zostay / tanks

Sterling Homeschool Academy Robot Tanks

Tanks

This is the robotics project I'm doing with my sons as a means of teaching engineering principles, software development, mathematics, and whatever else comes along for the ride.

Components

The tanks have been designed to have these components in common:

1. ARES: The Autonomic and Rule Enforcement System. A Raspberry Pi Zero to provide the main functions for driving the robot. This is responsible for automatic functions and for directing low level operation of the robot. It also helps with rule enforcement, once the rules for the laser-tag-style game have been agreed upon. It will also provide the tooling for OTA updates to both the internal firmware and the firmware on the CPX systems. It does not provide any tools for directing the robot.

2. TBD: An Adafruit Circuit Playground Express, which provides high level direction to the robot. It receives input from the the ARES computer over a serial data and response via the same control line.

3. TBD: The Crickit Hat provides the lowest level control of most of the electronics. It is driven directly by the ARES computer and indirectly by the CPX.

4. Tamiya motors and gearboxes provide primary impulse for controlling the robot.

5. Proximity sensors at each wheel provide tachometer functions for each will to calculate approximate rotation and movement.

6. A servo provides the drive mechanism for rotating the top turret.

7. An IR LED and focusing lens send out firing signals.

8. Four (4) IR photoresisters receive signals to determine when a hit occurs.

9. A 6 chip LED array provides a status and health indicator.

10. A camera is used to provide computer vision features. The exact features provided are to be determined, but at least a primitive target tracking system is planned.

11. A speaker will provide audible feedback regarding events and status of the robot.

12. The chassis, wheels, and other hardware will be similar for all robots, with the largest pieces being 3D printed. But some metric screws, bearings, and other metal hardware also in use.

13. The boys may, optionally, attach additional panelling and body pieces to style their robot using 3D printed parts or any other material they want.