Mechatronics Project Questions

[Silverback01]

I'm taking a mechatronics course this semester and have to do a project. To date, I've been flashing LEDs and outputting text to a screen. I also have a development board with a surface mount PIC18f4520 (http://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/en/DeviceDoc/39631a.pdf.

For my project, I have a Lynxmotion crawler (http://www.lynxmotion.com/Category.aspx?CategoryID=120) with two 12V motors. I know how to make and operate an H-bridge, so two of those will get me rolling.

For the second part, I'd like to put a "Base rotate kit" (or turret), also found on the above URL on top that is controlled by a servo. On the turret I've got two Estes Patriot rockets https://www.discountrocketry.com/model-rocket-starter-sets/estes-patriot-starter-p-201.html that I've modified to take medium-scale rocket engines. The new motors require 15 to 24 volts to fire, and I think my 18V LiPo batteries should do the trick.

Thirdly, I'd like to use a Suncom Joystick http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/29/41/50841363ada0c5df893df010.L._SL500_AA280_.jpg to control it wirelessly (http://www.rentron.com/Files/NEW_TWS_RWS_DOC.pdf).

If I have time, I'd also like to mount a camera on it so I can see where I'm driving instead of staying within line of sight. However I think this will exceed my budget of $100 since I don't know of any cameras with wireless capability under this amount that will also run off my 18V power supply.

So my questions are whether I am overlooking anything; if I am biting off more than I can chew in 4 weeks; if this sounds like a good project for a first semester intro class; and if anyone has any other ideas that would increase the complexity and is also do-able in 4 weeks. Grading is based off complexity and whether the project has been done before. This one hasn't.

Thank you.
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John

[newguy]

For an experienced developer (both h/w and s/w) this wouldn't be too taxing but for a relative beginner it will be pretty hard. I'd recommend that you try to create a wired solution first (no RF) to ensure that you can properly drive the robot and rotate the turret. Once that is out of the way, you can try to cut the wired link with a wireless one if you have room in your budget.

The issue with the wireless link is really $$. You can create your own wireless link for relatively little $ but you'd have to do your own PCB and getting one or two boards done isn't that cheap. If you want to buy a premade link, the cost is going to eat up most of your budget. Forget about a wireless TV link given your budget too.

Search the code library for wireless link examples.