Objective
Build a stable and robust robot around a $25 wii remote. Utilize as much as possible from the little gizmo (Bluetooth communication, IR camera, etc)
WiiBot began with WiiDAR. After realizing a micro-controller could be hooked up to the wiimote, I began thinking about how the microcontroller could communicate back and forth with the computer over bluetooth. So far, I have found 3 bit parallel communication the most stable. This is done by utilizing the 4 LEDs on the wiimote.
Parts
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Some Remote Control Toy - tanks are nice since the have differential drive
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A $25 wii remote
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An Arduino, or Arduino clone, I used a Bare Bones Board Kit from Moder Devices $16.50
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PC - Dongle compatible with the Wiimote's Bluetooth
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Soldering Iron, Multi-meter, Breadboard, LEDs, Transistors, Jumpers and other regalia associated with tearing electronics apart and putting them back together.
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A home computer
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Software - Java 1.6, MyRobotLab
Step 1
Disassemble your RC Toy. Most RC Toys have the ever present H-Bridge, which makes the motors connected to the wh
Put it in a place where it won't drive around (on blocks) and you can test the voltage levels of the
Chassis
Chassis at the moment consists of a RC toy tank I got for Christmas, in lasted almost a month before I began ripping apart. I looked at the inside wiring and found the row of transistors attached to a heat sink. This would be the H-Bridge for driving the tank. It was on a circuit board connected (some how) to a big IC. I simply used the remote control and looked at all the pin output voltages. It took very little time to find 4 lines responsible for driving the tank around. I soldered wires directly to the IC pins. Then I put a little breadboard and Bare Bones Board (Arduino Clone). The H-Bridge will now be connected to the BBB, but I wanted to put a little transistor circuit between. From personal experience I don't like smoke-H-Bridges, these are H-Bridges which allow shoot-through. If your careful with the software you won't see magic smoke. I'm not that careful.
H-Bridge Wires - Motor begins turning at ~1V max 5V
Function |
Color |
Right Forward |
Green |
Right Reverse |
Black |
Left Forward |
Orange |
Left Revers |
White |
Power 9.73 V |
Orange |
GND |
White |
BBB Board
Function |
Pin |
Value |
Color |
Right Forward |
13 |
? |
Green |
Right Reverse |
13 |
? |
Green |
Right PWM |
11 |
|
Red |
Left Forward |
12 |
? |
Green |
Left Reverse |
12 |
? |
Green |
Left PWM |
10 |
|
Red |
Wii
Wii LED |
BBB Pin |
|
|
1 |
8 |
|
|
2 |
7 |
|
|
3 |
4 |
|
|
4 |
2 Strobe |
|
|
Next
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Test Servo sweep driven from computer, if needed enable Servo Sweep as a function
Challenges/Failures
Other Ideas
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Internet based training - taking what the white-glove project did for entertainment, use the power of the internet to train robots 24/7
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Fun/challenging game where a swarm or robots have all different unique skills/sensors - yet they have to cooperate to get some task done
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Turing test with either automation vs internet remote/control