Help out a disabled Vet?

I received this email yesterday and I called the guy that sent it. He is genuine and is building a Mars Rover type robot to keep him busy. THough I have none of the items he is after, maybe some of you do!

Dear Sirs,

Let me start by saying if there were any other way I would not be sending out this email. But if you read what I have been through you will understand that there becomes a point when someone like me is willing to set aside their pride and ask for help.

Four years ago I became disabled. As a Self employed computer programmer consultant on IBM AS/400’s I struggled to keep a stead income coming in to pay the bills. Being self employed meant also pay my own health insurance and when I became ill, insurance companies dropped me leaving me uninsurable. Anyway I lost my battle in September of 2004 when I filed bankruptcy losing most of what I have worked for over the last 40 years. Now living with my Mother-In-Law and with my VA disability pension I am finally getting somewhat back on my feet financially. It all has been harder on my wife than me she was accustom to me bringing in a six figure income and now suddenly we only have only a small VA pension.

Because of my disability I am very much tied to home and boredom was now becoming a very big issue with me, so I looked for a hobby to pass the long hours of each day. I found robotics as a project where I could put to use my knowledge of programming and small knowledge of electronics to use, however I soon found that this hobby I had picked was much more expensive than I thought it would be.

One CPU module that caught my attention from the start was Parallax’s Basic Stamp. I contacted them and after explaining my situation to them I soon found myself with 5 (Five) of their top of the line BS2 stamp modules to work with. What Parallax did was show me there are individuals and companies that are willing to help others out.

Since then Newhaven Displays, Reynolds Electronics, Electronics123, Ultra Motion, Sanyo, and HiTech have also came to my aid and have sent parts. I also have promises from a couple of other companies saying they will try to deliver on some parts and I have received emails from other companies stating very matter of fact they are not in the business of giving away products. I believe it is more a matter of who in the company receives my email. Larger the company the lesser chance that my email will make it into the hands of someone that can actually do something.

I have been around long enough and worked with enough companies to know that there is always product that is over run, returns, scratched or dented, and some simply have samples. As I have found from the companies I mentioned above there are also companies that can understand that sometimes things do not always work out in ones life the way they want. So those companies I mentioned simply put aside the issue of money and said what can we do to help?

Below is a list of Items I am still in need of and I you feel that your company can help me get any of those items you will surely have my thanks and I would hope that you would be blessed for taking time to help someone else out.



Items I still need:

Servos (Currently Have 4 (Needs call for 10 more)

Sensor of any kind (Compass, Tilt, IR and Light, Temperature, Pressure, Range Finding (SRF04 or SRF08), Accelerometer, Encoder Wheel)

Ribbon Cables and Connectors (2. 4, 8, 10, 12, 16, 40 Pin)

Wheels Diameter 6” type off road Qty-6 or Track (1.5” -2.0” wide and 30” – 40” Long) Qty-2

Wheel Bearings

Chain and Chain Sprockets

Lower Circuit Case Either Metal or Strong Plastic Min. Dimensions 16” wide 24” long 4” height. (Note those are Min. Dimensions

Actuators Different Sizes and Lengths (Consider usage in mid size robot)

Shock Absorbers

Steering Assembles



Circuits Boards:

DC Motor Control

Stepping Motor Control

Servo Control

USB to Serial



Test Equipment:

Oscilloscope

Probes

Volt Ohm Meter



Wish list items:

PIC Programming Board

Remote Wireless Camera

Solar Panels

Key Pad/Key Board

Graphical Color LCD Display



Sincerely,

Kenneth W. Whaley

157 Lester Heights RD

Gray, TN 37615

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (423) 283-4544