DJ Sures: Hacked Toy Robots

This is a robot dog that I built that chases red balls. The brain is my EZ Robot project. The EZ-B Version 3.0!

The dog has a camera mounted in its nose, and it drives using modified servos.

This was originally a remote control toy called The Scarab. I fitted an EZ-B into the shell. Using the EZ-Builder software, it is now remote control, autonomous and has voice recognition.

The original HBridge kept around for the EZ-B to hijack. This allows the EZ-B to control the existing motors (including the the pinchers!).

A mini servo was added with an HC-SR04 distance sensor for auonomous exploring.

Currently, the programming is a collection of functions:
- Voice recognition
- Remote control
- Sweeping Sensor for Autonomous Exploring

I got hold of a Doctor Who Dalek toy and went to work. I added a HBridge motor driver, the EZ-B V3, some LED's and a HC-SR04 Ultrasonic Distance Sensor. The EZ-Builder software was used which provides a joystick interface to remote control the robot, a voice recognition module and autonomous exploring mode with the distance sensor.

See Dj Sures other robots and projects here:

http://www.dj-sures.com/Blog/ 

I started working on a new robot today. I picked up this 1984 broken Teddy Ruxpin for $40 on ebay. The head mechanism was busted, but the tape player still worked.

I removed all of the componenets and replaced them with servos. The controller board is my EZ-B and the software is EZ-Builder. You can find out more here: www.ez-robot.com

Time to turn this guy into a robot! This is version 1 of the Teddy Ruxpin Bluetooth Robot. It has servos for arms, neck, mouth and eyes. I'm using EZ-Builder to remote control the robot, currently.

The latest beta version of my EZ-Builder supports the Voice Synthesis and Voice Recognition features of the EZ-B. So I'm using that version to make this Teddy Ruxpin robot talk and listen.

I'm working on a Version 2, which will be able to walk. I tried a bioped method, with moving joints but the frame just won't support it. The legs are too short and the top is too heavy. So I do have a solution, he will be like my Cookie Monster Robot and have wheels in his shoes. His legs will still move at the hip to give the impression of walking.

I had to modify the head in this robot to move its mouth, open its eyes, move its head. The standard mechanism was very primitive and consisted of only one motor. So designing a mechanism by reusing the parts was a challenge. You can see in the video how it works.

Animating the arms was interesting also. His fur is too tight to allow the arms to move forward, so I chose an up and down motion. They are also controlled by servos.

I then added a servo for the neck, to allow his head to look left and right. This will come in handy for the Ping Distance Sensor that I will be adding. I am just not sure where to put it yet, until I get him walking. I may consider modifying the body to allow his head to look up and down also. That will determine where I will put the distance sensor.