Micro-Robot Shield

[Smolder]

This would be a simple, tiny robot for the Digispark to plug into. The only thing I can't decide on is if it should use 3x 3V button cells or just a big, 2 cell lithium polymer battery. Two leads are soldered to each side the shield and the motors will be secured to these leads with a piece of heat shrink. An IR receiver and LED are located on the bottom of the board to allow for remote control and inter Digispark bot communication. There is also a peizo speaker so it can go beep bop boop.

[digistump]

Smolder - this is a truly awesome idea! Personally I\'d go with the lithium battery and a tiny little charger circuit for it, possibly even powered off of the Digispark regular so you could just plug the Digispark in and it would charge.

[MichaelMeissner]

I\'m curious whether the IR receiver and LED underneath the robot would reduce the range that the robots could communicate.  If they were on the top, you might be able to still communicate if things aren\'t aligned up when you are indoors, as the IR light could bounce off the walls.

[Smolder]

Mike,putting the IR stuff underneath would definitely reduce the range some, but it also makes it omni-directional as the light reflects off of the table top. I haven\'t actually tested this myself, but I have seen that design used on a few other robots (kilobots.) I\'d estimate that they would be able to detect each other at about 4-5 inches.

Eric, ty, I would like to add a charger to it. I\'m thinking a 2 cell lithium with the appropriate charger circuit, if I can figure it out :p
I will be building some of these for certain, I\'ll report back when they are presentable.

[digistump]

Smolder - I\'m working up a design for a combo LiPoly Battery + Charger + booster shield - it is a ways out, probably early next year - but it should be perfect for this type of thing

[Bluebie]

If you used NiMH batteries, the charging circuit could be a lot simpler (as simple as a resistor, for a trickle charger), they\'d be less inclined to explode, and it\'d probably be cheaper, and it\'d be easier to source parts to make the shield entirely through-hole.

[sparr]

IR on the bottom also lets it be a line following robot, just bouncing its own IR off the table.

[airship]

6 months later...anything new to report?