element14 Community
element14 Community
    Register Log In
  • Site
  • Search
  • Log In Register
  • About Us
  • Community Hub
    Community Hub
    • What's New on element14
    • Feedback and Support
    • Benefits of Membership
    • Personal Blogs
    • Members Area
    • Achievement Levels
  • Learn
    Learn
    • Ask an Expert
    • eBooks
    • element14 presents
    • Learning Center
    • Tech Spotlight
    • STEM Academy
    • Webinars, Training and Events
    • Learning Groups
  • Technologies
    Technologies
    • 3D Printing
    • FPGA
    • Industrial Automation
    • Internet of Things
    • Power & Energy
    • Sensors
    • Technology Groups
  • Challenges & Projects
    Challenges & Projects
    • Design Challenges
    • element14 presents Projects
    • Project14
    • Arduino Projects
    • Raspberry Pi Projects
    • Project Groups
  • Products
    Products
    • Arduino
    • Avnet Boards Community
    • Dev Tools
    • Manufacturers
    • Multicomp Pro
    • Product Groups
    • Raspberry Pi
    • RoadTests & Reviews
  • Store
    Store
    • Visit Your Store
    • Choose another store...
      • Europe
      •  Austria (German)
      •  Belgium (Dutch, French)
      •  Bulgaria (Bulgarian)
      •  Czech Republic (Czech)
      •  Denmark (Danish)
      •  Estonia (Estonian)
      •  Finland (Finnish)
      •  France (French)
      •  Germany (German)
      •  Hungary (Hungarian)
      •  Ireland
      •  Israel
      •  Italy (Italian)
      •  Latvia (Latvian)
      •  
      •  Lithuania (Lithuanian)
      •  Netherlands (Dutch)
      •  Norway (Norwegian)
      •  Poland (Polish)
      •  Portugal (Portuguese)
      •  Romania (Romanian)
      •  Russia (Russian)
      •  Slovakia (Slovak)
      •  Slovenia (Slovenian)
      •  Spain (Spanish)
      •  Sweden (Swedish)
      •  Switzerland(German, French)
      •  Turkey (Turkish)
      •  United Kingdom
      • Asia Pacific
      •  Australia
      •  China
      •  Hong Kong
      •  India
      •  Korea (Korean)
      •  Malaysia
      •  New Zealand
      •  Philippines
      •  Singapore
      •  Taiwan
      •  Thailand (Thai)
      • Americas
      •  Brazil (Portuguese)
      •  Canada
      •  Mexico (Spanish)
      •  United States
      Can't find the country/region you're looking for? Visit our export site or find a local distributor.
  • Translate
  • Profile
  • Settings
Attack of the Drones
  • Challenges & Projects
  • Project14
  • Attack of the Drones
  • More
  • Cancel
Attack of the Drones
Blog Alpha Rover
  • Blog
  • Forum
  • Documents
  • Events
  • Polls
  • Files
  • Members
  • Mentions
  • Sub-Groups
  • Tags
  • More
  • Cancel
  • New
Join Attack of the Drones to participate - click to join for free!
  • Share
  • More
  • Cancel
Group Actions
  • Group RSS
  • More
  • Cancel
Engagement
  • Author Author: ralphjy
  • Date Created: 7 Apr 2021 5:26 AM Date Created
  • Views 1143 views
  • Likes 8 likes
  • Comments 3 comments
  • arduino uno plus
  • alphabot
  • 18650 li-po batteries
  • raspberry pi 3 b
  • attackofthedronesch
Related
Recommended

Alpha Rover

ralphjy
ralphjy
7 Apr 2021

I finally received the 18650 batteries and charger that I ordered a while ago, so I can start building my AlphaBot https://www.element14.com/community/events/5782/l/arduino-day-workshop-nanodrone-ii-ai-and-computer-vision-with-lora-win…

 

I've got a lot going on in the next two months, so I probably won't get finished with this project for the contest - but I thought it would be fun to participate and start building this robot.

 

I am going to take the standard AlphaBot chassis and try to add some customization that I'll figure out on the fly image.  The AlphaBot is an older (2017) Waveshare product that seems like an ideal platform for customization.  It is configured to use an Arduino Uno Plus and a Raspberry Pi 3B, but it should be easily adapted to use other processors.  The kit included an Uno Plus with a BlueTooth shield, so I'll get it running with that.  Then I'll decide what modifications I want to make.

 

The AlphaBot is pretty simple.  Two drive wheels with motors and a pivot roller.  The drive axles are fitted with slotted disks, so that speed can be determined using a photo detector.  I was initially surprised that there was so much mounting hardware (screws, nuts, standoffs, etc), but I soon realized that they had included two sets with the kit.  Assembly was pretty easy with a little filing and lead trimming...

image

 

The top of the main PCB has two forward facing IR obstruction detectors (on the left) and just behind them are the two photo detector assemblies for the wheel disks.

image

 

The bottom of the main PCB holds the two motor assemblies and a line tracking sensor assembly at the rear.

image

 

The assembled unit with the wheels attached.

image

 

Next step is to program the Uno Plus and verify basic functionality.

  • Sign in to reply

Top Comments

  • dubbie
    dubbie over 4 years ago +1
    Ralph, Looks like a nice little mobile robot. A bit too expensive for me but it looks good. Does this one come with the camera?. Dubbie
  • ralphjy
    ralphjy over 4 years ago in reply to dubbie +1
    I got it on sale at year end, so it wasn’t that expensive - about $28 + shipping. It is an older design, but I like the modularity (I.e. connectors for the accessories). The unit came with an ultrasonic…
  • dubbie
    dubbie over 4 years ago in reply to ralphjy

    Ralph,

     

    That would be a very reasonable price. I am currently assembling this small kit. It uses chains to transfer power to the wheels and has some wierd wheel/walking motion which looked interesting, plus, it was a present.

     

    image

     

    Some might think of it as a toy but I prefer to consider it as an interesting experience of alternative mobile robot structures. And it's a toy.

     

    Dubbie

    • Cancel
    • Vote Up 0 Vote Down
    • Sign in to reply
    • More
    • Cancel
  • ralphjy
    ralphjy over 4 years ago in reply to dubbie

    I got it on sale at year end, so it wasn’t that expensive - about $28 + shipping.  It is an older design, but I like the modularity (I.e. connectors for the accessories).

     

    The unit came with an ultrasonic sensor and a panning mount, but I think I’ll add a camera with pan/tilt.  Depends on what processor(s) I choose.

    • Cancel
    • Vote Up +1 Vote Down
    • Sign in to reply
    • More
    • Cancel
  • dubbie
    dubbie over 4 years ago

    Ralph,

     

    Looks like a nice little mobile robot. A bit too expensive for me but it looks good. Does this one come with the camera?.

     

    Dubbie

    • Cancel
    • Vote Up +1 Vote Down
    • Sign in to reply
    • More
    • Cancel
element14 Community

element14 is the first online community specifically for engineers. Connect with your peers and get expert answers to your questions.

  • Members
  • Learn
  • Technologies
  • Challenges & Projects
  • Products
  • Store
  • About Us
  • Feedback & Support
  • FAQs
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Legal and Copyright Notices
  • Sitemap
  • Cookies

An Avnet Company © 2025 Premier Farnell Limited. All Rights Reserved.

Premier Farnell Ltd, registered in England and Wales (no 00876412), registered office: Farnell House, Forge Lane, Leeds LS12 2NE.

ICP 备案号 10220084.

Follow element14

  • X
  • Facebook
  • linkedin
  • YouTube