Meeting Minutes 2009.01.27

The main question we addressed at the meeting was "How do we proceed?"

Milestones

• Next week: propulsion system
  • Get something to drive around the shop
• One complete unit to test at burning man

Design concepts

• Best to have abstraction for hardware.
• Porting stuff to a different platform should be easy
• It would be nice to have something that can run python on
• Possibly non-welded frame.
• Stay with easily obtainable still in production parts
• Wheels need speed feedback mechanism - considering many options

Building

Discussion focused around motor controllers, motors/actuators, and wheels.

• "Can we reuse spu?"
• considering different boards, such as the beagle board.
• Various small actuators to consider
  • van window openers
  • windshield wipers
• Many of us have stray stuff sitting around to bring in and tinker

Jon pointed out that for $90, you can buy a whole electric scooter with motors, controllers and all sorts of parts.