Published March 1, 2016

Cloud connected Reconnaissance Droid

The Recon droid will detect the rebel scum and report back to the Empire. Control movement through Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

AdvancedWork in progress16 hours13,346

Things used in this project

Hardware components

PIR Motion Sensor (generic)

Particle Photon

Arduino UNO

9V to Barrel Jack Connector

For a full list of components needed please see story

Software apps and online services

Microsoft Visual Studio 2015

Story

Reconnaissance Droid - Inspired by "StarWars"

Started for the "Are You An IoT Jedi" contest with the Particle Photon and Particle cloud as focus

By Jeremy M. Dunham

1 / 2 • Profiles

Developer and Designer: Jeremy M. Dunham

Control this Reconnaissance Droid through a particle photon, the particle cloud and Bluetooth and/or Wi-Fi. Get a notification when this droids PIR sensor detects the “rebel scum” – Empire. Allowing the Empire to turn the camera on, and see what rebellious acts they are up to.

Although I don't give you everything right now that I am working on. I am pretty sure there is enough here to take it and develop it even further if one wanted. Everything I am doing is pretty basic I am just bringing it all together in this droid. If I missed acknowledging someone my apologies, I appreciate everyone who helps IOT along. Other way is to just wait until I update it with all of my final systems and prototype. This is definitely still a work in progress. I am still working on different designs for the housing. Although above in the profile is a pretty close rough outline of how I want it to look.

Original Sketch

caption (optional)

Some pictures of Assembly and Journey along the way.

1 / 3 • laying out mePed

Dome

Additional Parts plus two more for knees

1 / 2 • speperating connectors for extending servo wires

After creating the neck out of balsa affix disc and string servo wires

starting to wire components

Scale of legs

working on weight and balance

Camera, duck antenna, PIR installed along with initial graphics

different position

final position

Materials Needed:

- 1 X Deluxe mePed Kit

- 1 x MicroUsb

- Resisters (depends on power requirements)

- 1 x Balsa Wood Hobby Kit

- 1 x 180 degree fisheye camera serial opt. preferred.

- 1 x 10” round hollow half sphere (Styrofoam)

- 1 x 12“ smooth foam disk (Styrofoam)

- 1 x zip file of 3d printed parts if desired (using Bass wood provided, and balsa wood along with Styrofoam for prototyping purposes.)

- 1 x particle photon

- 1 x duck antenna

- 1 x power source (I am using a power stick) rechargeable.

- 1 x 9v battery and connector

- 1 x microcontroller of choice (using ard.)

- M2 and M3 fasteners or fasteners of choice

- Female and male to female connectors

- 2 x mini breadboards or size of choice. (Just make sure it all fits before committing to a size)

- Zip ties (it’s better to have too many rather, than too little when it comes to zip ties)

- 1 x board of smooth foam (Styrofoam)

- Extra m3 and m2 screws 10mm and 12mm

Optional:

Could use 2 or 3 photons to control everything also. With about same power requirements.

Tools Needed –

Utility Knife, Screw drivers several sizes from normal to tiny, Allen wrench/hex key, plyers, ruler, masking tape or straps of choice, Styrofoam cutting tool kit,

Housing: In prototype phase. In production or final prototype phase will be 3d printed or manufactured. Use zip file of parts with my parts added when 3d printing.

Software Needed;

IDE for Microcontrollers (if ard. Then go with starter code provide with medPed).

Particle Dev, Zip file

Still in software prototyping phase – There are many options out there to create your own though. Depending on your needs. The sensors I am using are pretty standard. Ideally it will be two systems or one integrate. One to notify and control camera. One to control the Recon droid’s movement through Bluetooth or Wifi on your phone. Keep checking for updates on portal1.graphicentertainment.net or this project to find current updates.

Servos use Arduino Uno instead

Duck Antenna, Particle Photon, and PIR sensor

A5 is subjective place the signal on/off where it works best for you. If you are going to use the duck antenna as I have. You will also want to add this to the Firmware.

WiFi.selectAntenna(ANT_EXTERNAL);

some of the software in action

Part of software in action

Although the below is a core the photon is setup the same.

720/1080 180 degree fish eye camera

// SYNTAX

Serial.begin(speed); // via USB port

Serial1.begin(speed); // via TX/RX pins

Serial2.begin(speed); // on Core via

// D1(TX) and D0(RX) pins

// on Photon/Electron via

// RGB-LED green(TX) and

// RGB-LED blue (RX) pins

PIR fritz below

<br/>

Schematics

Code

//========================================================================
// mePed sample code - Scott Pierce - scott@spierce.com - spiercetech.com
//========================================================================
#include <Servo.h>

#define NUM_LEGS 4
#define NUM_SERVOS 8
#define DELAY_TIME 100
#define INCREMENT 5
#define LEG_NUM_STEPS 8

byte servoPins[] = {2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9};

struct legStruct
{
  byte    pinPivot;
  byte    pinLift;
  byte    curPivot;
  byte    curLift;
  byte    minPivot;
  byte    minLift;
  byte    maxPivot;
  byte    maxLift;
  byte    cntrPivot;
  byte    cntrLift;
  byte    homePivot;
  byte    homeLift;
  boolean revPivot;
  boolean revLift;
  boolean backLeg;
  
  Servo   Pivot;
  Servo   Lift;  
};//legStruct

legStruct leg[NUM_LEGS];

struct legPositions
{
  int Pivot;
  int Lift;
};//legPositions

legPositions legFPos[LEG_NUM_STEPS];
legPositions legBPos[LEG_NUM_STEPS];

