Activ
Media Robotics
S
TRUTS AND
D
ECKS
Performance PeopleBot’s
decks are simply the flat surfaces top and bottom for mounting
projects and accessories, such as the laser range finder. A feed-through hole in the
center of the top plate, and a rectangular one beneath a removable plug in the middle
of the bottom deck let you conveniently route cables to the interior of the robot.
Two side struts carry the upper deck. The left strut acts as a power and signal wiring
conduit to the A/V transmitter, control panels, and to the upper deck of the robot. The
right strut hosts the Gripper accessory. On the left strut, too, are the Emergency STOP
button and the Computer, A/V, and User Control Panel.
The top deck carries a front sonar array, PTZ robotic camera (mounted underneath),
microphones, and the Ethernet radio antenna.
When mounting additional accessories, you should try to center the robot's payload over
the drive wheels. If you must add a heavy accessory to the edge of the deck,
counterbalance the weight with a heavy object on the opposite end. A full
complement of batteries balances the robot, too.
See Chapter 8,
Maintenance & Repair
, for access details.
Figure 7. Performance PeopleBot dimensions and turn radius
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