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Rigel 4WD Robot Base + OOPic Controller Bundles ORDER INFO

(details) RGL-KIT1 - Rigel 4WD Base - $89.95 - (base only kit, needs assembly).
(details) RGL-KIT2 Bundle - Rigel 4WD Base + assembled OOBOT40-II Controller - $171.95 - (base needs assembly).
(details) RGL-KIT3 Bundle - Rigel 4WD Base + unassembled OOBOT40-II Controller - $153.95 - (both base and controller need assembly).

These kits include battery holders plus misc cables, other assembly hardware, and sample OOPic source code.

Also, check out the different controller and cpu options available beyond the standard selections.

Unlike many small robots, the Rigel base is both powerful enough and designed to negogiate most obstacles found around the home, such as rug to bare floor transitions, throw rugs, piles of newspapers, etc. Other small robots, with 2WD and using casters or skids in place of front-back wheels, cannot negogiate such transitions well. Rigel will not climb stairs, however.

Rigel is a 4WD (four wheel drive) robot base, with differential skid-steering. It is a wonderful expandable base for most any robot project, especially those that require carrying heavier loads, like video cameras and GPS receivers. The Rigel base was designed by Budget Robotics.

Each of the four wheels is independently driven via pre-modified R/C servo motors. Thanks to its rubber-nibbed tires, you can operate Rigel over a laminated tabletop (e.g. Formica), carpet, tile (all except very smooth/polished), hardwood flooring, concrete, asphalt, grass, and even dirt.

See next page for
additional info
and
OOPic Source Code
for running Rigel.
Dimensions:

Overall length: 6.75"

Overall width: 6"

Overall height: 4.25" (to top of second deck)

Bottom/top deck length: 6.75"

Bottom/top deck width: 5 1/8"

Bottom/top mounting area: approx 60 sq. in.

Riser length between decks: 1 1/4"

[Rigel side view]

[Rigel bottom view]
Weight, without batteries, is approximately 23 ounces. Locomotion is via four (4) 44 oz-in. (at 6vdc) R/C servo motors, modified for continuous rotation. The servo motors use Futaba-style splines.

Body Material is made of 6mm thick PVC rigid expanded plastic. Rigel is sold standard in marine blue with black tires, with other color schemes available by special order.

Wheel specifications:

wheels: 4 ea

tire diameter: 65mm (2 1/2"); tread 7/8" wide

tire material: medium-hardness treaded rubber (with "studs" for traction)

hub: custom machined from PVC plastic

Futaba-spline wheel hub, to match Futaba R/C servos

RGL-KIT1 - Rigel 4WD Base (only) Kit

INCLUDED
all mechanical parts, including plastic body pieces, assembly hardware, plus (4) continuous-rotation servo motors and wheels.
illustrated instructions.
requires mechanical assembly, using screwdriver.
base assembly time - under 1 hour.
NOT INCLUDED
does not include controller or electronics, besides servo motors.
add any controller that can operate R/C servos -- OOPic, Parallax BOE or Basic Stamp, etc.
batteries not included.

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RGL-KIT2 Bundle - Rigel 4WD Base + pre-assembled OOBOT40-II Controller

[Rigel side view] [OOBOT40-II Controller Board]
The Kit 2 Bundle includes RGL-KIT1, plus the OricomTech OOBOT40-II Robot Control Computer, together with battery holders and cables.
The OOBOT40-II is a powerful controller board with extensive expansion capabilities. The combination of Rigel base plus OOBOT40-II controller makes a highly-versatile expansion platform for general robotic applications.

INCLUDED
Rigel Base Kit (un-assembled).
OOBOT40-II Controller (pre-assembled), with OOPIC II+ chip.
assembly hardware, screws, nuts, etc.
9v battery clip, plus holders+cables for up to 5 AA cells.
pre-written OOPic programs for immediate operation of included hardware.
NOT INCLUDED
(1 ea) 9v battery for controller.
(4 - 5 ea) AA cells for servos.
RS-232 modem cable for connecting to PC.
additional sensors and activators.

Does not require additional purchase of
expensive chip programmers or compilers.

ASSEMBLY
robot platform requires mechanical assembly, using screwdriver - (assembly time under 1 hour).
controller and all cables are pre-wired - needing only to be connected.
multiple possibilities exist for mounting controller + batteries - see next page for info on mounting options.
servos operate off (4 - 5 ea) AA alkaline or rechargeable NiCad or NiMh - (high capacity NiMh cells recommended).
can be operated from C cells using customer-supplied battery holders.

PROGRAMMING + OPERATION
the OOPic II+ chip makes it very easy to control many different types of sensors and effectors.
the OOPic II+ chip has a full range of control objects for robot applications.
programs are written on a PC using the free OOPic IDE, and downloaded to the robot using a standard RS-232 serial port.
programs can be written using Basic, C, or Java syntax.
the bundle includes these pre-written programs - to help get your robot up and running fast:
---- routines for operation of 4WD servos (forward, backward, turning, etc)
---- routines for interfacing common peripherals, such as bumpers and light detectors, plus infrared and sonar rangers.
pre-written code can form the basis for easy extension to more complex and powerful robotic behavior

EXPANSION CAPABILITY
significant expansion capability exists for building sophisticated custom robots.
the Rigel base is powerful enough to carry additional sensors and devices, such as video cameras, RF units.
the OOBOT40-II Controller has a large amount of unused board capacity available for driving more servos and sensors - 17 I/O ports + prototyping area remain available.
the OOPic II+ chip is a powerful, multi-tasking controller which can simultaneously handle many robotic peripherals.
---- two options recommended are the GP2D12 IR distance sensor and SFR04/08 ultrasonic sonars - available from other suppliers - see next page for info on compatible peripherals.
---- other possible additions include analog sensors, PIR heat detectors, compass, mechanical bumpers, additional servos, LCD displays, joysticks, etc - the OOPic has built-in objects for many peripherals.

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RGL-KIT3 Bundle - Rigel 4WD Base + unassembled OOBOT40-II Controller

The Kit 3 Bundle is same as RGL-KIT2, except that the OOBOT40-II Robot Controller board is unassembled, and is supplied as a kit of parts, which will require 1 hour or more to assemble. The Rigel Base also needs mechanical assembly.

requires ability to read schematics, plus intermediate-level soldering skills.

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Controller Options

The Rigel Bundles as shown include the OOBOT40-II Controller Board as standard. However, for a small cost differential, we can include the original OOBOT40 Robot Controller board instead. This board will directly interface up to 8 servos, and also has 4 h-bridge, plus 3 high-current driver, channels. In addition to driving servos, this board can control regular DC motors, stepper motors, and also switch high-current loads on/off, such as video cameras, etc. This controller is great if you want direct motor control in addition to servos, but due to allocation of 10 I/O lines for the h-bridges, overall expandability is limited compared to the OOBOT40-II board.

CPU Options

The Rigel Bundles as shown include the OOPic II+ microcontroller chip as the standard cpu option. However, for those wishing to write their own custom robotics code, we can ship the kits either without a cpu chip, or else with an unprogrammed PIC16F77/877 20 Mhz chip - at a cost savings of $20-30 over the standard bundle prices.

Customers will need to provide their own chip programmer and programming tools to take advantage of this option.

For details, e-mail us directly at: sales@oricomtech.com.

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