Qwerkbot
8 Comments

2 Hours

$550/unit

Beginner

The Qwerkbot is the simplest mobile robot that you can build using a Qwerk processor. Utilizing the holes in the Qwerk enclosure as mount points for two motors and a caster, the Qwerkbot recipe literally turns your Qwerk into a robot and a roaming webcam.

Once you have constructed your Qwerkbot and turned it on, it will automatically search for a wireless network and connect to the Internet. You can then use our software to drive it from any computer with a web browser and Internet connection, even if you and the robot are not in the same place. There's no need to write or compile any software (but of course you can write your own software if you desire, because all our code is open-source).

Required Tools

Parts

Documents

Proceed to Step 1

REQUIRED TOOLS

Tool	Source	Part Number	Price
#1 Phillips Screwdriver	McMaster	5682A27	$3.20
3/32" Allen Wrench	McMaster	7391A51	$1.04
Crescent wrench	McMaster	5385A12	$11.31
Needle Nose Pliers	McMaster	5783A2	$14.60
#4 Flathead Screwdriver	McMaster	52985A13	$2.81
Wire stripper	Jameco	215888	$3.95
Ruler
Scissors

PARTS

Image	Part	Source	Part Number	Quantity*	Price
	Qwerk	CharmedLabs		1	$330
	Qwerk Power Cable	CharmedLabs		1	Provided in Qwerk 1.2 kit
	Qwerk Power Connector Housing (Qwerk 1.1 only)	CharmedLabs		1	Provided in Qwerk 1.1 kit
	Qwerk power connector crimps (Qwerk 1.1 only)	CharmedLabs		2	Provided in Qwerk 1.1 kit
	Logitech Communicate STX Camera	Amazon		1	$42.49
	Zonet ZEW2501 802.11G Wireless 54MBPS USB Pen Drive Adapter or another supported wireless adapter	Amazon		1	$25.99
	RC Car Batteries 7.2V 1500mAH or similar	Tower Hobbies	LXERB4	1	$7.99
	NiCd battery charger	Tower Hobbies	LXJC33	1	$19.99
	Male Kyosho Battery Connector (Only needed if using Qwerk 1.1 kit)	Tower Hobbies	LXD173	1	$1.49
	Motor Mount	Lynxmotion	MMT-02	1	$7.95
	Wheel Hubs	Lynxmotion	HUB-02	1	$8.00
	Wheels	Lynxmotion	BBT-01	1	$15.75
	Motor	Jameco	253446	2	$18.95
	Electrical Tape	McMaster	76455A11	1	$1.51
	4-40 x 3/8" Screws	McMaster	90272A108	3 / min 100	$1.53
	4-40 x 1 1/2" Screws	McMaster	91772A119	4 / min 100	$4.88
	4-40 Washers	McMaster	92917A110	7 / min 100	$1.04
	4-40 Lock Washers	McMaster	91102A720	7 / min 100	$0.53
	4-40 Nuts	McMaster	90480A005	7 / min 100	$0.70
	Caster	McMaster	24215T44	1	$1.04
	Zip Ties	McMaster	7130K52	5 / min 100	$1.87
	Motor Crimps	McMaster	69525K11	4 / min 100	$3.79
	Furniture Pad	McMaster	2387T41	4 / min 50	$4.04
	Green stranded 22 AWG cable	McMaster	7587K52	3’ / get at least 10’	$0.74
Approx. Total Cost of Parts					~$550

*This is the quantity required for the kit. In many cases, you will be subject to a minimum purchase of more than this quantity (for example, you only need 7 4-40 lock washers but will have to purchase 100).

DOCUMENTS

Document Name	Size	Comment
Qwerkbot.zip	894KB	Includes all recipe documentation
Cutting Templates	Size	Comment
None

Proceed to Step 1

8 COMMENTS

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Displaying 1 through 8.

alternet usb adapter
terk12 - 05:48pm Aug 21, 07

i found the airlink at frys.com for $13 on 8/21/07

Re: shorting problem on Qwerk controller
chris This member is part of the TeRK team - 04:03pm May 3, 07

Which Qwerk hardware version is it, 1.1 or 1.2? The Qwerk hardware version number is printed on the Qwerk board to the left of the power switch between the blue analog inputs terminal block and the top part of the metal enclosure. There was an issue with a few of the 1.2 qwerks where the red LED would come on and stay on, even when there was no short. Charmed Labs did a recall and repaired them.

Sometimes reinstalling the Qwerk's bootstrap software (RedBoot) can fix this problem, but it may be that the board simply needs to be repaired. Your best bet is to contact Charmed Labs and discuss the problem. You can email them via their web site at: http://www.charmedlabs.com/index.php?option=com_contact&task=view&contact_id=1&Itemid=30

shorting problem on Qwerk controller
benshuggins - 07:39pm Mar 6, 07

We are noticing a shorting problem as indicated by the red LED even when the controller is completely out of the aluminum casing. We are using the previous version of the Qwerk (firmware version 2.0).Do you have any suggestions as to where else it might be shorting?

Alternative Wireless adapter
Emily This member is part of the TeRK team - 03:58pm Jan 30, 07

The AirLink AWLL3026 Ultra Slim USB 2.0 Adapter is an alternative to the Zonet adapter. We are also continuing to look for other alternatives.

Zonet Wireless USB adapter
kreed - 06:25pm Jan 13, 07

I love your smart selection of parts for the first Qwerkbots. Well done.

There's a fly in the ointment, however. Amazon.com is now charging $31.49 for the Zonet ZEW2501 wireless USB adapter. Worse, the ZEW2501 is a discontinued product according to the ZonetUsa site. Have you tested substitutes?

RE: Jameco motors
Emily This member is part of the TeRK team - 05:56pm Oct 27, 06

That note from Jameco seems to confuse a lot of people. You can safely ignore it and position the screws as shown in step 6.1.

And good call on the Scotch tape. It's left over from an earlier version of the recipe. We'll remove it next time we update the site.

Jameco motors
Foothill_E-team20 - 10:45pm Oct 24, 06

We received notes from Jameco with the motors and the motor mounts indicating where the screws should be positioned when mounting the motors for 50:1 and 30:1 gear ratios. Our motor is neither -- it has a 10:1 gear ratio and is part number Jameco Reliapro P/N 253446. We had to take the cover off of one malfunctioning motor to determine where the positions of the screws should be for the motors we have.

Also, we are not clear on the purpose of the scotch tape in the recipe.

Double check your motors.
Emily This member is part of the TeRK team - 02:43pm Jul 13, 06

At one point there was a bad batch of motors at Jameco. The ones I ordered most recently were ok, but it can't hurt to double check before you start building. You can tell the difference by looking at the label on the motor. The good motors say "Jameco ReliaPro P/N: 253446". The bad motors just say "253446". The bad motors are also really weak, and you can very easily stop them with you fingers.

Displaying 1 through 8.

Proceed to Step 1