RC Lawn Mower

Creator: Omegix Status: Gathering Materials Born On: 15:05, 22 April 2010 (CDT) Last Updated: 16:31, 13 May 2010 (CDT)

Overview

Remote Controlled (RC) Lawn Mower that Ratmandu was talking about.
See example here: http://members.iinet.net.au/~tnpshow/RCLM/intro.htm

Status

• Had our first meeting may 8th. Came up with a design similar to the one in the example link above, except no castor wheels in the front and using bicyle wheels in the back, attached to the motor via bicyle chain. Currently looking for metal for the chassy. Omegix 12:10, 10 May 2010 (CDT)

Meterials

Potential Materials

• Metal Bars for chassis (See metal chassis from example above)
  • |Preauxphoto mentioned that 1" diameter square tube will be cheaper than the 25mm tube used in the example project.
    • LMS is open on weekdays till 3:30, and will sell us 20' of 1" 14 gauge square steel for $14.
  • Two 35"
  • Two 22"
  • Four 10"
• Bicycle Gear Chains
• Wheels (not Castor wheels) similar to what is on the kid's push wagon in the shop
  • Castor wheels collect grass and dirt gunk and jam up easy
• Bluetooth to Serial module (for controlling via internet)

Materials On Hand

• Two Bicycle Wheels
• Lawn Mower (retrieved from Makers Local craigslist add: http://huntsville.craigslist.org/wan/1715017438.html)
• Sea Foam (engine cleaner. the mower took a bit to stay running the first time we cranked it). $10
  • Omegix has in the trunk of his car.
• Motor Control
  • The Current Victor 883 on the board has a burned out FET, causing the motor to only spin in one direction. |Ratmandu said he might be able to fix it with tools like what he has at work, but not with the soldering tools at the shop.
  • PreauxPhoto has one of these available: http://www.firstwiki.net/index.php/Victor_884
    • This microcontroller will take in PWM and output enough current to drive larger motors
• Motors
  • PreauxPhoto has 12V DC Motors
• Battery (for powering the electric motors)
  • PreauxPhoto has batteries that can drive his motors
  • Spacefelix said he would donate his battery in the storage room to the project if we wanted it
• RC Transmitter and Receiver Unit (hobby RC receivers output PWM signal)
  • PreauxPhoto has