Need help "auto robot thing?"

[charlie]

Guys I'm thinking of inventing something. The idea came from these toys when I was a kid that was like a little car that wouldn't drive off of a table... it'd sense where the edges were and randomly change directions.

What IS this technology?

Kind of like a ROOMBA vacuum cleaner...runs around but stops at walls and changes direction.

I have an IDEA :idea::idea::idea::idea::idea::idea::idea::idea::i dea::idea::idea::idea::idea::idea::idea::idea::ide a::idea::idea::idea::idea::idea::idea::idea::idea: :idea::idea::idea::idea::idea::idea::idea:

[n00b 0f l337]

Time you jumped on the DARBA wagon. :P
I suggest a sensor to detect pressure, and have a spring behind it pushing it into the floor. When the sensor no longer detects pressure (an edge) it turns 45 degree's and continues?

[wdrzal]

lasers are simpler,no contact needed. if you want a lesson on detection and control, just take apart your laser mouse;)

[charlie]

So basically if I wanted a laser mouse (it's similar to the size of my invention) to run around on a glass table top in random patterns...

I'd need:

1) A form of locomotion

2) some kind of processing unit?

3) power source

[wdrzal]

first you need to determine the power source,that will give a lot of design parameters of #1 & #2 weather its cord or battery powered,how long does it need to operate? then that will give you limatations of the motion parameters.

a glass table top .locomotion is either contact(motors,wheels ,rollers,tracks,low friction material,legs,ect) or non contact(air cussion,magnetic repulsion,linear motors ) anti gravity LOL still working on that

all that determines the contoller

pretty hard design a item when you have no idea what task it has to acomplish. IS it a Rube Goldburg machine ????? LOL

[Reznik Akime]

I think HackADay has a few schematics for making Visual I/O apparatuses for such projects. Lemme see if I can't find you a link before I leave for the beach.

-Edit-

http://robots.hackaday.com/

Theres a few on making motors and optics for a few such things. All I can come up with in 10 min. Good luck.

[G H Z]

I think you can get this stuff with some of the lego robot kits.

[[XC] MarioMaster]

microcontrollers are your friends and PBASIC is about as simple a programming language as it gets. www.parallax.com has all kinds of stuff from basic parts to more complex kits. you can buy the "what's a microcontroller" kit at radioshack for about $80 which includes a servo motor, and various electronic parts to get you started.