Test of differential bar for my yak rover build. Two 90-degree ball joints, two turnbuckle linkages, 3d printed bar and side brackets, nice red box from iPhone case for chassis. We make progress.
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Making this my rover thread. First test of selected motor. A tiny compact N20 reduction motor geared down 298:1 with integrated quadrature sensor. Rover motor test. It’s noisier than I expected.
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Previously on vgr builds a rover... adventures in discovering turnbuckles
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Bought a pair of these tiny turnbuckle rods with spherical joints for the 3-link differential mechanism on my rover design. They’re used in RC monster trucks for something. Found via a video of a rover build by a random hobbyist. Internet+capitalism = answer for everything.
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Next challenge: assembling a wire harness for these tiny components and thin 24 awg wires is gonna be a bitch. Anyone have tips? Will need to crimp in tiny connectors that connect to a cable attached to board at other end (the pin count is off by 1 here but ignore that)
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These tiny connectors are really a pain to take apart. Only careful way I can think of is with 2 needle nose pliers. Is there a better way? 🤔
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ngl this project is like 100x beyond my starting practical engineering skill level. It’s truly full-stack engineering from mechanical design to Python embedded control code. But I’ve already at least 3xed, so only another 33x to go. Goal is autonomous drive test by year-end.
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While I didn't have to build a mechanical component . recent automation of garden irrigation comes little close..
ML model predicting when to water, iot devices gathering data, custom PCB n case n generic solenoid valve to control the drip lines plus usual frontend backend stuff
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Do you have any sources you can direct me to that will help me do something like this?
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Maybe i should share the details somewhere .
But outline for this.
Dockerized apps ( python , postgres, mqtt, nodejs, node red)
Esp32, bme 280(overkill), capacitive moisture sensor, some logic level shifter n components all put together to control a solenoid valve for the drip
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You’re welcome to guest blog this on ribbonfarm. Dm me if interested.


