The Key Mechanical Challenge
The Key Mechanical Challenge
The key mechanical challenge here is that this propulsion system has four independent tread assemblies: two main treads and two flippers. The flippers raise and lower to allow the robot to climb over objects and debris.
Our goal was to see if we could get it to climb stairs. As far as I know, there are few (if any) toys that will climb stairs; and only a few high-end robots like the PackBot and the humanoid Honda robots that can perform this task.
The basic kit is about $300 and includes an erector set style hardware kit with pre-formed plates and angles riddled with holes so that no drilling or machining is necessary (a real time saver). You have nuts, screws, and a couple of small wrenches to attach everything together.
Note that the screws are button-head Allen type, which is what most serious prototypers use - no amateur-hour slotted or phillips heads here. Also, all main drive components (motors, wheels, shafts) are square drive, so you don’t have to deal with slipping set screws. There’s also a selection of plastic fixtures that serve as bearing blocks, as well as other standard mechanical items such as gears and shaft collars.