Building computer controlled, motorized devices - where to start research?

[tankman1989]

This is one area of computers and electronics which I have almost no idea where to begin researching. I'm looking at a project that is almost a cross between "battlebots" and an auto tracking HD camera.

Basically I need to figure out how to control the camera from a computer. It will need a vertical lift, tilt and swivel in addition to control of 2 motorized tracks or wheels.

If anyone has any experience with this type of thing, please let me know where I would begin researching how something like this is built - I don't even know where to start. Thanks!

 

[SAG]

You are the most interesting fellah I've ever come across.

I'm making it one of my life's goals right now to get piss-drunk with you just to see what off the wall stuff you can come up with.

 

[Markverhyden]

What you want is almost certainly commercially available. Robotic camera's.

 

[phaZed]

Hey tankman,

I have a bit of experience in these areas. Check out some microprocessors such as the Arduino (See the Learning->Examples Page and check out the Robot Library, Servo Library. Stepper Library ).
You could try a Parallax Basic Stamp or the Propeller Microcontroller - check out their tutorials section

Finally you can do this with a Raspberry Pi fairly easily.. check out this video on How to control motors with Rasperry Pi for a textbook example of how to do this.. Sky's the limit after that.. lots of google searches.

 

[tankman1989]

Thanks for the suggestions. For anyone that knows anything about motors, I was looking into stepper motors but I don't think they will work because I need an infinitely adjustable range. So basically a stepper might be 200 positions per revolution, but I need something that would be able to split each step, and keep splitting the difference if needed. I would think that I might be able to use a lower voltage for each smaller increment as it would make the adjustment slower - does that make sense?

So basically if I take a dewalt drill and instead of 18v, I use 9v or 4.5v (twice/4x amperage maybe - or would that cause too much heat) to make the smaller adjustments with the motor.

 

[tankman1989]

You are the most interesting fellah I've ever come across.

I'm making it one of my life's goals right now to get piss-drunk with you just to see what off the wall stuff you can come up with.

Variety, it's the spice of life! I come up with some pretty neat stuff but I always get hung up on implementation so I research to see what potential it has.

 

[tankman1989]

Hey tankman,

Finally you can do this with a Raspberry Pi fairly easily.. check out this video on How to control motors with Rasperry Pi for a textbook example of how to do this.. Sky's the limit after that.. lots of google searches.

This is perfect!!! THANKS!

 

[phaZed]

Thanks for the suggestions. For anyone that knows anything about motors, I was looking into stepper motors but I don't think they will work because I need an infinitely adjustable range. So basically a stepper might be 200 positions per revolution, but I need something that would be able to split each step, and keep splitting the difference if needed. I would think that I might be able to use a lower voltage for each smaller increment as it would make the adjustment slower - does that make sense?

So basically if I take a dewalt drill and instead of 18v, I use 9v or 4.5v (twice/4x amperage maybe - or would that cause too much heat) to make the smaller adjustments with the motor.

Ya, I know something about motors too - You can use stepper motors, I built a CNC machine and it's resolution was a few thousands of an inch.. yes you have to use some type of gearing (My case I used ball screws) for this type of resolution but you should be doing that anyway it sounds like. The other option is to use Servo motors which do not step but still have remarkable control. Either way, they are both easy to use as it is the stepper or servo controller that is doing the work, you just send the motor controller some on/off signals from your control device.

FYI, stepper motors can be held in 1/2, 1/4 and even 1/8 steps of position, quadrupling or more the 1.8 degree per step of common motors. It's called Microstepping and Half Stepping. You can actually get up to 8 microsteps per step depending on your motor driver's capability, check out this PDF Datasheet of one of TI's drivers.

A Stepper motor should be adequate for your purposes, again, if you want more of an analog movement still, then you will want to gear the stepper motor down or look into servo motors and servo controllers.

 

[phaZed]

This is perfect!!! THANKS!

No problem!

 

[acesdeals]

the kinect would work well for this, you could even use motion to navigate the robot or an rf controller

 

[Rocco]

From a commercial stand point, I would check code and local ordinances. installation in most areas would require low voltage license to install for customers.

As far as products, a few years back I wanted to do the same for my house since my car was broken into every couple weeks. I found commercial products to be a better deal than trying to learn by myself. Just Google motorized cameras and start reading up on commercial products. What I bought 6 years ago is greatly out of date in 2013 and so is my knowledge and research notes.

But again, if you intend to offer this and other security options to customers, find out what is legally required by state, county and municipal codes.

 

[phaZed]

I may be mistaken, but I think he is building a project for himself for fun or learning. I doubt you have built an auto-tracking camera that has tracks or wheels.. those two in combination suggests, to me, that he intends to build a robot of sorts that has some type of automated driving or navigation functions using the camera

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

i'm making it one of my life's goals right now to get piss-drunk with you just to see what off the wall stuff you can come up with.

lmfao! :d

 

[PC-MOT]

Whats that film where they rob the bank using a remote control car with a camera on it.....controlled from the van outside the bank by laptop?