Engineering Projects/R.O.I.T. wheel robot/Howard Community College/Fall2011/502 CNM

This is the team page for the Howard Community College Fall 2011 R.O.I.T Wheel Bot project.

Problem Statement
Design and Build a functioning R.C. R.I.O.T wheel similar to R.I.O.T. Wheel toy robot that can balance on its single wheel and is maneuverable. Must be able to fit a motor inside the wheel and create some sort of steering mechanism for the bot.

Team Members

 * Nick Ridings
 * Caleb Woo
 * Mark Muhlbock

Summary
For this Project we set out to search for ways to build a working R.I.O.T wheel toy. Nick Ridings was assigned to find and research parts for a remote control motor. Mark Muhlbock was assigned to find and research parts for a wheel or to build a wheel. Caleb Woo was assigned to research how the R.I.O.T wheel worked and how all the parts could get pulled together. After the first model was built out of two bionicle toy caps, lego mindstorm parts and a fishing weight, we were able to demonstrate the how the riot wheel would work allowing the inner and outer structures to stay stationary as the wheels turned. We then moved on to adding a motor to the wheel but it was unable to move it do to the lack of the strength in the motor. After that attempt failed we moved on to building a bigger Model with two bowl wheels and parts from a remote control car. After constructing a frame to hold the parts from the car, attaching a gear to one of the wheels, connecting an outer seat to center axle attached to the frame, and adding yoga mat strips to the wheels to stabilize them, we were able to get a working r.c model of the R.I.O.T wheel.

Poster
Video of R.I.O.T Wheel moving: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLxYuYjIQjc Pictured to the right are the models we came up with as the project went along.

Story
For this Project we set out to search for ways to build a working R.I.O.T wheel toy. Nick Ridings was assigned to find and research parts for a remote control motor to power the wheel. Mark Muhlbock was assigned to find and research parts for a wheel or to build a wheel that could have a power source built within in and a seat outside it. Caleb Woo was assigned to research how the R.I.O.T wheel worked and how all the parts could get pulled together to make a working toy model of the actual thing. As the first week came to a close we were able to find a lot of information about the riot wheel mainly from the | R.I.O.T Wheel website, but still had no progress on the wheel and the motor. When week two came along we were able to construct a small out of Lego bionicle caps, Lego mindstorm pieces, and a fishing weight that could demonstrate how the inner and outer structures of the R.I.O.T wheel could stay stationary as the wheels turned. We then tried to add a to the  but it was too weak to move it. We wanted to use an rc car for but we needed bigger wheels to hold it. During week three we found two that we could use as wheels. We then cut apart the remote control car and built a frame connected to the center axle for the the  and the. With the battery pack acting as the counterweight we assumed the outer seat would stay stable as it drove. We then added to keep the wheels from tilting to one side and test drove the R.I.O.T wheel. It drove but the outer seat constantly went up and down. Finally for week four we worked on refining the model wheel. We tried to solve the bouncing problem by separating the motor frame from the other one so that it would spin separately until it ran into a stopper. This failed because when it ran into the stopper it caused the entire inner structure to flip along with the outer seat. we then added a rubber band to the motor frame to see if it would counter the initial jerk applied to inner structure when it is started. It didn't seem to make a difference compared to when it was still connected to the inner structure so we decided to simply add more weight to the outer seat so that it would be lightly more stable during the drive. Due to lack of time we were unable to get it any further than | this. However, we made much progress and we are sure that this prject will help jump start future R.I.O.T wheel projects.

Decision List
At the beginning of this project we decided that Mark would resarch materials for the wheel and how to get them, Nick would resarch remotes and motors and how to get them, and Caleb would research how the R.I.O.T wheel work and how to put it together. After the riot wheel with the remote helicopter motor didn't move due to too much weight, we decided to move to using bigger wheels that could hold a remote control car motor.

Material List

 * Two bowl like wheels that can connect in the middle to form one wheel. For future riot wheel, the wheels should touch the ground as close as possible to the center so that there is room to tilt from side to side. Need to be able to drill or poke a hole at the center if each wheel to insert a Lego mindsorm cylinder piece that will allow the center axle to run through the wheels freely.
 * Remote control car to use the remote controller, remote receiver circuit, battery pack, and motor.
 * Lego Mindsorm parts to make a center stationary axle that connects to an outer seat and inner frame to hold peices of the remote control battery pack and remote receiver circuit.
 * Tape or a better means of connecting the wheels.
 * Grip strips from a yoga mat to help balance the wheel.

Software List
Google and YouTube to research design and mechanics of the R.I.O.T. Wheel

Time
4 week project. Approx 22 hours working on designing and Building bot.

Tutorials
Can find most of the information about the original R.I.O.T wheel on the | R.I.O.T Wheel website and can find out it's main center of gravity functions | here. Start out by looking for two bowl like wheels that you could use so that you would be able to know how much room you have to work with. Then try to find and r.c car with what seems like a strong enough motor to move the entire weight of the riot wheel. If it can barely move itself there's no way it would move the riot wheel. make sure all essential parts like the battery pack, receiver chip and motor can all fit in the wheel in the position you want them to. Cut away all parts not needed. You may want to keep the steering mechanism and try build a tilting system with it so that the R.I.O.T wheel can tilt. Ours didn't work so we were unable to try anything like that. Build a frame that can hold it all together, connects to the center axle, and is not disturbed by the movement of the wheel around it. Lego mindstorm pieces would probably be the easiest. The way you build it would vary depending on the shape of the pieces you have but make sure it can hold everything securely while still being able easily take it apart and put it together to turn it on and off replace the batteries. Find a gear with the proper size teeth to match the size teeth on the motor and a hole in the middle. Place the gear on the center axle and build a frame for motor that positions the teeth properly together. Glue the gear to the wheel and make sure the gear teeth of the motor can make good contact that of the geared wheel. Put the wheels together, connect them by some means that wont get in the way of the drive. Make sure the center axle is sticking out from both sides and build an outer seat that wraps around the front of the wheel and is connected to the center axle. The battery pack should act as a counter weight but more refining has to be done in this area to make the drive more smooth for the seat. If all things go well and the motor is strong enough, you should have a working R.I.O.T wheel model. The wheels may need something glued to the outside to make it more stable such as strips cut from a yoga mat.

Next Steps
Create steering and a way to stabilize the outer seat. Also, to find a more suitable wheel to use that is able to tilt from side to side for steering.