Uh huh. Dave. You're a man of few words. I like that ... usually. In this case, however, we need to know just what it is you are thinking about doing with that nifty little gadget. Put a small plow on it and I'll bet you could use it to clear snow.

What do you have in mind for it? Make it more autonomous? Maybe be able to give it commands to perform programmed functions? With the stuff they have at EZ Robots you could do things like give it sonar for obstacle avoidance. And Vision for sizing up it's task and coming up with a way for it to execute it. Like the tire shoving maneuver. With appropriate add-ons it could find the tire and figure out a course to take to put it where it belongs. Maybe even figure out a place where it would fit and then put it there. The vision add-on could even recognize you and recognize bar codes to give it information about it's surroundings like where it is. You can even see what it sees on the controlling computer screen. Then there is the option of voice commands. No more hand-held controller needed. If you still want a little controller, you can use your cell phone to control it, completer with a custom screen you design, with whatever buttons you want. You can even control it over the internet or anywhere in your house.

Whatever it is you want to do, it's going to take a computer, PC desktop, or laptop, to make it work with the EZ-Robots devices. It's the computer that is the real brains of the system, as was pointed out by another Dave, d.cochran. You will also need WiFi to connect to it. It's not as difficult as it may sound, though. Really. And you can do almost all the stuff I mentioned without writing any code. Alternately, it could be possible to hack into that little hand control of yours and do some functions via it. But WiFi would still be needed for most of the stuff it needs.

We would also need to see how the motors are being driven now to be able to give you advice on what to do. That is to say, what control devices are on the unit itself. That way we could give advice on how to interface it to the EZB4 controller such that it would be able to do all the things I mentioned above.

So, speak up man! Tell us your heart's desires. I promise we won't make fun of you, no matter how fantastic the ideas seem. Unless, of course you start talking about the movie series "Twilight" or "50 Shades of Gray." Then we shall be merciless.

WBS00001

Well brother I did not want to talk much because I was afraid I would wear out my welcome. Robotics, Electronics I will admit I don't know much about it except I am willing to give it a try. Fifteen years ago I knew nothing about programming C.N.C. machines and then I became a program developer. Now that I am knocking on the door to retirement I think it's time I learn to do something other than Tool&Die. I still enjoy my hobbies of Dog training, Camping, Hot Rods & Motorcycles. Robots are just too cool to pass up in this life time. So I started to put together a plan. I know mechanically what I want and found it. So know I am about to boldly go where I have never gone before Robotics & Electronics. I am not about to B.S. anyone I will need guidance. I would like 1st prototype to be programmable by that I mean write a program to a thumb drive plug it in. Give it a X 0.0, Y 0.0 start point and have it move on a planned course along the way edit the bot to move around objects. After that I might teach it how to walk and show a dog... NOW THAT ALONE WOULD BE WICKED AWESOME.

Dave

Ohhh! I get it ... 53stude = 53 Studebaker. Thus the picture in the avatar. Cool indeed!

I also get what you are trying to do, Well, at least have a better idea of it, Thank you. It's all doable with the EZ Robots stuff. Including the thumb drive thing. Well showing dogs thing might be a stretch. But you could use it to walk your dogs. If you stick to rolling robots anyway. That walking thing is devilishly hard to make work. But like you say, that WOULD be wicked awesome! As a side note, I used to raise Samoyeds (Russian sled dogs) along with my late wife (actually she was the expert there) and sell and show them. Not me personally, we hired professionals to show them. 60-some champions, some in England and Germany. Loved them all. Loved having a pack living in the house with us. Needed no alarm system. We were totally protected 24-7 by Tooth and Claw Inc.

Now, mind you I have NO vested interest in EZ Robots other than owning one of their products. In no way do I work for, or with them. I'm just another user of their products.

That's my disclaimer and my way of being up front with where I'm coming from here. So when I say you should start with one of their kits and play with it to get an understanding of what their system does, I am not trying to be a salesman for them. There are many ways to do what you want to do. What they have that, in my opinion, is superior, is their robot controller. It's easy to connect to and does a ton of stuff it takes other systems additional electronic hardware to do.

Their other strength is their software. With it you can write programs to do pretty much anything you wish. Lord knows I have twisted it to the breaking point to make it do things it was not really meant to do. I'm evil that way. Now they have added a new feature that allows people to write new add-ons to the basic software package that should usher in a new era of expansion of functions.

This is why I, and pretty much everyone here, will strongly recommend getting one of their kits and following the tutorials here on how to put it together and how to run it with the software that goes with it. The software is 100% free. No gimmicks. No crippled software that requires you to buy a "key" to really be able to use it. Free means free. You get the whole package and many add-ons right up front. You don't even have to purchase anything. Ever. It's called ARC, and that's just what it does; allows you to literally build an operating robot control system with software blocks called, (what else?) controls.

