Making a robot?? “Yes you can! “

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So, did you say robot?

Yes, they are robots but…

…this is a robot too

Its name is “ALDO”

X-Ray of ALDO

Motor#1

Motor#2

Caster

Wheel

Wheel

ALDO can :• Move forward• Move backward• Turn left• Turn right

Platform

But how to control ALDO?

With a remote control…

…with wires connected to the motors

And how to build the remote?

It might look like that…

But the design (and wiring) is up to you, to make the robot move

Microswitch

Push Button

Connector toRobot

Mutiple wirescable

Power supplyconnector

And…that’s all??Well, it’s a minimum!

But the secret ingredients for success are:

Imagination Motivation

Where to start from?

From Afrobot 2012’s rules

• Feel the spirit of the competition

• Understand the strategy to adopt

• Design your robot accordingly

What material do I need?For a basic robot…

…this is a minimum

Qty Description

2Geared motor, DC, 6V…12V, ~ 0.5 Amp between 200 and 300 rpm

2 Wheel – that fits in the shaft of the geared motor

1 Wheel caster or ball caster – large or small

110-wires cable (or set of 10 wires/ ribbon cable) about 3 to 4 meters long

1Set of Male+Female connectors for the wires (DB9 works well – crimp type requires no soldering with ribbon cable)

ALDO: a typical list of material (1/2)

ALDO: a typical list of material (2/2)Qty Description

1 On/Off switch

2 Push button

3“miniature snap action switch” (microswitch) type SPDT with a hinge

1Plastic box for the remote controlBetter if if fits well in hands

1Set of electric wires for connections inside the remote control

1 Thick cardboard board

1Adjustable AC/DC transformer 6…12V / 1Amp minimum

1 Male (or Female) socket connectors (to match power supply plug from transformer)

More than ALDO?For a robot with more features

A simple gearbox kit, to perform an additional action (like kicking a ball…)

Motor and gear box in kit formArticle number : 224.105 

A more complex gearbox to get more precision, efficiency…

High power gearboxHigh speed gearbox

Construction blocks

More than ALDO?Qty Description

2 Gearbox

xx Gears, wheels…

xx Screws, Bolts, nuts, washers…

xx LEDs, buzzer, lights….

xx AA batteries….

Metal, PVC, wood…

Skewer sticks…

Workshop: tools and consumable

Qty Description

2 Stanley/Carpet knife

1 Digital multimeter – to check current continuity, voltage…

1 Soldering iron + holder

1 Reel of soldering tin (with flux inside)

1 Glue gun + glue sticks

1 Toolbox (flat nose pliers, side cutter, long nose pliers, tweezers…)

1 Set of jewelers screwdrivers

1 Set of gimlets

1 Wire striper

1 pack of small cable ties

Stationery (paper clips, split pins, string, rubber bands, rulers, cissors, sellotape, packing tape, pen, pencil, …)

….anything you would need for decoration…

Where to shop? ExamplesA good electronics shop A hardware shop

Online Recycle material...

Name Purpose Contact

Mantech electronic Geared motors, microswitches… http://www.mantech.co.za/

RS components Almost everything you’d need! http://za.rs-online.com/web/

Fort 777 Electronics part retailer, CPT http://www.fort777.co.za/

Spectron Electronics part retailer, JNB http://www.spectron.co.za/

Hi-q electronics Electronics distributor http://www.hi-q.co.za/

Opitec UK Hobby/technical/pedagogic items http://www.opitec.co.uk/

Conrad electronics Electronics part retailer, France http://www.conrad.fr/

A hobby shop A car shop

Other useful links(source of inspiration…)

• http://www.arduino.cc/playground/Main/Resources• http://www.robotshop.com/• http://www.jeffreystein.co.za/website-files/dealers.htm• http://www.servocity.com• http://www.tamiya.com/english/kousaku/k_item/robocon

.htm

Resource centers• http://www.planete-sciences.org/robot/boiteabots/• http://siyavula.org.za/• http://www.dprg.org/tutorials/1999-04a/• http://www.kidsolr.com/science/page1c.html• http://www.robovirtualevents.com/march-2011/pr

ogram-overview• http://www.zingeducation-us.com/rational-robot-t

utorial-ppt/s3460• http://

www.physicsbox.com/indexrobotprogen.html

Video• French “Trophées de Robotique”

– http://vimeo.com/10879095– http://vimeo.com/12681559– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehZEcYPBdBI&p=C76

C05AD9B5D680A– http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xcpw02_planete-scien

ces-aux-trophees-de-ro_news– http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8s3cq_duels-de-robo

t-a-angers_sport– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJyZoF8WggQ

• Eurobot and Eurobot Junior (In English)– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzYAofG0cd4– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsbERhZV1Y4&NR=1

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Is it difficult to make a robot?

Certainly….not!

Try, expertiment, test

Smart simple solutions are usually better than high tech!

ALDO can testify!