13. Applications and implications

Assignment

propose a final project that integrates the range of units covered, answering:

Your project should incorporate 2D and 3D design, - additive and subtractive fabrication processes, - electronics design and production, - microcontroller interfacing and programming, - system integration and packaging

Where possible, you should make rather than buy the parts of your project

Final Project Proposal

What will it do?

My final project is titled as “INSECT SENSING ROBOT THAT MEASURING THE NATURE”. When I decided to join Fab Academy, there are two things I want to make. One is a robot that is automatically moving around and looks something like a insects. Another is portable data logger that have multiple sensors measuring something unmeasured (means measuiring something new aspects of our daily lives, our environment or our society). The sketch shows combined idea of those I want to make. That is insect robot that collecting data in a viewpoint of insects.

There are a couple situation I could image for use it.

First is used for sensing in garden. The insect robot goes around the garden and users control it from inside of their home. The robot have some sensors that measuring condition of the garden (soil moisture, air conditions and so on). Users controll the robot from their own PC via Wi-Fi.

Next is used for sensing outside with walking around. It looks like radio controlled toys. The robot have some sensors that measure surrounding conditions (temperature, UV Index, brightness and so on). Users controll the robot from their own tablet or smartphone via Bluetooth Low Energy.

Third is used for sensing the place where users cannot enter (under the floor, above the ceiling, somewhere dangerous zone etc…). The robot have some sensors that measure surrounding conditions or detect objects or creatures for extermination. Users control the robot from their own PC via Wi-Fi.

Who’s done what beforehand

There are two parts I would consider for beforehand. One is multiple sensor data logging (input devices) and another is mechanical design of six legs walking robot.

Multiple Sensor Data Logging

I have ever make these kinds of multiple sensor data logger with using Arduino. That is a Arduino-based BLE Sensor device that include Temperature, Humidity, Pressure, UV, Light and 9-axies motion sensors. The case is made by cutting Acrylic board with laser cutter.

This sensor devices is also communicate with Smartphone via BLE. And, those sensor data would be transmitted to the server on the cloud.

Also, those sensor data is visualized on the smarphone application and users can easily find out the conditions of their envirionment in realtime.

I could use those codes and interfaces for my final project.

Mechanical Design of 6 legs walking Robot

I am searching some previous works related to mechanical design of insect robots.

Hiroshi Sugihara’s (a student at the University of Tokyo) “READY TO CRAWL” is a couple of works that make mechanical creature by selective laser sintering.

Dash Robotics is also interesting project. It is hexapod robot inspired by insects, and made by orgigami.

This video is about handmade 6 legs insect robot, that contains a function of avoiding objects by distance sensor.

This video is also useful, about how to make simple 6 legs robot mechanism.

There are a couple of previous works for making 6 legs robots. I am thinking whether those mechanism can use for my final project.

What will you design?

I will design this insect robot as small as possible. Just I’m thinking…

What materials and components will be used?

Robot Controller Part

Data Logger Part

Body of the Insect Robot - Acrylic Board, ABS (for a frame of insect robot) - Molding and Casting Material (for a surface of insect robot)

Where will they come from?

How much will it cost?

What parts and systems will be made?

What processes will be used?

What tasks need to be completed?

What questions need to be answered?

How will it be evaluated?