Bigtrak. The original UK version.

 

The blue cover for the photon cannon and the black plastic trim from the top have gone missing over the years.

 

This is the base of my new robot

Left hand side view

Rear view

Right hand side view

Top view.

 

You can see which parts are missing from this angle

Undercarriage.

 

Note the large area for batteries

Front axle

 

This had snapped in half

 

A metal plate screwed to it has made a suitable repair here

Left hand rear axle

 

This axle had snapped off completely.

 

Drilled out and pinned. This should hold enough to support the weight.

 

If this turns out to be too weak a repair, I’ll use some M10 nylon studding, with a nylon nut at each side to hold it.

Right hand rear axle.

 

This axle had also snapped off and couldn’t be found. Not to worry though, I’ve used an axle from Bigtrak’s original trailer accessory.

 

This is drilled and pinned like the left hand axle.

 

Again, if he repair is not strong enough, M10 nylon studding will be used.

A large area for circuitry.

 

This is where I plan to mount my Picaxe board.

 

The speaker at the front may come in useful at some time too.

A rolling chassis

3.5mm stereo jack connector with a sliding cover.

 

This was originally used to connect Bigtrak to the trailer. It’s now going to connect straight to the Picaxe, so the body doesn’t have to be removed for programming.

9v battery housing.

 

This is where Bigtrak’s 9v battery used to live.

 

This is now going to house a miniature servo for controlling the front mounted SRF05 ultrasonic sensor.

A stalk, pivot, front plate and pushrod now installed.

 

The stalk is there to keep the front plate from catching the body when it pivots. The plate will have an SRF05 ultrasonic sensor attached. The pushrod connects the pivot to the servo mounted in the old 9v battery housing

Same thing viewed from above

Have found an ultrasonic sensor from a Cybot.

 

I’m unsure if I will get this working, but have mounted it on the front stalk for now. The servo pivots the sensor by means of a pushrod.

The Cybot ultrasonic sensor

A newly released Bigtrak.

 

The best present my wife has bought me.

 

Thanks Gemma.

2 generations of Bigtrak

Let’s make robots

 

A fantastic site for everything robots. Without these guys here I wouldn’t have known where to start.

 

Click here, or click image to visit LetsMakeRobots.Com