Advice Need For Hasbro R2-D2 Hack
Hey guys. Hope everyone is cool.
I’m looking to start a new project and need a quick bit of advice and/or information from anyone who has hacked a Hasbro 2002 R2-D2 Interactive Astromech Droid (the voice activated one with beverage holder).
I managed to score one off eBay for my girlfriends granddaughter, got it for a good price and it’s in full working order, but with it using 16 year old voice recognition hardware/software, voice commands are a bit hot and miss (mostly miss, lol). So I’m thinking about doing an EZ-B hack with her.
I haven’t taken a screwdriver to it yet so it’s still in one piece, so...
Q1: what I wanted to ask, was about the original drive motors which I would like to use. Has anyone who has hacked one or these R2’s used the original drive motors, and if so how did you connect them to the EZ-B (what type of H-Bridge/motor controller did you use)?
Q2: I want to run the EZ-B and droid off a 7.4v LiPo so I also need to know what the voltage of the original motors are rated for as well in case a need a second battery with matching voltage.
Any help or advice anyone can offer would be a great help.
Thanks guys. 
I built one - and it's using the ez-robot HBridge and an ez-robot 7.4v lipo
I also put the camera on a servo so it can tilt up and down.
I did use an IoTiny instead of an EZ-B v4, but that's because i was being cheap lol
Hey Steve, Looks like a fun project. I got a different one, but had fun building it. Keep us updated on you progress. Always good to hear from you.
Ron
@DJ.
Hey buddy. I was hoping you would be one of the guys who replied. I knew you did an R2 hack but couldn’t remember which one you used, but I had a search through the YouTube archives over the weekend and found your video (I remember you posted one) and watched it a few times. I must admit that I was a little reluctant to tear my R2 apart, but watching your video has given me the nudge I needed, lol.
That’s great news about the H-Bridge and using 7.4v. I have got a couple of EZ-Robot L298’s in a box somewhere and hoped I could use one. I’ve also got a EZ-B V4/2 dev kit I’ve been looking to use (and an IoTiny as well, lol), so time to get the tools out. Quick question for you DJ, did you use any of the original dome LED’s?
@Ron.
Good to hear from you too. Will deffo post a project showcase. I had another look through you R2 thread, good looking through that again. Did you ever post a video of your lil droid in action?
Hey Steve, No I didn't make a video yet, but I guess I need to. I was wanting to modify it using the Navigation Control Dj had developed, but it hasn't been released yet. I will have to make a script to have him run around the room and do his thing instead. I will charge him up and see what I can do.
Ron
Hi Ron. Yeah the navigation sounds cool. I look forward to seeing that inaction when it’s released. I have the day off today so going to make a start on my R2 in a bit.
I just took my buddy off the shelf and found his foot servo had broke loose. Good thing you mentioned seeing him. I will tear him apart and fix him up. I will hopefully get him running soon.
Cool. I’m sure you’ll have him back up and running in no time Ron.
@DJ. In one of the Robot Program episodes (ep 026 around the 8 min 9 sec mark), you made reference to a video you made showing the R2-D2 build/hack. I’ve had a look but not come across it yet. If the video is still floating about, could you post a link to it when you get a chance please? I’d like to show it to my girlfriends granddaughter.
Thanks.
https://youtu.be/v_Jw3489l1U
R2d2 and all the robots I’ve built are here: https://synthiam.com/About/Get-To-Know-Us.aspx?id=3
Look near the bottom of the page, there’s a lengthy list