst the other was used to active a pneumatic switch. Combined with the NXT and IRLink sensor this could be very useful!

PF Extension Wire 20" 50Cm's

Although this cable is available in the U.S, the U.K it seems will have to wait! Not many for those who need this item as even Bricklink is in short supply.

If anyone knows where to buy them at a reasonable price, please let me know!

Need a Part?

I'm no stranger to Bricklink but usually I just order replacements parts as when I know I'm running low. Just recently though I was stuck when constructing and thought it would be great if a certain lego part existed.

An hour later after using Peeron and bricklink I secured quite a few unique parts. They're all lego just not from technic or mindstorms sets and very, very useful.





A good tip, if you're stuck don't always think of re-doing something as chances are a part does exist that can help!

Anyone else have any luck or interesting parts?

Old Rover Chassis Design

This was a design I was working with at the end of last year before I changed the whole chassis design. I completed the design but it just wasn't workable.

I've revamped the design and considering the drawbacks I've had recently gone for something alot more managable.

Main Rover Body - First Attempt

After a few weeks I completed what I thought would be the main body to my rover but after connecting it to the rover legs it wasn't very good a all. Not sturdy, no strength and it also highlighted that to me I dont think I am going to be able create a rover body based on a differential.

So back to the drawing board!

My Rover Wheel Design

Whilst finishing off a new wheel design for my rover I thought I'd grab a quick pic and post.

The wheel design uses a mindsensor bracket to house a continous servo turning a Lego off roader wheel. This sits under a turntable which will turn using a medium PF motor. This was the last wheel so all I have to do is attach to the Rocker-bogie!

NEW - NXT Temperature Sensor

A new temperature sensor has started shipping from Active Robots in the UK!

From their website "The temperature sensor is a digital sensor powered by the NXT brick. Using the NXT brick and NXT software version 2.0, it can be calibrated to measure both Celsius and Fahrenheit (-20 °C to +120 °C/-4 °F to +248 °F)."

Click here to visit their site - NXT Temperature Sensor

50% Off Technic Lego Sets at Amazon UK

Grab them whilst they are going cheap! Bulldozer and Telescopic handler with 50 % off!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/

Which Colour?

Unfortunately my parts arrived but I had ordered the wrong colour!

I ordered Dark Grey instead of Dark Bluish Grey so had to do it all again!

The good news is I've constructed the rocker bogie part of my rover and am now slowly working on the chassis.

One part I wish lego or someone would make is a larger and well built turn table.

I really hope I have at least 70% finished by Christmas although I haven't even started on the robotic arm...

Bits and Pieces

Well I've completed the first part of my Rover and its big! Alot bigger than I had planned so parts have become an issue. Thanks to bricklink I have managed to secure everything I need for the next phase.

I hope to have some pictures online at the weekend. Dont want to spoil too much though!

I have also adapted my PF Battery case so it can receive power from a solar source. Quite easy to do once you have the case open. I'll add these pictures too!

PF Battery Box and NXTServo

Philo has provided a nice hack to the PF Battery pack to power the NXTServo. Very nice hack if you want to try and keep it lego and not use the battery pack provided by Mindsensors.

Check the hack out here -

http://philohome.com/alimservo/alimservo.htm

Mindsensor stuff at Active Robots

Active Robots are now selling a select range of Mindsensor products including the NXTServo, Acceleration Sensor and Pressure Sensor.

Good news as this means easier to get their products in the U.K!

http://www.active-robots.com/products/mindstorms4schools/mindsensors.shtml

Hitec Continuous Servo

When deciding how to move my rover i had to decide what with? Large PF motors or an alternative. I made the decision to go for a continuous servo because of several advantages over other types of motor:-

• NXT Servo supports 8 servos (6 x wheel, 2 x tbc)


• NXT Servo could be powered by a battery / solar charger


• Servos include rotation sensor for precision control

Mindsensors don't (as of yet) sell a continuous servo so I had to buy from Active Robots. They did however deliver a prototype mounting kit which fitted perfectly.

These will provide the movement and accuracy I need for my rover - Model purchased Hitec HSR-1422CR.