Robotics Component Description

What are the building blocks of a basic robot?

These are the building blocks of a robot. There may be others, but these will get the basic configuration and completion of a robot that will meet most requirements.


Basic

Structural members. Structural parts will provide you with a strong framework for building your project. Channels, brackets, beams and more keep your project rigid and stable while also giving you multiple attachment points for expansion.

Connectors. Hardware that will keep your project together. This includes a variety of screws, couplers, and collars to secure everything.

Motors. DC Motors for any project that needs to get moving. Gears and sprockets would be nothing without these micro, standard, and precision gear motors!

Wheels or tracks. Mobility on your project is completely function driven, as is gearing and motor selection. The selection of Wheels should has something for just about any need. From the big heavy-duty off-road wheels, skate wheels, turf wheels to the various sizes of precision disc wheels, there’s a lot to choose from. Track provides options for high ground contact applications and off-road.

Axles, shafts, and tubing. Shafts and Tubing are used to either form rigid structure, or drive-shafts for wheels, servos, levers, and more. Most tubes can be wide enough to accommodate a multitude of wires to keep your project neat.

Mounts and Hubs. These parts let you support moving components, interface various structural components, and are the basic building blocks to connecting all components together. All hubs and mounts should connect together in a variety of configurations. This can be done using custom drilling and manufacture or through universal bolt patters available commercially or any combination of this.

Controller. The controller is a fully integrated, programmable brain for your robot that features a variety of motor, servo, encoder, and sensor ports with convenient connectors that enable you to control your robot's behavior. Some controllers are only for motors, some are for servos; some control both. Another component that goes hand in hand with the controller is the remote control for functions not defined by programming. We use an aircraft R/C quality low interference control console.

Battery pack. The robots need power to provide the voltage signals that make the motors turn, the sensors operate and the robot brain. The simplest way of doing so is to use batteries. Based on the needs of the robot for power, combinations of rechargeable batteries can be added to reach the desired power requirements.

Wiring. Just enough length of stranded wiring and specialty wiring harnesses to reach from point to point to power or allow control of electrical components.

Advanced components

Servos. Servo motors are essential in most robotic applications. We have a wide range of accessories from mounts, gears, and housings to make using them quicker and easier.

Gears. Transferring power can be tricky, but we have all the gears, pulleys, and sprockets to get the power where you need it. Best of all, you don't have to worry about spacing or getting things lined up perfectly, the hole patterns take care of that for you.

Sensors. Sensors replicate the senses of the human body and in some cases, functions that we don't have but can use to complete actions in an autonomous or controlled environment.

• Cameras & Vision Sensors
• Contact & Proximity Sensors
• Gyroscopes
• Infrared & Light Sensors
• Linear & Rotary Resistors
• Localization & GPS
• Magnetic Sensors / Compass
• Pressure Sensors
• Sound Sensors
• Temperature & Humidity Sensors

Arduino. A microcomputer that can be programmed that acts as the controller for the robot. It can define pre-measured sequences or it can use sensors to run decision sequences that allow it to have some autonomous activity.

Raspberry Pi. A microcomputer that can be programmed using a number of programming languages that act as the controller for the robot. It can define pre-measured sequences or it can use sensors to run decision sequences that allow it to have some autonomous activity.

Camera. Cameras or camera type sensors can be built into the robot to function as a remote viewer or recorder.

Specialty components. There are many specialty components like articulated robot arms, pneumatic suspensions, shocks that can be used to enhance a robot’s capabilities or to meet specific design goals.

Hydraulics. Hydraulics are a very advanced addition to any robot. They allow inclusion of rack and pinion type assemblies, stilts and rapid extensions in the design of a robot.

Tools needed

Drill Press

Miter saw with metal blade.

Titanium bits

Small Metal Brake