Robotics Basics & Theories

You might start with a servo motor experiment that will control two motors doing the following work: Same direction same speed. opposite direction same speed, same direction variable speed, opposite direction one motor variable speed the other one same speed. choose either motor to vary the speed on. By the time you have done that exercise you will have mastered a great deal of the required basics.

Well, a few courses in control systems and dynamics wouldn't hurt. There's a lot to robotics that is hard to teach in classrooms and labs.

As an example, an electrical engineering professor (PhD) wanted to build a bi-pedal robot, but he had trouble with getting enough mechanical power out of the motors he had purchased for the project, so he brought one to me to see if it met the specifications stated by the manufacturer. It did. The problem was that the motor was rated at 12 VDC, 50 oz-in torque, 5,000 RPM, and he was trying to get the thing to run at less than 20 RPM. A simple calculation will show that (12 X 20) / 5000 = 0.048 Volts, which is 24 millivolts per RPM -- a very uncontrollable (not to mention very impractical) application!

Excellent introductory and practical novice builders book:

"Mobile Robots"

Second Edition, 1999

ISBN 1-56881-097-0

Joseph L. Jones, Bruce A. Seiger, Anita M. Flynn

Publisher: A. K. Peters, Ltd.

63 South Avenue

Natick MA 01760

Contains everything you need to know. "From Inspiration to Implementation"

I have 2 years of education in this field from Algonquin College in Ottawa area. (Canada)

called "Electromechanical Engineering Technicain - Robotics)"

Chris

This reference will benefit you very much ,

It's a PDF ; contains all the necessary information to build arobot .

http://rapidshare.com/files/12585304/_Robotics_.Engineering.-.Robot.Builders.Guide.pdf.htmlbravo

Hope you will like it

One way to get a good understanding is to go to the manufactures school. Having the need at my job to program Fanuc Robots I went up to Auburn Hills Michigan to the FANUC school. They had many classes from which to choose from. Basic to advanced programming, and both mechanical & electrical classes that dealt with the hands on and classroom theory of design and function. I am sure that all the other industry series type robots have courses they offer. I found it to be an excellant 2 weeks just to learn the programming side of things.

If you are looking to really understand robotics and possibly design systems or to just be competant at working with them, then I would suggest taking more courses that focus on fluid power, pneumatics, materials, & kinematics for starters. I disagree with what was said earlier regarding the demo with the motors. It was something that could of been determined in a classroom if the Professor had any proficiency on the mechanics & physics of the demo. How can you determine the size of a motor without understanding the opposing forces that will applied against it under working conditions within the parameters set for its capability. Example: I designed an automated pressure transducer test station that needed to be able to test parts from -14.7psig (theoretically) to 750psig over a temp range from -40deg C to 125deg C. I decided to use a Bimba air cylinder to hold the part in place during testing, but what size do I use & can it handle the temps. Well I was told by a collegue that it wouldn't handle the temp. His expertise was on the programming side and when he tried he purchased a standard catalog item not knowing he could have requested to purchase with an upgrade to viton seals that would have solved that issue. Then in determining size, you need to know the opposing force at 750psig, the capability of supplying air to the cylinder (will you get pressure drops from multiple users), and where are you going to seal (this & pressure drops will help in determining the bore size required to restrain the parts at full pressure). Let alone how you built the framing that will hold the cylinder. Does the framing absorb the stresses in axis, perpendicular to the axis (will it flex, which will take away from the restraining forces required). As I said, it can be determined in classroom as the teacher has a better grasp on all the variables that come into play when automating or using robotics.

What's to disagree with about the motor thing? I was merely pointing out that a PhD in electrical engineering, who also taught a course in robotics, didn't understand enough about robotic system components to be competent enough to build one! I can't imagine how much his students didn't learn!

Oops! I guess you may have been referencing one of the other posts regarding motors. Sorry . . .

My apologies. Actually I was referencing your post in regards to the classroom, but after reading your response to me I understand the point you were making and totally agree.