Fingertech Viper Review

Introduction

We have to start out by saying this kit was a pleasure to work with. Everything from the pieces used to put it together straight down to the manual and actually using it in action. All were great! Its rare that we come across a kit that receives a 5 across the board and can be used by people of any skill level. Great job FingerTech!

FingerTech Robotics is on to something here with this kit. It can be used in competitions as well as your own experiments and tinkering. Included in the kit is a manual which gives you some additional ideas for the kit. Some for robotic experiments and projects and others for competitions like soccer / hockey. It would not surprise us if we saw a bunch of these out at the next RoboGames competing against others in the events.

Overview

The Fingertech Robotics Viper Robot kit comes with everyrhing you need to get started in competitions. Not only is it just a kit but it also includes a standard 6 channel remote control. The kit is easily "mod-able" in that it can be transformed and morphed into whatever you need it do. There is plenty of space left over to mount a small controller and sensors if need be for autonomous operation.

Action Video

Kit Contents

• Transmitter - HK-T6A 2.4GHz 6-Channel transmitter.
• Receiver - HK-TR6A 2.4GHz 6-Channel receiver.
• Chassis - 14gauge (0.064") thick, 5052 alloy Aluminum punched and formed baseplate (pic). Has mounting holes for motors and lid.
• Motors - 2x 50:1 Spark Gearmotors
• Motor Controllers - 1 tinyESC and 1 tinyESC w/ BEC to power the radio receiver.
• Wheels - 2x 2" Lite Flites are soft and grippy.
• Hubs - 2x Lite Hubs are the lightest way to attach your wheels to your motors.
• Power Switch - A clever switch (pic) that you unplug to power on, using a 3.5mm mono headphone jack. Plug can be used for charging rechargeable batteries if you plan to upgrade.
• Lid - Custom 0.030" thick vacuum-formed polycarbonate lid (pic) keeps all the wires and components inside the robot. (Not recommended to be the only armor against weaponed opponents.)
• Screws - Four 2-56x0.1875" screws for mounting the motors. Eight 4-40x0.25" screws for fastening lid. Four 4-40 setscrews for Lite Hubs.
• Two hex wrenches included for screws and setscrews.
• Instructions - Detailed instructions with many pictures and tips for getting more from your robot

Assembly & Construction

To make this part as easy and straight forward as possible we have recorded a multi-part step by step video of how to assemble and work with the Fingertech Robotics Virer Robot Starter Kit.

This time around - in addition to the videos - we have included various images of some of the steps we went through while working with the robot kit. Each one is illustrated below with a briefly description.

Motors





Make sure to pay close attention when you are preparing the motors during the build process. The motors have an indicator of a red dot next to one of the connectors. For one motor you will need to wire the red wire to this indicator. On the other motor you will need to wire the red wire where the red dot IS NOT next to the connector. If this is not done as expected your robot will not function as desired.

Power Plug

The most difficult part of the entire build process is wiring up the power plug used in this kit. It requires that you have solder the wires to the power plug and then use the heat shrink tubes to secure them and insultate them properly.

Support

We gave the Fingertech Robotics Viper Robot Starter Kit a 5 for support. The kit was well documented and it was clear and concise in every way. It was simple to put together and required very little effort to figure things out. Moreover, the Fingertech Website provides everything you need to get the job done. Not to mention the website contains a slew of parts and additional hardware that can be purchased for your kit. They can be used for other projects such as autonomous operation and racing. Check out the manual included in the kit for more information / ideas in this direction!

Conclusion

All and all - this kit is grade A. We weren't sure what to expect from Fingertech Robotics when it came to this kit. It was our first experience using their products. Rest assured it was a good one. They did a great job picking out the right components for the kit. One of the biggest surprises was that the kit came with a 6 Channel Remote Control. Often times manufactures include parts that will only work with their kit. You can easily take Fingertech's parts and make your own creation with ease.

It would not surprise us at all if we were to see a lot of this robots out at the next RoboGames in 2011.

Lastly, we recommend this kit to anyone. From beginners to advanced users. Each of you can benefit from the kit. If you are a beginner you will learn the basics of putting a kit together and even do a bit of soldering. If you are an advanced user you will take this kit to the next level and do your own projects and / or experiemens. All users of all skill levsl can take this kit straight to the ring and battle it out!

Where to Buy?

FingerTech Robotics Website
DIYbin.com