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Week16: Applications and implications
What will I do?
I will
build a R2D2 smatphone controlled. My inicial idea is to build a remote
controlled ground model, and i want to make one with the shape of an
R2D2 robot from Star Wars. The model must be light weight, scaled from
original (maybe less than half of the original, maybe 1/3 of the
original height) and secure for kids. I want to add also some modules
that makes this robot more interactive, like:
- Voice module: The robot will have a speaker to reproduce the sound of
R2D2
- Crash module: The robot will be able to detect crashes and react to
it.
- Movement module: The motors inside. It will be activated by remote
control.
- Energy module: the robot will be autonomous, without wires to give
power. A rechargeable battery will be used.
- Head module: The robot will have a head that can turn around, remote
controlled.
- Led modules: Some leds blink in some cases and interactions.
This will be the basic modules, needed to complete the first stage of
the robot. At this moment i assume the basic robot is completed.
The stage two could add this othe modules and other features like:
- Proyection module: Could proyect a Leia princess shape in a wall.
- Detection module: the robot can analyze his enviroment and react to
it.
Whos done what beforehand?
Commercial
toys based in R2D2
There is a Vintage R2D2 remote controlled, discontinued:
Video of the last toy comercialized of R2D2:
A really small remote controlled R2D2:
Fans
Building R2D2 (all made in 1:1 scale)
Astromech
The astromech are the robots present in Star Wars saga, not only R2D2.
There are a great community and a lot of documentation about building a
1:1 r2d2 robot.
Michael Mcmaster, the great builder of R2D2 astromechs:
Another R2D2 builder page:
Astromech.net The main page of the R2D2 builders club (amazing):
Instructables hacking a Hasbro R2D2 model to be controlled by bluetooth:
What materials and components will be required?
The body: will be made
in composite, so i need epoxy and some matrix like linen or something
more close to the "metal" look like. To make the mold i need some foam
plates, and some piece of linen or similar. Vinyls could be use to
decorate the robot.
The electronics: I will need a Fabduino to control 3 or 4 motors, speaker, battery, piezoelectric, capacitor, resistences etc...
The interface: maybe Processing and Arduino will be used to create an application for Android enviroment.
The movement: Three tyres from an old toy. Also two motors for movement and one for the head.
The power: A rechargeable battery from recycled parts.
Where will they come from?Most
of them are part of the Fab Lab inventory. The only parts that i could
not find in the inventory are three tyres (from an old F1 RC car),
three motors (also from recycled) and my Samsung S2 to test the
application. Also the foam, wich i can buy in a local store. How much will it cost?With all the parts needed, the only cost (included the fab lab inventory) are about 15$ aprox. maybe less.
Foam: 4€
Linen or similar: 4€Vynil: 2€Components to build fabduino and sensors: to be calculed.What parts and systems will be made?The only parts that will NOT be made are the tyres and the motors. All the rest will be made:
Structure: to work with composite
Electronics: to be milling and soldering.Gears and axis: to be printedWhat processes will be used?For the body, i will composite the shape of R2D2. This will make the robot less heavy, and hard enough to handle by mi little kids. So i will use the CNC to cut the foam with the shape, and a composite of linen and epoxy to make the definitive piece.To cut the linen in the exact form, i will use the laser cut.
The gears needed to move the tyres and the head will be printed y a 3D printer, also all the pieces needed. My idea is that no metal part will be used in the structure.
To mill the board of the circuits i will use the Roland Modela, and i will solder all the components needed. All the boards needed will be made by me.
What tasks need to be completed?Design
and mount the robot structure, add the mechanical components and
calibrate the gears and the printed parts. Also make the fabduino,
connect and program all the components in Arduino IDE.Check the robot power comsumption and try to use a recycled rechargeable battery.Also develop a processing simple control panel to run over an android device.What questions need to be answered?¿Will the structure be hard enough to face a 3 years old boy?¿Will the power consumption be low enough to use a 750mAmp recycled battery?¿How will i communicate the android device and the robot?What is the schedule? How will it be evaluated?The robot must move in 360º, make sounds, move his head un 360º and do this from a remote control.
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