Latest project: Radio controlled lawnmower build now with short video

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Latest project: Radio controlled lawnmower build now with short video

Posted: 9/24/2011 8:09:47 PM EDT

I got the urge to build something a little different.

I surfed Youtube for videos and the interwebz for any and all info I could find

so I give to you, my radio controlled lawnmower.

The lawnmower was given to me by one neighbor and the electric wheel chair was given to me

by another neighbor which supplied the electric motors with the wiring harness.

I purchased the Sabertooth 2x25 motor controller to control the motors.

The motor controller came to a total of about 127.00 shipped.

Seems like a decent item.

http://www.dimensionengineering.com/sabertooth2x25.htm

Here is a picture of the lawn mower stripped down to somewhat bare bones.

The grass chute was covered up next since there will be no bag used.

Here the motors and brackets are tacked in place.

I set the lawnmower on some 2x2 square tubing to get my height. I think this will be a good setting.

I wanted to try and utilize the adjusters but I couldnt figure out a way to do it so I winged it.

I didnt get any build pictures of the front casters but, I just cut part of the wheel chair frame and used the

casters for the front of the mower.

Here you can somewhat see them on the mower.

I used the old battery tray and motor mounts from the donor chair so I would have less to buy and fab.

The motor mounts were part of the battery tray so after they got cut, I used the battery tray and mounted it between the motors. Its a little heavy on the back but not by much. I can get the mower to do a little wheelie.

I did get the batteries mounted and still have to fasten the controller and the receiver but, I hooked it up temporarily

and took it for a little spin.

Ill try and get more pictures and even a video posted soon.

Battery bow and batteries mounted. I just have to get the wiring cleaned up and mount the motor

controller and receiver somehow.

Hope you enjoyed it.

VRMN

Posted: 9/24/2011 9:47:22 PM EDT

[#1]

Cool.

Video of it in action?

There's a micro-GPS in development which emits a localized signal only good for a factory sized area or smaller, but it's a very precise signal. In a few years, I'm sure we'll start seeing lawn mowers that can record a path using that GPS, and then redo it automatically, without human intervention.

Interested in trying that?

Posted: 9/24/2011 9:51:07 PM EDT

[#2]

Quoted:

Cool.

Video of it in action?

There's a micro-GPS in development which emits a localized signal only good for a factory sized area or smaller, but it's a very precise signal. In a few years, I'm sure we'll start seeing lawn mowers that can record a path using that GPS, and then redo it automatically, without human intervention.

Interested in trying that?

Im going to try and get a video in the next couple of days.

Hard to drive that and video at the same time.

Be interesting to learn about it.

Im pretty electronically (and anything else in that general area) stupid though.

Im getting an Arduino board on Monday so that will be a new step for me though.

Posted: 9/25/2011 8:17:58 AM EDT

[#3]

Very neat, would be cool to see a video of it in action.

Posted: 9/25/2011 8:37:01 AM EDT

[#4]

Im trying to figure how how to embed a photobucket video

[flash width=' 425' height=' 350' src='

Posted: 9/25/2011 8:54:26 AM EDT

[#5]

That's awesome!

Posted: 9/25/2011 8:57:16 AM EDT

[#6]

Quoted:

That's awesome!

Thanks!

Youtube embed

Posted: 9/25/2011 5:10:48 PM EDT

[#7]

Cool!

Here's a link on that local precision GPS thing:

http://hardware.slashdot.org/story/11/08/02/0014223/Ground-Based-GPS-Mimic-Is-Inch-Perfect

Posted: 9/25/2011 6:20:27 PM EDT

[#8]

So much win!!

Posted: 9/25/2011 6:28:15 PM EDT

[#9]

Quoted:

So much win!!

Thanks Bigg.

I had fun pulling mu hair out building this.

I think I mowed 3 neighbors lawns today.

Posted: 9/25/2011 7:29:39 PM EDT

[#10]

That's Fantastic! You earn a lot of cool points for that.

Posted: 9/26/2011 9:20:15 AM EDT

[#11]

Now post a video of you sitting in a lawn chair drinking a beer while steering that thing.

Posted: 9/26/2011 3:04:35 PM EDT

[#12]

Quoted:

Now post a video of you sitting in a lawn chair drinking a beer while steering that thing.

Posted: 9/26/2011 3:23:26 PM EDT

[#13]

Ill work on the video of me in a chair.

I kind of have to stay on my toes, it can get out of hand if Im not on top of it.

I found out it will climb a fence and flip over.

It stayed running until I got the kill switch on the transmitter. OOPS

Glad everyone likes it.

Posted: 9/29/2011 7:32:30 PM EDT

[#14]

thats cool.

Also most briggs work in a 3k-ish rpm range, drill and tap the top of the flywheel for a pulley (I don't remember the proper pulley ratio for ideal alternator performance though), build some brackets, attach car alternator, remove one battery. Never have to recharge battery

Posted: 9/30/2011 7:21:06 PM EDT

[#15]

Quoted:

thats cool.

Also most briggs work in a 3k-ish rpm range, drill and tap the top of the flywheel for a pulley (I don't remember the proper pulley ratio for ideal alternator performance though), build some brackets, attach car alternator, remove one battery. Never have to recharge battery

That is in the works.

I think Im going to fab a whole lawn mower. I want to build the deck and all this time.

This mower is tail heavy. It does wheelies a little too easy.

Posted: 10/1/2011 10:15:43 AM EDT

[#16]

I'd pay good money for a remote controlled weed whacker capable of cleanly and efficiently trimming ditches.

Posted: 10/1/2011 10:22:04 AM EDT

[#17]

Neat!

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Latest project: Radio controlled lawnmower build now with short video

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