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  • Author Author: dubbie
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TinyMoBot #6 : The Transparent Version

dubbie

I am still working on my Tiny24hourMobot, which as the Question of Scale Project14 has finished I will now call TinyMoBot. As I do not yet have the smaller parts needed to make TinyMoBot fit inside the spray can lid I thought I would look at slightly larger alternatives. For Christmas decorations (the Merry Boxes and LEDs Challenge) I purchased some small glass cloches, although I never used them. I came upon one recently and realised that it was about the same size as the spray can lid I have been working with, but a bit taller and that it might be a good candidate for the shell of TinyMoBot. Being a pre-existing part it did not have any fixing holes such as the 3D shell I printed for Tiny24hourMoBot so I thought it might be fun to 3D print a structure containing the two servo motors which the glass shell could just be dropped onto. The simplest structure seemed to be two flat circles separated by some metal spacers I had recently purchased. The bottom one could be fixed to the structure of the two servo motors with self-tapping screws and the glass shell would rest against the top circle. I printed the two circles, added the spacers, connected this structure to the motor unit and amazingly it worked out quite well. I have 10 mm spacers and needed about 25 mm so I added some nuts to the thread part of the spacers and it was just about perfect. From looking at the existing Nano controller it did seem that it might also fit inside, so with a bit of careful  manipulation (i.e. I just jammed everything in) it all went together nicely, see photograph below.

 

image

 

 

Obviously the battery is not yet inside the shell but I used some connecting wires to connect to the external battery pack and surprisingly it still worked, see the video below.

 

 

After this great triumph I think I will have to wait now until the parts for the smaller controller and LiPo battery booster to come and then there is the great possibility that I might be able to create a completely self-contained TinyMoBot. There is also the added advantage that because the shell is glass I should be able to use optical sensors and perhaps LED just for a bit of interest, all integrated into the internal body structure and not have to do anything to the glass shell itself. Then I just have to make several more and I will have a swarm!

 

Dubbie

  • in reply to genebren

    Gene,

     

    TinyMoBot transparent has already fallen over several times as it is a little top heavy now it is taller. So far it has been OK. I guess the domed rounded shape is inherently a bit stronger than just flat glass. The bottom open part also has a thicker lip which helps to strengthen that part. But the glass shells as I have been looking for something like these for a number of years. There are plenty of plastic ones of this size but I wanted the quality of glass. With the move against plastic now there are more and more wooden and glass items becoming available. Plus  they were not that expensive and I have others.

     

    Still, it is a thought to put some sensors on the bottom to detect edges, as there is probably plenty of room.

     

    Dubbie

  • in reply to dubbie

    You better equip your robot with some edge detection, or the first time it wonders off, there could be a loud crashing/cracking sound.

     

    Otherwise pretty cool!

     

    Gene

  • in reply to three-phase

    Donald,

     

    I'd like to be able to claim it ws deliberate to use the glass shell, but it wasn't. I was putting up a shelf and found the glass shells sitting there abandoned and just thought 'I wonder if TinyMobot would fit inside this?'  I always think visual activities are somehow inherently more interesting so a transparent shell would seem more interesting as oyu can see the insides. I haven't done this yet but it also provides an additional design challenge to improve the visual appearance of the inside parts as well. I'm already thinking of adding some internal LEDs for extra aesthetic appeal.

     

    Dubbie

  • Nice update, I am quite a fan of see through cases that allow you to see the construction inside and inner workings.

     

    Kind regards.