Here is a suggestion I came up with. I think it would be interesting to have a robot that can find burried treasure! Let it lose in a park and it will automatically drive around and stop when a metallic object is there. A more advanced robot would actually dig for the object! Well it would probably be able to dig only a few inches deep and in soft soil. It might even have a small tray that removes the dirt and leaves the coins or other objects found. It might need you to control it to dig up those things however. Mainly because it could try digging up the wrong object. It could be quite fun if it included a camera so you can sit in a lounge chair while you go on coin hunting expeditions. Range, capabilities, and battery life would be the big factors here. I would like it if it lasted a good few hours and had a range of a good 100 yards.
Fastenjaw
Just wanted to let you guys know that someone has aparently made this already. I found it while googling for treasure hunting robots. There was only one that I found at the moment. But it was too expensive! We need something alot cheaper that can dig up things on its own.
Since robots will one day populate every aspect of your life, its a good idea to make friends with all of them. Otherwise your shower bot might decide to play around with the water temperature while you are showering...
Moderator
Madison WI, United StatesHm, this could be an interesting summer project. We've got a kids metal detector that could be played with. Would you want to make the bot all plastic so as not to distort the metal detector detection? Or perhaps if the detector loop is out in front on a boom. Would you make it sand-proof for using at the beach, or just in parks with grass?
Rovio rules!
Wisconsin Iron :: Cellular Atomics
Moderator
United StatesI don't have any hands any experience with those metal detectors. I thought they required a fair amount of human interpretation to differentiate a penny 1cm down versus a buckle 30cm down.
I grew up on an old farmstead. The kind of place where the rafters in the attic have bark on them.
The vegetable garden got tilled each year, and we'd turn up some historical debris more often than not. Arrowheads, barn door hinges, nails, horseshoes. All sorts of stuff.
I've often thought it would be fun to look for odds and ends with a detector.
I could see digging around on a beach going unnoticed, but it seems that putting holes in the lawn at a park would cause some unwanted notice.
ScottE -- Member (always) & Moderator (when needed)
Well using it in the beach is a mixed bag. While you have the advantage of being able to dig easily with a robotic shovel, you have to deal with all that sand. It will go everywhere! So making sure the robot is well sealed is a must for beach use. It may also need some level of water resistance. More humidity is present near the ocean and a big splash or a tumble might put the robot in a soggy situation... I think a plastic box that seals in all the electronics is one thing that can be done to protect it. Especially since being near the ocean will also subject it to salt in the air. That will probably corrode things if not properly protected. Heat might be another thing. The sand can get pretty hot on a summer day with no wind. So being able to resist heat is another thing. Metal in the robot is more expensive. So having mainly (UV Resistant) plastic or even wood can work. Depending on the design, the detector can be directly under the robot, or attached to a pole. Interferencefrom other metals will determine where it goes. Oh and big tires will be important to keep it from sinking in the sand.
I think being able to use it in a place like a park is much better. I could imagine all the lose change you could find under the stands and along the pathways from joggers with lose change. You would still have to deal with junk regardless of where you go. And digging those objects up in a grassy area may be much harder to do. But it can be done. Also a park is usually more accessible than a beach. Not to mention it doesn't cost as much to enter one. The only other thing I can think of is to have the speed controllable so that you can pinpoint the spot where it is at. A Good transmitter will be essential so you can pick up the signal from the detector.
Edit: Good point about digging up a park. You could make it so that it doesn't dig for park use. That way you can go to the spot and do a proper dig so as to not leave any unsightly holes. That way no one notices you were there.
Since robots will one day populate every aspect of your life, its a good idea to make friends with all of them. Otherwise your shower bot might decide to play around with the water temperature while you are showering...
Member
Melbourne, AustraliaThis, ironically, is an area where there is a lot of research. Think land mines.
Ideally, you'd use sonar or ground penetrating radar, which would give you much more information about what the object was.
Administrator
United StatesYou had mentioned that a robot like this had been developed already. Is this the one you were speaking of?
What I immediately envisioned is a robot such as this, that merely scans for metal objects. I would imagine that through continued development, the cost would of course go down.
