HA Robots... anyone else doing this

[HA Dave]

Some things I hesitate to post here on the forum... this is one of them. I've been working on a extention of my Home Automation. It's what I call an X.M.O.P. for X10 (activated) Mobile Observation Platform.

Some months ago... Mavrik started a post about maybe creating a battery-solar powered ninja camera. A great idea... with limited engineering problems. Later... I created my own crawl space "wire-pulling tool".... which was a toy Humvee with an attached camera. The toy... [er... tool] was fun... but required setup time with charging batteries, turning things on... and so forth.

Then... I discovered DIY all Terrain Robots. The heavens opened and the sun shown... and all was good. The more I read.... the more I realized how easy it would be to intergrate this into my X10 setup.

Well my XMOP is still under construction... and it's coming along surprisingly smoothly. I plan to have it stand guard... solar charging itself.. waiting for my X10 perimeter detection system to activate it. Or to be set to activate itself... when activity is detected.

I've also configured RED (for Robotic Exploration Device) to intergrate with my BVC (Voice Command) setup... the grandkids think it's a hoot!

So.... is anyone else doing this?

[Brian H]

Dave; As always impressive. Thank you for sharing it with us.

[HA Dave]

Thanks Brian H... but judging by the responce... I may be on my own out here.

[bitman]

I will say this:

I too have used a RC truck for wire pull for cat5 in drop ceilings. It's some 4x4 monster truck thing. No cameras, just floor it and pray!
As for a x10-bot, that's adventurous! If I made one, I could see some day the door bell ringing and the neighbors are standing there with my bot thats been running around in the street.

I like to keep x10 stuff on a short leash for now, 

But you go man. and thanks for the links. - fun reading.

[HA Dave]

I like to keep x10 stuff on a short leash.......

Yeah.... I have taken safety precautions. I have a "Car Alarm" type remote that turns the robot ON/OFF. Right now.... that is controlling everything (even the camera). Installation of a ninja will allow me to extend more control to the robot. This will also allow AHP to have more control also.

BY using the robots sensors to alert AHP... and the hardwired sensors to also control the bot through AHP... theres plenty of room there of redundant safety's. Almost everything that happens around the house (driveway alert, perimeter detection, home entry) is announced By my BVC setup. The robot will just be another camera and motion sensors... that can also be mobile (and driveable).

[Bill H]

Ahhhh. Wire pulling. Vacuum cleaning. Dog walking. Grandson walking. Mobile security cam. Thief chaser.
Just the beginning!
Keep that fertile mind sharing, Dave!

[Puck]

That is an awesomel project Dave! I enjoy seeing your videos, and look forward to seeing this thing grow.

:)+  #:) 

[HA Dave]

.... I enjoy seeing your videos, and look forward to seeing this thing grow.

I have a new video posted. I Just tested the RC control... it still needs some work (I have no reverse).... But it's coming along fine. I now have a Ninja and have tried that out also (having some range issues).

Once I get the "bugs" worked out of the "basic unit" it should be a useful mobile camera device. Then I hope I can expand it's usefulness.

[bitman]

Stay away from that house. 

[HA Dave]

I just discovered I am NOT alone. Take a look at the image below before following the link. That most certainly is a PalmPad remote that user is using to summon his robot.... stool?  

[Jsnlong]

So Dave how long till we see your X10 stoo!!!! 


But that was neat loud but neat. I like how when it is just sitting there there is no way to tell its a robot.
I also wonder how it would take the steps in that video? I can see my kids pointing it right at the steps ans pressing go. 

[HA Dave]

So Dave how long till we see your X10 stool

Maybe never... but it's nice to know that there is at least one other X10 guy out there intergrating it into robots. Heck there could be millions of us! Or maybe three.

[HA Dave]

I was at YouTube and I found this (picture of) a great early Home Automation Remote Control for ROLL-OH... a 1946 Home Automation Robot.

I posted a link to it in my YouTube favorites also.

[bitman]

I see voice control didn't work so well for her either having to resort to the table top robot remote. 

[HA Dave]

Spring is in the process of springing.... at least we have had some warmer days. So I've had a little garage time. Back in the colder days... I modified the antenna on an X10 wireless cam... and put an external antenna on a Ninja also (similar to this mod). Today... I put it all together on the robot. Image attached.