Building an Educational Robot Arm for Under $1,000
Abstract
Undergraduate research in robotics has blossomed in the last decade, primarily because of the wide diversity of disciplines involved, such as mathematics, computer science, electrical and mechanical engineering. The colleges and universities that have the best robotics programs have the largest budgets. Typical educational robots cost from $3,000 to $10,000. This particular project is specially aimed at producing an educational robot structural design for under $1,000, thereby making robotic research more accessible to the smaller schools. Foremost in the high-level design philosophy was the idea of making the architecture as open as possible--providing the widest possible dissemination of information. Secondly, the building materials had to be easily acquired within the continental United States, preferably by mail order or local purchase. The Preliminary Design included choosing the structural materials. A decision to use plastic for arm construction resulted from an appropriate trade-off study. Next, the most logical actuators were chosen, based on speed, size, and type. The Detailed Design included making specific choices for building materials, specific motors/gears, dimensions, range of motions, and end-effector design.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 20, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADA247499
Entities
People
- Kenneth A. Lillie
Organizations
- United States Air Force Academy