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QUESTION:I have an old 1988 catapillar 426 backhoe, 4x4. It weighs about 16000lbs, but
is not really *that* big. I don't use it for anything anymore, and so I was
wondering if it might be an interesting to convert it into a robot. Perhaps
just remote control, but maybe have macros built in so it could perform repetive
operations like digging a trench. Since I already have the major component (the
working backhoe), I am thinking maybe it would not be too expensive to automate
it? Air cylinders to actuate the brakes (they are somewhat mechanical....the
foot pedals control a complex linkage to the rear differential, which contains a
wet plate brake thing). The brakes actually do not work that well anyway :-).
Steering could be as simple as a large gearmotor or something. The expensive
part would be replacing the hydraulic spool valves with solinoid valves...that
could run many $$$.
I have about 21 acres of very interesting mountain land to play on. I could be
part of that exclusive club of 16000lb robotic backhoe owners...
ANSWER: I rather agree that operating a robotic backhoe in an unprotected area without
extensive kill switch schemes would be unsafe and probably illegal.
Maybe it can't be done safely at all. I am not sure. I *think* I could design
circuitry to kill the engine, with a 2nd system as a failsafe backup. A
transponder could be wired up so if the backhoe goes out of its range, the
engine is shut off. I was not so much thinking of operating it autonomously, as
much as just by remote control, with macros. Its not like I am ever going to
get around to this type of project anyway.
So, what do you think of the DARPA 200 mile race using multi ton humvees? I
think that project is much more dangerous, and according to the sci american
article, one team was running it without a hardware killswitch device (their
killswitch failed twice, so they decided to continue their tests with just a
software killswitch). Talk about unsafe!
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