Timothy Freeburn and his team at PiBorg believe in the power of robotics both as an educational tool and an incredibly fun hobby. After a few successful Kickstarter projects the team is back with a new motor controller and robot based on the Raspberry Pi platform. The ThunderBorg motor controller is a 5 Ampere board that works with Raspberry Pi and will power a variety of larger motors for beefier robots.
MonsterBorg is the codename for the new more powerful robot built to be controlled with the ThunderBorg board, and three different methods are currently in place to drive the vehicles. Game controllers or joysticks can be used to make Monsterorg a standard RC vehicle, a web interface can be used to drive the bot from a smartphone or tablet, and using code the robot can drive itself autonomously.
Ten AA batteries power the MonsterBorg and early tests have run for three hours before needing a recharge. The tires are 105 millimeter off road wheels, and four 300 rmp Zhengke 37 millimeter motors drive the wheels. The Monster’s body is built from 3 millimeter thick aluminum and includes a lid for the batteries and a mount for the Raspberry Pi camera if the user wants to add that function.
The ThunderBorg board itself controls two motors in forward and reverse, or could control one four wire stepper motor. The board has safety controls built it to protect from over-current, short circuits and over-temperature situations. The board can accept a battery supply or 7-36 Volt DC source. The board is compatible with Raspberry Pi 2, 3, Zero 1.2, Zero 1.3, and Zero Wifi. If cables are used the board can also be used with Raspberry Pi A, A+, B rev 1 or 2, and B+.
This is another great example of makers who want other makers to use their robot and single board computer ideas to push robotics, programming, and STEM education. MonsterBorg has blown past its funding target for first production units and will end its campaign on April 3, 2017. ThunderBorg boards are scheduled to ship in May 2017 and MonsterBorg robots in June 2017.