My First Project- Fred the Lobot (Lego Robot)

Creativita

Australia

For my first project so I don't stuff up a toy I have decided to use Lego for my body. This means that I won't have to master any specialised tools and my project will be $50 cheaper than if I bought a Verbot.

I am going to build a hollow body out of lego and drill some pieces to make a nice friction fit for the servo attachments. I have tons of Lego blocks from when I was younger so I don't have to fear wrecking any pieces. I plan to have two wheels at the base, two arms and a rotating head. Any suggestions on how attach the servos effectively to the body to make sure that they don't fall out. I would also prefer that I can reuse the servos for later project so I would prefer not to make any permenant attachments. The beauty of this project is that I can alter the body and remove parts with great ease. I will upload photos and videos as I progress.

Thanks

Liam

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Synthiam
#1  

Hehe you know what? Hot glue gun:) ... Seriously!

I don't know how many times using a hot glue gun has saved me. I get something together and i realize it needs to be moved or tweaked.

Now, it wont' be the strongest hold. Meaning, you can't give it to any children to bash around haha.. But it will sure withstand the prototyping phase.

PS, most all of my robots are assembled with hot glue gun. People may laugh, but it works!

Netherlands
#2  

I haven't been able to make any robot without my trusty old hot glue gun cool

Australia
#3  

Here is the general layout of my robot.

User-inserted image

Netherlands
#5  

Your layout is pretty basic but perfect, if you want to attach the servo's just make lego around the servo and glue it in using hot glue.

PRO
Synthiam
#6  

Did you mean to use Modified Servos for the hands?

That's going to be a cute bot! Reminds me of the bot from jetsons, but a male version.

Netherlands
#7  

Don't mind this post

Australia
#8  

I probably should of added a scale but to give you a general idea it will probably be two EZ-B boards across and one and a half tall (not including the head.)

Australia
#9  

I am halfway through building the main body. I am awaiting more lego blocks as I have depleted my store of 1 by 4 and 2 by 4 pieces. When the servos and board have arrived I can begin mastering the connection process. I have practically finshed all the programming before any of the items have arrived.

#10  

Creativita that's what I did too, programmed before hand. I found it really helpful because I could see what I could do, then order the parts to do it.

Also I saw your robot picture, looks pretty sweet; but have you considered a PING sensor? that would allow it to roam around with out bumping into anything. Using one will really open more windows for your robot in the future.

Here is the guy I bought mine from. Its a really good price.

~TXTCLA55

#11  

Creativita that's what I did too, programmed before hand. I found it really helpful because I could see what I could do, then order the parts to do it.

Also I saw your robot picture, looks pretty sweet; but have you considered a PING sensor? that would allow it to roam around with out bumping into anything. Using one will really open more windows for your robot in the future.

Here is the guy I bought mine from. Its a really good price.

~TXTCLA55

Australia
#12  

Thanks TXT, that's a great idea. Is there any particulary complex programming invloved? I would prefer that if I bought it I was able to make it work.

#13  

No programming. It works the same way as the servos. Here is how you connect it to the EZB:

  • Connect VCC/b,[b]Trig, and GND to any of the digital pins.
  • Then using a separate wire, connect the Echo to another digital pin, making sure this one is on the Signal pin, not ground or +5.
  • Now its just a matter of configuring the Radar Scanner, Object, or Collision windows in the ARC.
  • In those windows config areas, it will ask for the Trigger and Echo ports, simply note where you placed them before and select the pins from the drop down menu.
  • To get the robot to scan using its head, open the Radar Scanner config and on the drop down menu for Servo Port, select the heads servo pin.

I hope thats clear enough for you. If you still have trouble, remember you can click the "?" on any window to be taken to the Tutorials page to learn more about it.

Hope this helped! ~TXTCLA55

Australia
#14  

Thanks again TXT. It would be perfect for me seeing that I am having a servo for head rotation. The price will definitely fall into my budget.

#15  

No problem, always glad to help.

Australia
#16  

The EZ-B has finally arrived after approx. three weeks (which I am quite impressed with). After the servos have been ordered and arrived I will be able to start building. In the meantime I plan to start testing of the EZ-B and a do a bit of polishing on my programming.

Australia
#17  

Much to my surprise I recieved some servos as a present from my uncle so now I am all set to go. Hopefully the problems with connection will clear up (see Bluetooth Connection Problems). In the meantime I am thinking of making some little walking legs just for fun.

PRO
Synthiam
#18  

New batteries are always the key. If you do experience many problems and you feel it's not battery related, then give the solder joints a quick refresh. Lately we've experienced a board that had a few cold solder connections. I've already given Colin a spanking for that, so it won't happen again:) He's a real good guy and works hard for this project

Australia
#19  

Thanks I will be sure to check that. I seriously overestimated the size of the EZ-B and servos and made the body ten times too big. This is actually incredibly convenient because I no longer need to buy more bricks.