Reminder Tonight!

Reminder that this is tonight. I have been killing robots to make a new hybrid version with better agility. Come check it out the destruction and fun. Tonight at from 5:30 to 8:00 pm at the Queen Creek Branch Library.

Robox

Introducing Robox
Ever since I learned a little about Arduino at HeatSync Labs I've been excited to share how easy it is. In preparation for the first QC Robot Night I designed and built 8 robots. The goal was to have an Arduino and basic electronics for people to work with. This is intended to document what goes into these robots. It isn't a complete step by step instruction for making one. After I improve this robot design I may considering doing that. I do have a github with the Robox Code and Parts for those wanting to check it out.

A Light Controlled Robot
Robox is controlled with a flashlight. Shining the light on one of the photo resistors will trigger action (forward, right, or left). Arduino senses the voltage between 0-5 volts and gives it a number between 0-1023. A lot of analog sensors work in the same way and you can use them just as easily. The Robox code checks each sensor comparing it with the other two sensors. If one sensor is above both other sensors by a value of more than 100 it will take the specified action.

Here is a look inside Robox. The wires are a bit disorganized partly because they are meant to be taken apart and used for basic Arduino examples.

Reinventing the Wheel
To avoid spending over $40 on wheels I laser cut my own and used a rubber band around the outside for traction. The rubber band can be re-sized and placed over the wheel with the knot fit in the groove. This doesn't work very well. If you are only driving the robot it works pretty good. When people pick up the robots they have a tendency to create lateral movement and it occasionally pulls the rubber bands off. I have since added some glue (a messy process) and they seem to be holding up.

Design Breakdown
I purchased parts from a lot of different sources. Because I was buying 10 of each most of the prices were reduced from what I list here. If you have an Arduino kit you will already have some of these including a breadboard. Just check your kit and see what you need in addition.

Cardboard box: I got these for free and it's a great demonstrate that making things doesn't require expensive materials.
Micro Servo $3.99 and Continuous Rotation Micro Servo $4.99: Servos are very simple for new users, and avoid any concern of miss-wiring. I wanted to have each type of servo (180 rotation, and continuous rotation) in my kits. Unfortunately the design doesn't have a very good turn radius. I will probably redesign this with two drive wheels which is most common for that reason.
Arduino Uno Rev3 $25: Online tutorials usually demonstrate with Uno or similar.
Half size breadboard $5: Also to use with online tutorials or just in prototyping projects.
3 Photo Resistors $0.80: An inexpensive input sensor.
Jumper wire $4.95: I'm using few jumper wires in the robot, if you don't have them they will be needed for prototyping other things.
9V battery holder $3.95: Tried to avoid being too big or heavy. Turns out that having more weight could help with traction and the size wasn't a problem. I am switching to 4 AA batteries. I wouldn't recommend 9 volt batteries unless you really need that voltage and form factor. They don't have very good battery life. When using 9 Volts to supply 6 Volts a lot of the extra voltage is wasted as heat.
USB Cables $0.85: Needed for programming Arduino. A longer USB may be more convenient.
 Custom laser cut wheels: I didn't want to buy 30 wheels for over a dollar each. There was scrap acrylic available so I took advantage of that. Look around for servo wheels and see what looks good. They will probably be better than lasercut wheels.
Total cost was between $45 - $50 per robot.

Challenges:
Lack of traction because it is too light weight.
Breadboards and jumper wires come loose.
Servo's not centering. More expensive servo's may work better.
Doesn't have a good turning radius as described above.
Robots do not obey the 3 laws of robotics due to their limited understanding of the English language. Does anyone have an Arduino library for this?

Come out this Thursday 5:30 - 8 pm for Robots, and Arduino. Last week 3 kids and I worked on making half size versions of my music instrument out of robot guts. That was great spontaneous making at HeatSync Labs.

Also on Wednesday from 6-8 pm I will be at THINKspot for a hands on introduction to robot basics. They have some cool design tools and 3d printer, but they are trying to get even more hands on making in their space. Come have fun.

Join me for robot fun at the following events.
Tuesday 09/24/2013 6-7 pm - Hacker Haven at Phoenix Burton Barr Library
Saturday 09/28/2013 noon to 6 pm - Making robots at HeatSync Labs
Thursday 10/17/2013 5:30 - 7:55 pm - Queen Creek Branch Library

Yesterdays robotics night went really well. The goal is to have people learning with the Arduino examples as well as having enough interesting stuff for those who already have experience. That is what we had. A few of the group are engineers that brought their kids to learn more about Arduino. One experience Arduino user was able to try out sensors from the kit I have. We are also getting attentions of other possible young engineers and It's encouraging to bring things they would otherwise not have immediate access to.

Backward is the new forward

While updating updating the Robox I found steering more consistent when driving them backwards. So backward will be the new forward. I've added wooden steering supports so they hold up better.

I'm also working on a design for a more durable wooden or acrylic body we can laser cut. I will be leaving places for additional sensors. Others have suggested line following, or having robots find and  follow other robots. So placement is being left for trying those out.

So here they are with the new wooden supports.

In front is a music instrument based on Arduino. It is able to play multiple octaves by navigating up and down octaves with the gray keys on either side. I want to demonstrate that Arduino are capable of doing more than making servo's move. I will have it at next weeks event Thursday 09/19/2013 from 5:30 until 7:55.

