Introduction
Octobot is the name of the robotic chassis that I do most of my testing on. It got it's name because it originally had eight wires sticking out because of the motors.
The picture to the right shows it in its unfinished form. The front two wheels were removed and exchanged for a ball caster for manuverability.
Once completed, the chassis makes an excellent inexpensive platform for an Arduino robot.
The Making of Octobot
Parts:
- 4WD Chassis and Motors from Jameco
- 1" Ball Caster from Pololu
- 3/8" Spacer
- Screwdriver
- Drill
- Solder and Soldering Iron
- Wires
Construction:
As can be seen, Octobot started out with four motors and four wheels. It was quickly discovered that this was not desirable if the robot had to perform tight turns. Therefore, Octobot was altered to have two wheels and a ball caster.
This required getting a 3/8" spacer made from aluminum to get a more appropriate height. Holes had to be drilled in the chassis to align with the ball casters holes. The alterations were fairly quick and simple to do. This is a cheaper alternative to some of the robotic platforms available.
Uses
Octobot is used to test most of the code I post if it directly pertains to use on a robot. Two arduinos can easily be attached via standoffs to the top of Octobot.