Robot Overlord...

What site would be complete without a robot build. This is the start of what I think is a fairly ambitious project. I plan to convert an electric wheel chair into an autonomous machine. Usually I would start a project of this magnitude with a lot of research, note taking, and the like. And with all of the notebooks and binders that I have amassed with project outlines,specifications, and schematics, comes the wild tangent (usually in the very beginning of the project.) Those tangents, unfortunately, result in the project not turning out anything like it was supposed to. Anyway...here is the chair stripped down.

This is a Hoveround MVP4 (or 5, really cannot remember.) Scored it for $13.00 at a thrift store. Came complete, though not functioning. Basically  wiring and brake issues. Those two little levers that you can see on the ends of the motors are breaks that are read by the VSI controller, one was stuck in the brake position, causing the controller to shut the chair down. It has a VSI controller, which I understand some folks have already figured out how to interface, with varying results. My intent is to get it running from an Arduino, using a command protocol similar to what a Roomba uses. Then...well....we will see...