HARDCORE

HARDCORE is our outdoor, all-terrain GPS guided robot. HARDCORE is an acronym that we use to describe the robot's main function as a "Hardcore Autonomous Robot Designed to Cover Outdoor Regions Efficiently." The robot is of a modular design that compartmentalizes the mechanical elements from the computing elements. The brains of hardcore are meant to be interchangeable depending on its task.

The mechanical elements incorporate a well balanced design, keeping the bulk of the weight, the motors and batteries, in the lower compartment. This maintains a low center of gravity. The geometry of the treads is very similar to that of a tank; they have a ramped trapezoidal shape which is more robust than a linear tread path. The area of the base is square to aid in turning which occurs on a central axis.

In keeping with the rest of the robot, the electrical system is designed to be modular and expandable. Using standard twist-lock connectors the two compartments easily separate, which allows for both easy access and expansion. The motors run on 24 Volts, which is provided by two 12 Volt batteries in series. Charging of these batteries can only be done with 12 Volts, so through the use of a switch, the system can be changed from 24 Volts to 12 Volts, with the battery configuration changing from series to parallel. When the switch is changed from operational mode to charging mode, the entire control system is isolated, which protects the sensitive electronics from any transient voltages during charging. A secondary 12 Volt system is currently located in the electronics compartment to provide power for various electronic systems. The electronics compartment currently houses the emergency shut off system, the motor controllers, the USB device bus, the GPS receiver and the main computer.

Hardcore is a robot under constant revision and improvement. As evidence of this fact, a suspension system is currently under development which will be implemented in the near future. There are also plans for infrared sensors, video cameras, and other electronic options to allow for more versatile operaions.

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