Next Hack - Robot B9

bret.tallent

USA
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Now that I have finished B.O.B., my get your feet wet bot, I have begun my next hack. This next robot will bridge the gap between Bob and my ultimate big robot. I am starting with a remote controlled B9 toy from Trendmasters. It was very limited in what it did, and the drive section was pathetic, but it was B9!

Before Pics:

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Note: the front "lights" in the chest plate is actually just a decal.

Here is what B9 looks like now:

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I have mounted clear LEDs in the appropriate colors in the chest at the bottom of the decal and have a flashing circuit that will blink them in the combination as seen on the series. Where the two large round circles are (white domes on the big guy) I will have my ping sensor. I have mounted pager motors in the antenna housings to turn the "sensors" as seen in the TV version. I have mounted red El Wire to his voice plate to emulate the original as well. I have also mounted a series of blinking LEDs to the "brain" section in the bubble.

Next is to work on the rotation of the bubble and torso, articulate the arms and claws, and make a real functioning tread section. For the tread section I am adapting the base from my RAD robot. I will keep you posted with pics as I proceed.

Thanks,

Bret

By — Last update

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#105  

Coming together very well Bret!:D

#106  

THanks! Well, here is the drive section moving around.

I have to say am not very happy with this. Not sure if I don't have enough power, the motor controller isn't up to snuff, or the motors are just too over loaded. THis is the low gear setting so the speed is not such an issue, but in high gear it wouldn't even move. I'll throw the charger on it to see if the battery is just low. If that's not it then I'll try a different motor controller. After that, the only thing left would be to change out the motors. We'll see....

#107  

What was the original voltage to those motors and what are you giving them now? How was it on the floor and off the carpet?

#108  

@Bret, As a RAD owner I run my motors at 7.2V (RC Car battery) and they do not sound or bog down like that. More juice I think.

v/r

Kevin

#109  

My battery is 6V 12AH and should be enough power. But when I put my smart charger on it, it started to charge immediately. So I am thinking the battery was nearly dead. I hope. Once I have a full charge I will try it again.

#110  

They come with 10 percent charge usually , also multistrand with about 14 or 12 guage (like speaker wire) , but the more weight has the more juice it will draw , a way to create more torque is to raise voltage. Just for fun put 12v to it , I bet it will have much more torque at that point. Sorry its not moving on the first try man. I looked up motor specs and they are mabuchi 9-12v motors , a 7.2v battery pack is usually higher around 8-8.5v. First things first , bypass your battery direct to motor and see if it moves fine , if it does its the motor controller as the bottle neck , if it still is bogged down you need to raise your voltage till its moving , if it burns a motor in doing so , you need to upgrade to the motors robotmaker found. So do those things and that should give you an answer (also be sure your output gear is actually meshed or it will just spin freely...

#111  

Thanks Josh - first things first. After a full charge on the battery I tried it again and got a little improvement. It actually moved in high gear (albeit slower than low gear and it wouldn't turn). Next I will try it direct to the battery and check the gauge of the wire.

#112  

I would do like Josh said , Rum straight from the battery. That would be a good starting place for troubleshooting