Traxster:

- The mechanics is very well designed and easy to install. Strong and light weight, all parts (even the little ones) have been designed to be evolutive.Great job!

- The Motors are very powerful. I was aware it was better to use RC motors + encoders instead of servos. First, to be able to have enough powerfull to go on every surfaces. Then, encoders are required if we want to not have a blind robot in terms of positionning. With the encoders we can have an idea on a relative position and travelled distance. With a few other sensors as compass and some absolute informations, the robot can navigate easily and go everywhere we want.

- The only thing I was a little disapointed is the noise. Even if I put the silicon grease, my traxster in a tiling floor is a bit noisy. Probably due to the rigid plastic of the tracks.

Serializer:

If, when I first read information on serializer, I was not thinking it was for my robot, I really change my mind. I was using embedded microcontroller but was aware it was necessary to use more powerful controller than PIC, Basic Stamp or 68HC11, like PC/104 with geode 300MHz for example. But when I noticed the serializer can communicate with an external PC but also an embedded controller, I understood what the really interest of such board: If, like me you prefer a complete autonomous robot, you can do it with serializer.And if you have already experiment how it's difficult to test your programs on embedded microcontrolleron robot, the use of your PC + serializer for debug is the fastest way to validate your code. And of course for people who do not care about full autonomous of their robot, Serializer is wonderful. Moreover, I never find a so easy way to develop program for robot with .net? A lot of classes and snippets to use exsting sensors...Easy and powerful... I was also thinking bluetooth was not a good idea to communicate with PC and robot because of the relative short distance of emission... Again, I was wrong. The distance max between the PC and the robot is really enough to let your robot navigate around you.

In conclusion, I think Traxster + serializer are a very good robot platform and for the first time I can expirement easily and quickly what I have in my mind....

Fakajax

PS: Sorry for my poor english

Wow, thanks for the great summary!   I don't know what your native tongue is, but your English seems good to me.

One of the reasons the Traxster motors are a bit loud is because they're mounted directly to the aluminum chassis, which acts as a resonator/amplifier for the gearhead motors.  If you hold the motors in your hand and turn them on, they're quiet, but once you bolt them on, they're much louder.  You could possibly quiet the motors down a bit if you were to place a piece of rubber between the motor and the chassis (maybe 1mm thick).  I might try this just for the heck of it.

Also, as you pointed out, the tracks have little cushioning, so that adds noise too, on hard surfaces.

I'm glad you like our products!  It encourages us to design and make more!

Best Regards!

Jason Summerour
President,
Summerour Robotics Corporation
Microsoft MVP
www.roboticsconnection.com

Our documentation is a good start, but I have some great ideas to improve it in the coming months.  Good documentation is very key to communicating how your product is easy to use, and worth the price.  So, I'm spending a lot of time going forward improving it.

I need to hire a technical writer...

Best Regards!

Jason Summerour
President,
Summerour Robotics Corporation
Microsoft MVP
www.roboticsconnection.com

If it's a proposal thanks a lot , it would be a real great pleasure to participate in your adventure.

Fakajax.