I also think that a robot that would also dig for the treasure would be significantly more difficult to develop, depending on how deep the robot had to dig, and in what way. It would need, in many situations, to exert a lot of force to be able to dig up enough dirt to unveil a hidden metal item, unless the ground was wet, or loose (like sand.)
Peter Redmer
Administrator
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Moderator
Madison WI, United StatesFor use in grassy parks, I think it would have to lift a plug of sod maybe 12" diameter, and be able to replace it. I think for our purposes, it should just insert a day-glo orange golf tee into the ground to mark the spot. I'd like it to be able to make several passes across a positive reading, maybe putting a tee marker at the strongest signal spot.
If it were able to dig, the next version would be the 'Weedinator' that could pull dandelions from my lawn!
Rovio rules!
Wisconsin Iron :: Cellular Atomics
Moderator
Madison WI, United StatesNocturnal said: This, ironically, is an area where there is a lot of research. Think land mines. Ideally, you'd use sonar or ground penetrating radar, which would give you much more information about what the object was.
and ground-penetrating radar, how funny, that's my next area of research! (for finding mammoth/mastodon bones in my back yard, of course)
Rovio rules!
Wisconsin Iron :: Cellular Atomics
Moderator
United StatesPersonally, I was hoping to have a go at finding Jimmy Hoffa. The MythBusters came up empty, so somebody's got to pick up the cause.... 
ScottE -- Member (always) & Moderator (when needed)
Administrator
United StatesI really like the "golf tee" idea. It would be an easy way to tell if your yard (or someone else's?) is littered with buried treasure :)
Peter Redmer
Administrator
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Moderator
United StatesThe "Golf Tee" plan is similar to a scheme I read about for using a dust cloud of micro-bots to locate resources. Only in that case, the "tees" latch on all by themselves.
The scheme went as follows.
ScottE -- Member (always) & Moderator (when needed)
Moderator
Madison WI, United StatesMetal detection will work if he still has a gold chain around his neck, or big rings, but I think I'll start working on my homebrew radar just in case!
Rovio rules!
Wisconsin Iron :: Cellular Atomics
Member
Nelson, New ZealandCome in late here, But I like the idea, I my case I would just have the bot detect an object, mark the area and carry on to the next spot while I dig in the marked area, This type of bot would be less expensive to build than one with some type of digging equipment.
People yearn after this robotic dream, but you can't strip your life of all meaning, emotion and feeling and expect to function.
Robotic madness http://robosapienv2-4mem8.page.tl/
Moderator
United StatesSo do you envision this as semi-autonomous, wandering around like a Roomba?
A different search mode might be more rigorous, laying down a chalk line search grid as it goes, and always moving one scan width to the side with each path.
Then there's the RC car with a scanner mode, which just has you steering it along from the comfort of the hammock under the trees.
ScottE -- Member (always) & Moderator (when needed)
Member
Nelson, New ZealandPeter: I like that article you posted a link to, Interesting guy and his machine.
People yearn after this robotic dream, but you can't strip your life of all meaning, emotion and feeling and expect to function.
Robotic madness http://robosapienv2-4mem8.page.tl/
Member
Nelson, New ZealandOr you could have it use a spray can with an irridescent color to mark the spot of interest.
People yearn after this robotic dream, but you can't strip your life of all meaning, emotion and feeling and expect to function.
Robotic madness http://robosapienv2-4mem8.page.tl/
Member
Melbourne, AustraliaMrScott said: So do you envision this as semi-autonomous, wandering around like a Roomba?
Roomba tends to be pretty brainless when it comes to navigation. For searching you really want a more coordinated approach. Something like Rovio would be better, though with no handy ceiling, Rovio would be lost.
One of the books on DIY robotics I have around here talked about using IR/Ultrasound beacons, though for this RF/Ultrasound would probably be better. Basically, you have three beacons with known locations. The beacons activate in sequence, when activated, the beacon simultaneously emits a IR signal and a Ultrasound signal. Since the speed of sound is signifcantly slower than the speed of light, you can use the time difference to aproximate distance from the beacon. With three beacons, you can triangulate position.