I know you want to jump in to working on your existing device right now. I don't blame you, I would want to do that too. But, like when you were learning your trade and moving on up in it, you started with the basics at some point. Maybe even worked with models. That's what the robot kits from EZ are. Models. They are not large robots, costing tons, but they are fully functioning real robots. Not some toy that has limited movement like Robosapien, for instance. OTOH, you can run a Robosapien with the EZB4 controller. Make it do a lot more. It's been done.

The great thing is, everything you learn from the small robot you can apply to your device. Including the guts of the hardware. So you're investment won't be wasted or limited in use. The control "brain" (EZB4) from your small robot can go right into a control system for your existing wheelchair base and run it. You will need a device called an HBridge to drive your motors, but that's about it, and they are cheap. The camera that comes with your kit can go right to your platform. Same with any other sensor or flashing lights that come with your kit. The size of the robot is not a factor. We have some people using the little EZB4 to run their B9 Robot. The B9 is the robot from the "Lost in Space" series. Huge thing.

Choose whatever kit that strikes your fancy. The least expensive will be fine. I might mention, however, the Roli Rover kit contains an HBridge so that could be a good choice for that fact. Doesn't matter though. What matters is that you gain experience and knowledge in how this system works. There is no better way to do that than to get a kit and play/struggle with it. Everything, and I do mean everything, you learn from it will be directly applicable to your existing device.

Oh my gosh that was long winded. Sorry for that. I never seem to know when to shut up.

.................................. I am looking for the delete button ...... posting from this site is showing up in spam mail

Chrome book won't work. You need a Windows computer to run ARC. It doesn't need to be a laptop, but you need a WiFi network, and a computer with WiFi to initially connect and tell the EZ-B your network information (you could use the chromebook for that, it just needs a web browser).

You can buy a Roli here on this web site, or Brookstone sells them, as well as some other hobby retailers. https://synthiam.com/shop/retailers

Roli is a great choice (I have one) but the H-bridge is only 2 amp, so although you will learn a little about H-bridges, it will never drive your Jazzy motors, and the kind that will operate differently enough that there isn't huge learning opportunity. If you want to start small and cheap, an Adventure Bot will get you started for less than half the cost, but doesn't do nearly as much either.

Alan

Thank you for your understanding about my verbose verbiage, Dave. I would suggest going right to Brookstone for your order. If you have some in your area call them first to be sure they have one in stock. If not go for mail order but, again, make sure they actually have one in stock they can ship now. Most places will say they have them in stock when they do not. They are drop shipped from China and, because of serious supply problems due to a huge Brookstone order, it , will take 3-4 weeks to get to you. I have been ordering from Stemfinity because anything over $100 is free shipping, but, despite their on-line store saying they are in stock, they are not. Me, I'm cheap so I don't mind too much waiting. The other problem, for me, is that it seems like only Stemfinity offers all of what I need. The others just have a few spare parts for sale. Including Brookstone.

Anyway, Brookstone has the $99 free shipping offer (Promo Code Ship99) as well, so that is THE go-to place to get one, even if you have to go mail order. They all cost the same no matter where you buy/order them from, including directly from EZ Robots. Ordering directly from EZ Robots will, like the others, actually come from China and will also take 3-4 weeks. Plus you have to pay export/import duties (They're in Canada) in addition to shipping costs. So it's not a good way to go.

I would be happy to email to you but please be aware I am not the end-all be-all authority on these robots. I know that is hard to believe, but it's true. There people who have been at this several years longer than I have. My point is, when you have a problem, you should post here. Not only will they often be able to give you better advice than I can, but I will not always be readily available and at least one of them will be. Much greater chance of getting your needs met in a timely manner.

So, have great fun with the robot and let us know how it goes for you. We will all be here for you when you run aground on the shoals of frustration. Do not, under any circumstances fold, spindle, or mutilate the Roli. Punishing the Roli with a rolled up newspaper will not help. Nor will rubbing it's nose in it's messy code. However you may feel free to shout and cuss at it to your heart's content. It is impervious to verbal and emotional abuse thanks to it's transparent layer of F-off brand edodermic coating. It's the same stuff that the government uses on all it's devices, and many of it's employees.

Would this be the recommended H-Bridge
www.dimensionengineering.com/products/sabertooth2x25 for my application to run the Jazzy 2 motor differential. I did not plan on the build to include radio control. I would rather have it be pre-programmed to run it off a thumb drive. Unless you would advise that RC is a better way to build the first time around.

Dave

Yes, that is an appropriate H-Bridge regardless if how you control it.

You should download ARC and take some of the tutorials or watch some of the EZ-B videos to see if this is what you are looking for. It can certainly do the navigation you are asking for, but so much more than just a pre-programmed path from a thumb drive.

EZ-B requires a wifi connection to a computer running ARC. That computer can be windows (and you need Windows to program it) or with some limitations in the functionality it can be Android or iOS.

In a large robot like you are planning, the computer can be on board the robot rather than remote. There are many small low voltage computers available that can run windows.

Alan