div3@quads.uchicago.edu (Dwight Divine IV) (04/19/91)
Hello, The AI department at the University is in the process of building a robot, and I am looking for an inexpensive Chicago area source for the following items: o Two rigid loops of metal 14" inner diameter to use as the base for a rigid bumper. The bumper must be rigid (or at least nearly non-compressable) because we plan to mount some pressure sensors on the inside (so that the robot can tell when its hit something and how much pressure its exerting on it -- the latter presumably for purposes of trying to push stuff). I tried looking around at bike parts, but it seems that bike wheels come in two sizes, which fall very nices just outside our tolerance (which is 14-15" inches) on either side [naturally :)]. o An electronic carpenter's level (I heard about these a while ago and could swear I've seen at least one, but am not sure how much they run). If we can get it for a reasonable price, we'd like to use it as a tilt sensor (since it has the advantage of being able to tell the robot the *amount* of tilt rather than whether or not a threshold has been reached). We are already planning some mercury switches to take care of the dangerous tilts requiring sudden action, but would like this as well (if the price is right). Thanks very much to anyone who can suggest a good source for these things. I am afraid that the bumper rims may be tough to find, and we'd prefer not to have to patch one together (by cutting down a rim which is too large). Since I am not sure of how much everyone else on comp.robotics wants to hear about my woes, please email your solutions to: div3@midway.uchicago.edu If there *is* a desire to have the list I receive posted, I will post any names and addresses which pan out after the email floods [ah, rolls, ah flows, ah, would you believe trickles... :)] in. Thanks again. Dwight Divine IV
monty@sagpd1 (04/23/91)
In article <1991Apr18.220218.2708@midway.uchicago.edu> you write: > o Two rigid loops of metal 14" inner diameter to use as the base > for a rigid bumper. The bumper must be rigid (or at least nearly > non-compressable) because we plan to mount some pressure sensors > on the inside (so that the robot can tell when its hit something > and how much pressure its exerting on it -- the latter presumably Try looking at the ring that goes around the legs of many Lab stools. although, they may be to large. Also look in some of the Lamp stores around, they tend to have a great deal of wierd shapes around. If you have access to a shop that has a tubing bender maybe you could form your own using Electrical conduit (EMT pipe). A hand bender may work with a lot of patience. Monty Saine