First Information for Picobot – Swarm Robots perhaps

Some early Info About the Picobot Robotics Project

pb01

 

I’ve been working on and off for a while on a small robot because:

  1. I want to make available a really cheap programmable robot for schools
  2. I would like to make one that can communicate with other robots, detect them and interact with them
  3. If they can be made cheaply enough then making a swarm of 10 or more becomes feasible

pb05

pb02

pb03

pb04

pb07

pb06

pb09

case01

pb10

 

This version of Picobot (V2) contains a small number of sensors as well as a connector for an NRF24L01 2.4GHz RF module. This is stupidly cheap RF module with a reasonable range and excellent support in the Arduino community.

  • Dimensions of PCB 50 x 50mm
  • Motors: 2 x N20 size with 70:1 reduction gears
  • Wheels: 42mm diameter
  • Front ball caster
  • ATmel ATMega328P -PU(DIP) controller chip with Arduino bootloader
  • Interface to CP2102 USB-serial converter (with auto-reset). Only one converter required for all your bots, no need to waste money (and board space) having one for each
  • Plug in socket for HC-SR04 ultrasonic distance sensor
  • 2 x LDR for light level sensors
  • Reset switch
  • Mode select switch (use in your programs how you like)
  • Micro-USB for power only – will work from 3.7V to 5.5V
  • On-Off switch

 

Next Revision is V3 – Updated Info

V3 adds the following – keeping the PCB the same size

  • TQFP package for the ATMega328P-AU (smaller, surface mount)
  • 2 x IR line follower sensors
  • 2 x RGB LEDs underneath at front
  • Rear bright white LED, used for follow-the-leader swarming
  • Change to use of 2-pin JST connector for direct powering from 3.7V Lipo battery
  • New, thinner 47mm diameter wheels

Picobot_04c