LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT: R2D2

Wow, I am really lazy. It's kinda sad that it took me this long to FINALLY get around to shooting and uploading this robot, even though its final tweaks have been completed for a month. But anyway, here is my next project! It is an R2D2 robot. Who on earth doesn't recognize that cute little astro-droid? Some of you may notice that this design is based roughly on Brian Bagnal's version of R2D2 in "Maximum LEGO NXT, Building Robots with Java Brains" which he called R2MeToo. The body of the robot is almost the excact design used in that book, and for that I give Brian Bagnal much credit; however, the caster wheel, head, light sensor, two touch sensors, and accelerometer are my own designs. Plus I made the entire program from scratch. This robot does not perform super well on living room carpet, but I guess acceptable.
So, what does it do? It does a lot of things. When you start the program, the head automatically calibrates itself with the touch sensor, next, it moves forward until it sees an object in front of it, (for example, a wall), then it stops, looks left, right, and which ever direction had more distance, R2D2 heads that way. If R2D2 is tipped over, then he will stop turning his wheels, and play a surprised sound. If he is tipped over with enough force, or is being accelerated more than he should, then he will scream! If he goes into a dark room, then he will stop, and be very quiet until either the lights are turned back on, or if you stop the program. So, this uses two NXT touch sensors, one NXT light sensor, one Ultrasonic sensor, and a HiTechnic Accelerometer sensor. WAIT A SECOND! YOU JUST SAID THAT YOU USED FIVE SENSORS! THE NXT ONLY HAS FOUR SENSOR PORTS, AND I SEE NO ROOM AT ALL IN THIS ROBOT TO ADD A MULTIPLEXOR! Ah, well not so fast. If you look closely, you can see that I hooked up the RJ12 ends of two different converter cables up to the different touch sensors, then connected the studded ends of them, then connected the studded end of a third converter cable to the other connected two, then put the RJ12 end of the third converter cable into sensor port 2. By doing that, I was able to make one sensor port on the NXT read from two different sensors. I really like the little feature of R2D2 screaming whenever he is being accelerated, I used a HiTechnic accelerometer sensor to give him that sense. I paid $55 for that, and I don't regret it, infact I bought it specifically for this robot. More pictures, the program, and building instructions can be found here: http://us.mindstorms.lego.com/en-us/Community/NXTLog/DisplayProject.aspx?id=9...
On the NXTLOG.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• lego
• mindstorms
• nxt
• r2d2
• calibrate
• automatic
• smart
• clever
• autonomous
• cool
• advanced
• wheels
• wheel
• cute
• robot
• hayden
• studios
• haydenstudios

[bratwurstdimsum]

Fantastic effort, I am so impressed I have decided to get into mindstorms myself...my first robot will be yours! I'll begin by buying all the bits you listed in your designer file and I'll be posting my own version of your bot as a reply here. Tell me where did you get your sounds from?

[HaydenStudios]

@bratwurstdimsum Thank you! It might be also good to note that the astro-mech head that I used can be found in the droid developer kit. I can't remember the name of the place where I got the sound effects, but I found my way there because of a google search. There is a link in the description with a full documentation of my robot, and near the last part it has where you can download the program. Packaged with it is all of the sound effects used. Hope this helps.

[EpicHayden37]

And we have the same name :)

[HaydenStudios]

@EpicHayden37 Indeed.

[LegoGuitarDude]

Really nice Hayden In fact it's one of the best artoos on youtube!

[HaydenStudios]

@LegoGuitarDude Thanks Vincent! That was my main goal when programming it.

[EpicHayden37]

Omg, that is AWESOME! You must of worked HARD on that!

[HaydenStudios]

@adamlambert318 What are you talking about? It is more than just an obstacle avoiding object! As the video clearly shows, he screams when he is tossed, and plays a surprised sound when he is tipped over. He also settles down when he enters a dark place. And, yes, the NXT can read from all of the sensors all at the same time, but this robot can't act quiet AND scream at the same time.

[HaydenStudios]

@bazmarc Thanks! It means a lot to me hearing that from someone like you.