Table of Contents Formica (en) News Outline Goal Changes to the original PCB current problems Price calculation with sources Tasks Interested? Formica (en) german version The Formica Swarm Robots were introduced at 25c3 (Scalable Swarm Robotics, Google Video). Besides the PCBs the parts are all very common and therefore cheap and relatively easy to get. News burned a voltagecontroller by mixing up GND and Vcharge motors are running! All Parts arrived!! Recommendation: Before soldering a Formica Robot I reccomend soldering somthing with less smd parts, e.g. a moodlamp. Instructions Hardware short - list of components, … Instruction Hardware detailed - elaborated instruction with pictures smd soldering - some notes Outline Swarmrobots Communication, programming via IR (also mutual updates) Other components: Reflectivity sensor, status LED, IR sensors also used as brightness sensors Independent charging with the cunducting feet/antennas Motors as used in mobile phones (fast…) one charge of the battery equals about 30 active minutes size ca. 30*30*20mm available for µc3 members: 25€/Piece Deatailled documentation (pictures!) also on warrantyvoid and in a wiki. Goal Building some robots and a charger. Some changes on the charger (less bouncing off). Changes to the original PCB Replacing of the original charging contacts with screw terminals introducing a way to measure the voltage (voltage divider) Changing the size of the PCB to make room for the battery, the screw terminals current problems Material for the wheels: friction fit, d=3.5mm Programming with the ez430… Price calculation with sources The robots will be available for 25€ /piece.https://brezn.muc.ccc.de/~schneider/formica/MateriallisteV2.ods Tasks Putting the robots together Comfortable way to flash them Charging station Interested? please add your nick to the german version en/formica.txt Last modified: 2021/04/18 12:35(external edit)