bot_0.jpg (40737Bytes)
Hi all,
First post.. first robot. :-)
I’m designing my own bot because I cant afford a Nao.
I have a 3d printer which I’m slowly getting to grips, this is what I aim to print my bits out on. The bot is designed in sketchup.
My idea so far is to print my bot and see what comes next. Installing a Arduino is looking likely with the basics like walk / turn / lie down etc… coded into it, but with also a connection to the pc where a server type program will run to do most of the calculations.
I’m a little stuck on the arms at the moment. Not too fussed if it can pick things up but if it could it would be a big bonus. I’ve also no idea on what sensors I have access too.
All comments / recommendations / advice would be most welcome.
Once designed I will release all the bits for others to print… well thats if I get that far.
Thanks
Steve
open source idea…
Hi CdRsKull,
I ´ve been doing many prototypes with very low success rate. Till I started working with other people and I built on top of what they already had. Most of my difficulties were in implementing mechanics. You see, I am electronics engineer and software was not a problem (at the beginning at least) but I am just too clumsy with tools.
My advice is that you get on board on some open source project, where there are some guidelines of what already have been proven to work. May be something that you can 3D print. I went crazy with my first legs and loosing balance and frying servos´ gears because of oscillations.
I clap your initiative of posting here. I´ve been following LMR but never contributed actively. May be somebody with more experience can guide you to some open project. Mine is multiplo (multiplo.org) but I don´t think that I am at the state of encouraging you to build a humanoid based on it. At least not alone…
Cheers,
Rudi
Cool Project
I dont know much about building your own humanoid and ive never had the liberty of using a printer more complicated than a cnc laser engraver but i have to say it looks like a nice job in sketchup(the op’s image). I totally agree as well; there are a lot of people here who will help you out with your project if you just ask. Kudos to both of you for the opensource. The multiplo project looks pretty cool. I ofc still have tons of legos i collected in my earlier years 
Someday maybe i’ll have something worth opensourcing as well. I’ve sure used a lot of open source resources.
Oh and i did the same thing. I followed this site since it was small enough to actually see every member’s page and read every post. This site is like hackaday for me. I come back every now and then to see all the awesome projects and ideas but i never post on either. I’m glad i finally made an account on here. This place has a great and friendly community unlike other sites coughdiycoughdronescough.
Good luck on the projects to both of you! :D
I like the sketch ups!
Is there any specific task this is supposed to complete? Either way, its a fun looking little guy!
Hi fella… Errr… not
Hi fella…
Errr… not really thought about what I want him to do… Walk around, thats about it for now lol. Once I have a working bot then I can start adding stuff I hope, but it will be just basic to start with. He will stand about 250mm with a head but I dont think there is anything stopping it being scaled up to support full size servos.
Just getting him to walk / get up when knocked over and turning will be a battle I’m looking forward too. I’m printing the lower legs 100% plastic… then the upper 50%… decreasing the mass as I go up. This is to try and keep the COG as lower as possible and to try and give a bit of weight to the feet. I have thought about putting the batterys in the legs but will have to see how it goes first.
Just ordered some nice silver pla for my printer… shame I didnt order the blue servo’s, I ended up with black lol
anyway, should fnish the basic design this weekend so it’s a waiting game then for the servo’s… I already have a arduino but will by a cheapo servo shield for ease.
more to come… I hope !
Steve
!
Well its a very exciting project so keep us all posted. Also, this is pretty ambitious for a first bot, so dont be discouraged if tings dont turn out 100% as intended, but always feel free to come to LMR for support!
Control…
Before I go much further I need to work out how I’m going to control it all and design enough room into the case !!..
So… here is my idea so far…
1 x nano (slave) with a servo sheild for control of 12 servos.
1 x nano (master) with wifi shield (maybe yellowjacket) that also controls the nano servo
The master nano arduino will then have enough pins left for all the sensors
For now only a single nano will be used to testing 
Well that’s the idea… comments ? advice ? lol I’m making it up as I go along.
Steve
Been looking at batterys
Been looking at batterys today… I agree a decent one will defo be needed.
I’m not so hot on electronics so unsure if the power regulator in the nano would take care of the drop down voltage or if I would need a seperated regulator.
The battery I’ve been looking at are the ones they use in the AR Drones. It’s an 11.1v it’s slightly bigger than my body so it might have to be a back pack. They weigh about 110g so not that heavy really.
I’m hoping they will have enough power for 20 mins + activity
again any advice on this would be great
I’ve got some MG90S Tower
I’ve got some MG90S Tower pro servos coming… cheapest with the highest torque I could find on ebay… Paid £25 for 8 of them. Unsure if they will be suitable or not. Great info on the UBEC… Just been on ebay and very cheap and I can just pipe the lipo straight into the servo board now I tried to figure out the power usage on them but I’m lost with all that stuff. I’ve put the size of the battery i found on the back of my bot on sketchup and it looks just right, so I’m just going to go for that.
Redesigned my feet to slot the servo in… and two screws… Will see what this one prints out like
I’ll order a battery and UBEC now as they take weeks to come from China. 
Steve
ok done a little more
ok done a little more
Redesigned the lower part and I’m still waiting on my servos to come so I can design in the arms of the servo… also did a little print on my printer… there was an error in my design as I missed a corner out so the next one I print will have the indent in the foot. It’s nearly all configured now mind
more to come :-)
this is awesome looking!
Now that you have a peice made, consider making a build page and filling it with pics!
Someday maybe i’ll have something worth opensourcing as well. I’ve sure used a lot of open source resources.