The Phoenix Burton Barr library has a Hacker Haven. This event is on Tuesdays between 6-7 pm. Join me next Tuesday 09/10/2013 6:00 pm. I will have robots and will be instructing on Arduino basics with servos.

I've talked to Terry Ann Lawler who has big plans. They have some fun things like Squishy Circuits, Makey Makey, an Arduino Kit, and are working on getting a 3d printer. They hope to expand the available time and the number of kits available for Hacker Haven. I hope to help. Please share this with anyone who may be interested.

Yesterday's event was a lot of fun. We had about 20 people through the door learning about robotics. One person brought a bluetooth controlled robot that he controls with his phone. We had the PC Bots (Vincent and Maria) on demo. Lots of little robots to work with for those with laptops.

Give it some time and we will post up some of the schematics, and code for the robots we have. The simple robots with only three sensors can hopefully be modified to do a few new tricks for next month. With only three sensors we can probably do really simple line following, and possibly follow the leader if we add an LED in the back of them and put the sensors up front.

All in all we have some cool things to work with and work towards. Share you ideas and we can keep having a lot of fun.

This library is located Ellsworth near Ocotillo. Just avoid Ellsworth Loop see this google map. This is the library we are at.

Reminder! Bring all your robots tomorrow to the opening Robotics Night in Queen Creek (Thursday August 15th from 5:30 - 7:55).

There will be simple robots to work with for anyone just getting started learning the basics. We will also have components for the basic Arduino learning examples.

I hope to encourage everyone from beginners and experienced to come out each month. You can help make this interesting by bringing your cool gear or suggesting things that we can do to make this more than an event for beginners.

The Purpose

Someone asked me why I am starting this robotics night.

To understand it would help if you new about HeatSync Labs. We call ourselves a Hackerspace. It's a community work-shop where people come to make pretty much anything they want.

Having access to tools, supplies, and especially people with a broad range of experience makes a huge difference in what you can learn.

With that context here is what I posted on our group about why I am starting the Robotics Night:
1. The librarian at this branch is interested in having a HeatSync booth at a larger upcoming event. I'm doing this instead since HeatSync is something you have to experience by making things, not just observing.

2. My HeatSync fanatic nephew lives in Queen Creek and it's not easy to bring him out frequently. So I'll bring this to him (He's really excited about it).

3. It would be nice to have more Hackerspaces in the valley. Things like this could be a step in that direction (not that I want to run a Hackerspace).

Sneek peek at the Robox

Reminder this is next Thursday August 15th. I had to correct the post about Vincent that showed the wrong date.


Here is a look at the inside of the really rough prototype. Robox alpha.

Yes this is a spaghetti circuit. There is a purpose in having a full Arduino and breadboard inside. These will be useful when trying the learning examples found online. If you have an Arduino board you can check out the Servo sweep example, and the pitch follower which shows a photo resistor being used.

If you don't have any hardware, or experience don't worry about it. These robots will be operational and you will be modifying some of the code, and then we will work backwards and show you the parts.

Just wrapping up at HeatSync. I finished all the wheels and steering mounts on the laser cutter. These are for ten basic robots that I'm building for anyone new to robotics that show up.

Besides the Arduino Uno to control it they have 2 servos for driving and steering, and 3 photo-resistors. There are two modes. Cockroach mode which runs away if you shine a flashlight on it. Driving mode which uses two photo-resistors for left and right steering, and the third for driving it forward.

I've had a lot of help figuring out how to put these together and suggestions on other ways to use the sensors. We may be able to get line following working. If we add a tail light on one of the robots we might be able to play follow the leader.

Today was very busy and I look forward to seeing some of the people I met tonight at the event next Thursday.

Join me tomorrow at HeatSync Labs from noon to midnight. I'm working on some basic robots to  bring to our first event. These simple robots interact with light and should be an easy way to get everyone without experience familiar with basic sensors, and servos.

I haven't mentioned on the blog that I am new pretty new to micro-controllers and haven't actually built robots. That means there is a good reason for you to come help out.

Demo of Vincent

Tom Burick will be bringing his robot Vincent for a demo. This is a really well designed robot. It is upgradable with common pc parts and there is space to easily access things for trouble-shooting or modifying. It’s practically a lesson in good design. Meet Tom and his robot Vincent and more at our first event August 15th from 5:30 pm to 7:55 pm.

Correction: Thursday August 15th

Hello world! I am starting a  robotics night in Queen Creek AZ at the Queen Creek Branch Library. Beginners and experts alike should plan on coming for some hands on robotics. This will be on the third Thursday each month from 5:30 PM until 7:55. We have to be cleaned up and out by that time so we will have a demo/presentation the last 25 minutes so people can focus on cleaning up while they have something to enlighten them.


I am a member of HeatSync Labs where we make all kinds of things including micro-controller projects, wood working, metal shop stuff, welding, sewing / crafts, and rockets. This is far away from Queen Creek where my nephews live so I'm bringing this kind of fun closer to them and everyone who wants it in Queen Creek. We won't be able to get as dirty with building things, but we can wire things together and program some robots.

We will try to get as many robots out there, so if you have something bring it to share, or work on yourself. Anyone interested in doing a demo / presentation on something drop me a line.

I'm planning on bringing 10 simple robots so if you don't have anything bring a laptop so we can show you how to interact with servos and sensors.