german version

The Formica Swarm Robots were introduced at 25c3 (Scalable Swarm Robotics, Google Video). Besides the PCBs the parts are all very common and therefore cheap and relatively easy to get.

• burned a voltagecontroller by mixing up GND and Vcharge
• motors are running!
• All Parts arrived!!
• Recommendation: Before soldering a Formica Robot I reccomend soldering somthing with less smd parts, e.g. a moodlamp.
• Instructions Hardware short - list of components, …
• Instruction Hardware detailed - elaborated instruction with pictures
• smd soldering - some notes

• Swarmrobots
• Communication, programming via IR (also mutual updates)
• Other components: Reflectivity sensor, status LED, IR sensors also used as brightness sensors
• Independent charging with the cunducting feet/antennas
• Motors as used in mobile phones (fast…)
• one charge of the battery equals about 30 active minutes
• size ca. 30*30*20mm
• available for µc3 members: 25€/Piece

Deatailled documentation (pictures!) also on warrantyvoid and in a wiki.

Building some robots and a charger. Some changes on the charger (less bouncing off).

• Replacing of the original charging contacts with screw terminals
• introducing a way to measure the voltage (voltage divider)
• Changing the size of the PCB to make room for the battery, the screw terminals

• Material for the wheels: friction fit, d=3.5mm
• Programming with the ez430…

The robots will be available for 25€ /piece.
https://brezn.muc.ccc.de/~schneider/formica/MateriallisteV2.ods

• Putting the robots together
• Comfortable way to flash them
• Charging station

please add your nick to the german version