SimpleBot 2.5 design improvements

[ajfisher]

For those that have used the SimpleBot - what would you like to see changed as a 2.5 version modification?

[ajfisher]

PCB shield requirements.

Should work with:

• Uno style boards as a shield
• LeoStick board as a shield
• Nano plugged in
• uses standard arduino bolt hole placements so can be used to fasten Leo / Nano to the chassis better than cable ties.

Components required.

• VIN for Arduinos
• servo rails for up to 4 servos at once (theory is 2 wheels + pan + tilt?)
• BT module pinout and header
• WiFi 232 pinout and header
• all pins broken out through shield positions
• ultrasonic sensor

Anything else?

[ajfisher]

Chassis design needs to have battery pack more centrally located so it's less back heavy. This has implications for the arduino placement as there's a footprint conflict if you use an Uno and not a nano / leostick.

[ajfisher]

First version of PCB designed (due to my skill at PCBs it's in Fritzing) as commit https://github.com/nodebotsau/simplebot/commit/3d310ae29d88be1c64fc779b73a3051333c8ec44

Due to cost, wanted to keep to 2 layer but may need to go 4 in order to get LeoStick and Meshthing footprints on there.

Am currently running a test with FusionPCB to see how this goes and use it for feedback on usefulness. Not sure if we'll have them ready for NBD 2014 given iteration, production, shipping time.

Holes currently not correct but realised I'd stuffed a part of the design by using an arduino board rather than creating a generic shield. Need to redo that part. As such if using on an Uno style board you plug it in and then bolt the arduino to the chassis. If you're using a nano then you cable tie the PCB to the board and then plug the nano into it (like a breakout board).