What I learned the first time building the Robot

This of course is my opinion, what you have learned may be different.

Personal Note

I need to point out something that is very important to me at this time.  When I found the B9 Builders Club in Dec. 1998 and I joined ( member # 230 ) my vision of what I was going to build was this.  Lights, working brain parts, and a sound track.  Basically, a statue with lights and a voice.  My first attempt at the wood frame and pipe foam didn't come out to good - I learned that I was not a carpenter.  Then I got this email from a person that wanted to know if I wanted to talk about Robots.  From that small beginning, I now have a Robot that is fully animated except for the tread section and the claws.  That person was of course, Mike Joyce. Mike has given me his vast knowledge and talent in building and making things work.  But, there is someone else who has a lot to do with what I have accomplished, my wife, Karen.  She has supported me in this project from day one and has let me expand my knowledge and talent to build my Robot. 

Power

This brings me to my biggest point.  Power and what you are using for it.  My experience has been that if all your doings is basic lights and sounds - cheap power will work.  Some people have used computer power supplies and this is great.  The problem comes in if your doing anything that is automated, as in computer controlled.  When someone asks how do I control my robot - the answer is - I don't.  B9Greg is limited to the programming scripts that I have written for him,  but he runs them in a random order each time he is turned on.  The end result is that I don't know what he is going to do next all the time.

A good solid power supplies with the amperage needed to run everything, such as the ones from Astrodyne,  have cleaned up a lot of my problems in the area of computer malfunctions.  I believe this is due to the elimination of noise in the electrical circuits.

Another good point is location.  For safety, AC power should be located in the tread section only.  You really don't what to touch a live AC line in the torso when your trying to figure out why something is not working.

CSS System

The CSS ( Central Support System ) is a very stable method to mount and connect your internal components of your Robot.  If your going to animate your arms - the CSS is a most.  You need to plan out everything that is going to be mounted so that you can route your power lines in the best fashion.

New Work

As soon as it decides to warm up into the 40's - I am going to try and get started on B9Greg's Upgrade Project.  I will be documenting my progress here as I go along.  I will be starting with the tread section and working my way up.

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