Week #17

Applications and Implications

In this week we need to propose a final project that integrates the range of units covered, and the project should incorporate:

2D and 3D design.
Additive and subtractive fabrication processes.
Electronics design and production.
Microcontroller interfacing and programming.
System integration and packaging.

We need to answer on the below questions:

What will it do?
Who has done what beforehand?
What will you design?
What materials and components will be used?
Where will they come from?
How much will they cost?
What parts and systems will be made?
What processes will be used?
What questions need to be answered?
How will it be evaluated?

Individual Assignment

What will it do?

Before joining the Fab Academy course, I was thinking of making a robot that moves away from tires, has legs. So, I wanted my final project to be this robot;
And as I'm a FabLab Master, where I teach students about digital fabrication and robotics; And how to make their own projects. So, I decided to make a HEXI Robot which is an educational robot to teach students about robotics and how to build them.

Who has done what beforehand?

Before starting my project, I did a search for people who made this robot, and I found many makers.
I was looking for a four-legged robot that is controlled by an app on the phone, and I found the following:

ARDUINO SPIDER ROBOT (QUADRUPED)
Quadruped Robot
ESP8266 WIFI AP Controlled Quadruped Robot
This is tutorial to make a 12 DOF or four leg (quadruped) robot using SG90 servo with servo driver and it can be controlled using WIFI Web server via smartphone browser.
Building a Bluetooth Controlled Spider Robot using Arduino
In this video I will show you, how you can build a smartphone controlled spyder robot using Arduino and a bluetooth module.

My final project is different in many ways:

I built a custom mobile app for it. It contains the commands I need to move the robot and the interface is basic and user friendly.

Most of what I have seen on the Internet of four-legged robots were without a clear shape or features that indicate the robot, but rather four legs with wires sticking out from the middle.
Because my project is educational for kids, I tried in the design to make it features and to color it in beautiful colors.

I designed a unique PCB looks like the robot, it can handle 12 servo motors and one analog input with bluetooth pins.

It is good to teach kids in a way without small pieces or dangerous objects for them, so I designed the robot that it can be assembled without any screws or glue, rather is based on fitting all parts together.

What will you design?

I will design the movement mechanism, which is based on servo motors connected to the four legs, as well as designing the external frame with the electronic board as well. In other words, all the parts of the robot I will work on.
My design based on fitting all parts together without any glue or screws, so there are no extra costs.

What materials and components will be used?

For the frame I will use:

PLA for 3D Printing parts.

Black Acrylic 5mm for the top frame.

For the electronics parts:

12 >> Mini Servo Motor SG90 9g.

1 >> Bluetooth Module HC-05.

1 >> SMD Atmega 328P.

1 >> Male Headers.

1 >> Screw Terminals 2.5 mm.

2 >> Blue LEDs 5 mm.

1 >> LIPO Battery 11.1V 2200MAH

1 >> Buck Converter 5A / DC-DC.

1 >> ON-OFF Power Switch-Black 2 pin.

Where will they come from?

The PLA & Acrylic from the Lab, the electronics components from a local supplier.

How much will they cost?

Item	Quantity	Cost JD	Total Cost JD	Supplier
Mini Servo Motor SG90 9g	12	2.5	30	Mikroelectron
Bluetooth Module HC-05	1	8	8	Mikroelectron
SMD Atmega 328P	1	8	8	Mikroelectron
Male Headers	1	0.25	0.25	Mikroelectron
Screw Terminals 2.5 mm	1	0.35	0.35	Mikroelectron
Blue LEDs 5 mm	2	0.1	0.2	Mikroelectron
LIPO Battery 11.1V 2200MAH	1	35	35	Mikroelectron
Buck Converter 5A / DC-DC	1	6	6	Mikroelectron
ON-OFF Power Switch-Black 2 pin	1	1	1	Mikroelectron

What parts and systems will be made?

I will design the robot base with the 4 legs (each one contain 3 servo motors), with the main PCB board of Atmega328P, and the Mobile app.

What processes will be used?

3D Design: 3D design of HEXI Robot using Fusion 360.
3D Printing: Robot base and legs.
Laser Cutting: Robot top base with be cutting through laser cutter using Acrylic board.
Electronics Design: Designing of PCB board of Atmega328p with Servo Motors + HC-05 Bluetooth + LEDs.
Electronics Production: Generating .rml files from mods, milling using SRM-20 and soldering components.
Embedded Programming: Programming will be done in main Atmega328p based board. All the servo motors will be interfaced with main board and controlled.
Interface and Application: Android App will be developed to control the robot.
Networking: HC-05 will used to make interface between mobile app and microcontroller via Bluetooth.

What questions need to be answered?

Is the design and programming of the PCB complicated?
Is system integrated and work properly as required?
Is the robot easily controlled from mobile app?
Is app user friendly?

How will it be evaluated?

Demo video.
The robot must move at least one leg alone.
The robot must response from the controller (Mobile App).
All parts should be cut, made and assembled properly.
And the most important, based on a user, be it a student or anyone interested in robots, to use and test the mobile app and how it friendly and easy controlling the robot.

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