Thank Peter! Yes that is the robot I found earlier. Major props on the golf tee marker idea Milw. Though the spray can idea that 4mem8 suggested might be a better solution if the paint can be easily washed away with a little water. That way nobody complains of all the neon grass you left behind. A few squirts from a small water gun can erase it in a jiffy. You also don't have to worry about losing golf tee's either. A spray can is also easier in terms of mechanical complexity. It doesn't have to jab the tee in the ground and reload a new one afterwards.
As far as navigation goes, it doesn't have to maneuver itself. But it would be nice if all you had to do was tell the robot to scan a designated area. Input the dimensions and the start point. Then watch as it sweeps the area in search of hot spots to mark. It could swing the metal detector in a 180 degree radius. It would probably need to be mounted on a 3 foot long pole for better sweeping distance. The spray would come from a nozzle on the detector. Speed is another thing here. It shouldn't be too fast. A slow pace is important to detect properly. Then you can speed it up if you want it to get to a new spot faster when not scanning. GPS may be useful here. But that might be a bit of a price tag. Beacons could also work. They just need to be acurate and have good range and visibility. Just watch out for interference!
Or you could skip the automation and have it work as a souped up RC car with a metal detector and a camera on it. Sort of like the other bot that Peter linked. Only I would want the pole to be longer and adjustable. That way I could lift it up if it was dragging or sweep it one way if I thought I heard something. Also night vision would be nice. Night time treasure marking from the comfort of your car! No bugs to deal with. Then come early the next morning and start digging.
Since robots will one day populate every aspect of your life, its a good idea to make friends with all of them. Otherwise your shower bot might decide to play around with the water temperature while you are showering...
Member
Melbourne, AustraliaGPS probably isn't accurate enough for something like this, I forget the exact error rating (some dusty brain cells suggest +/- 10m), but if you want to send the robot out to seek treasure, then go and dig in the exact spot via GPS, you'd better be prepared for a lot of digging.
Didnt Mark Tilden creat a mine finde for the department of defense in his early days before he became fun again.....
Member
Jacksonville, United StatesMan this is funny, I had just talked to my nephew and he comming up for pamama city beach to get my metal detector to scan the beach and I thought of the same thing you all are talking about but I would have the bot scan in sand and scup up about 2 inches down and sift out the sand and heep the goodies. This would be a very easy project to build if you don't have to worry about navagation issues. I think I'll add this to my next project. I really need the change that is left on the beach but the trick is to get there before the city skims the sand for the next day.
GWJax, To Hack and make mods on robots is a life style and comes natural and not by choice. If a robot has a screw to open it then it must be opened!
Member
Nelson, New ZealandWould you use a tracked system for this project GW?
People yearn after this robotic dream, but you can't strip your life of all meaning, emotion and feeling and expect to function.
Robotic madness http://robosapienv2-4mem8.page.tl/
Member
Jacksonville, United Statesof course, this is the best way to move in the sand, better traction, except you would have to have wider turns.
GWJax, To Hack and make mods on robots is a life style and comes natural and not by choice. If a robot has a screw to open it then it must be opened!
Member
Melbourne, AustraliaNot really, with tracks you turn in place. I'm just having a mental image of all the sand, getting into the joints *Shudders* not to mention the salt in the air.
Member
Nelson, New ZealandSomething with large inflatable soft tyres then,big treads?
People yearn after this robotic dream, but you can't strip your life of all meaning, emotion and feeling and expect to function.
Robotic madness http://robosapienv2-4mem8.page.tl/
Member
Jacksonville, United StatesNocturnal said: Not really, with tracks you turn in place. I'm just having a mental image of all the sand, getting into the joints *Shudders* not to mention the salt in the air.That is why I said wide turns so the sand does not get into too much of the tracks as a sharp turn would do. I'll have to test is out though with a small platform first of course. Although big wheels like 4mem8 said would be a great alternitive for the sharp turns as for the salt air and salt in the sand this would cause havoch on the external metal parts so I'd go with plastic shafts and seal the electronics waterproof style, and use liquid eletrical tape anywhere a wire is exposed to the air without its shelding say like on the motor terminals. These are all just a thought right now.
GWJax, To Hack and make mods on robots is a life style and comes natural and not by choice. If a robot has a screw to open it then it must be opened!
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