//================================================================================

void setup()
{

  
  Serial.begin(57600);
  
  for(int i=0; i < NUM_LEGS; i++)
  {
    int servoNum = i*2;
    
    leg[i].pinPivot  = servoPins[servoNum];
    leg[i].pinLift = servoPins[servoNum+1];
    
    leg[i].curPivot  = 0;
    leg[i].curLift   = 0;
    leg[i].minPivot  = 25;
    leg[i].minLift   = 90;  //0;
    leg[i].maxPivot  = 125;
    leg[i].maxLift   = 0;  //100;
    leg[i].cntrPivot = 75; //((leg[i].maxPivot - leg[i].minPivot)/2)+leg[2].minPivot;
    leg[i].cntrLift  = 0; //((leg[i].maxLift - leg[i].minLift)/2)+leg[2].minPivot;
    leg[i].homePivot = leg[i].cntrPivot;
    leg[i].homeLift  = leg[i].cntrLift;
    leg[i].revPivot  = false;
    leg[i].revLift   = false;
    leg[i].backLeg   = false;

    leg[i].Pivot.attach(leg[i].pinPivot);
    leg[i].Lift.attach(leg[i].pinLift);

    leg[i].Pivot.write(leg[i].homePivot);
    leg[i].Lift.write(leg[i].homeLift);

    Serial.println("=================================");
    Serial.print("Leg ");
    Serial.println(i);
    
    Serial.print(" - Pivot Pin = ");
    Serial.println(leg[i].pinPivot);    

    Serial.print(" - Lift Pin = ");
    Serial.println(leg[i].pinLift);    
    
    Serial.print(" - minPivot = ");
    Serial.println(leg[i].minPivot);    

    Serial.print(" - minLift = ");
    Serial.println(leg[i].minLift);    
    
    Serial.print(" - maxPivot = ");
    Serial.println(leg[i].maxPivot);    

    Serial.print(" - maxLift = ");
    Serial.println(leg[i].maxLift);    

    Serial.print(" - curPivot = ");
    Serial.println(leg[i].curPivot);    

    Serial.print(" - curLift = ");
    Serial.println(leg[i].curLift);    
    
    Serial.print(" - cntrPivot = ");
    Serial.println(leg[i].cntrPivot);
    
    Serial.print(" - cntrLift = ");
    Serial.println(leg[i].cntrLift);
    
    Serial.print(" - homePivot = ");
    Serial.println(leg[i].homePivot);

    Serial.print(" - homeLift = ");
    Serial.println(leg[i].homeLift);    
    
    Serial.print(" - revPivot = ");
    Serial.println(leg[i].revPivot);

    Serial.print(" - revLift = ");
    Serial.println(leg[i].revLift);    
    
    Serial.println("");
  }//for
  
  leg[0].revPivot = true;  
  leg[1].revPivot = true;
  
  leg[1].backLeg  = true;
  leg[2].backLeg  = true;  

  //Angle Reletive to Center Position
  legFPos[0].Pivot = 25;
  legFPos[1].Pivot = 0;
  legFPos[2].Pivot = -25;
  legFPos[3].Pivot = -50;
  legFPos[4].Pivot = -50;
  legFPos[5].Pivot = -25;
  legFPos[6].Pivot = 0;
  legFPos[7].Pivot = 25;
  
  //Angle Reletive to Center Position
  legBPos[0].Pivot = 50;
  legBPos[1].Pivot = 25;
  legBPos[2].Pivot = 0;
  legBPos[3].Pivot = -25;
  legBPos[4].Pivot = -25;
  legBPos[5].Pivot = 0;
  legBPos[6].Pivot = 25;
  legBPos[7].Pivot = 50;
  
  int lower = 20;
  int lift = -20;
  
  //Angle Reletive to Center Position
  legFPos[0].Lift = lower;
  legFPos[1].Lift = lower;
  legFPos[2].Lift = lower;
  legFPos[3].Lift = lower;
  legFPos[4].Lift = lift;
  legFPos[5].Lift = lift;
  legFPos[6].Lift = lift;
  legFPos[7].Lift = lift;

  //Angle Reletive to Center Position
  legBPos[0].Lift = lower;
  legBPos[1].Lift = lower;
  legBPos[2].Lift = lower;
  legBPos[3].Lift = lower;
  legBPos[4].Lift = lift;
  legBPos[5].Lift = lift;
  legBPos[6].Lift = lift;
  legBPos[7].Lift = lift;

  leg[0].cntrPivot = 85;
  leg[1].cntrPivot = 85;
  leg[2].cntrPivot = 80;
  leg[3].cntrPivot = 70;
  
}//Setup

//================================================================================

void loop()
{
  //wait 3 seconds before starting to walk
  delay(3000);
  
  while(1==1)
  {
    if ( Serial.available())  
    {
      char ch = Serial.read();
      if(ch == 'a')
        adjustServos();
      
    }//if Serial
    
    testWalk();
    
  }//while
}//loop

//================================================================================

void testWalk()
{
  int pos;
  int posNum;
  int incNum = LEG_NUM_STEPS / 4;
  int revLag = 10;
  
  
  for (int i; i<LEG_NUM_STEPS; i++)
  {
    
    //===== Leg 0 =================================
    
    if(leg[0].backLeg)
      pos = legBPos[i].Pivot;
    else
      pos = legFPos[i].Pivot;
      
    if(leg[0].revPivot)
      leg[0].Pivot.write(leg[0].cntrPivot - pos + revLag);
    else
      leg[0].Pivot.write(leg[0].cntrPivot + pos);
      
    leg[0].Lift.write(leg[0].cntrLift + legFPos[i].Lift);

    //===== Leg 1 =================================
    posNum = getNext(i+(incNum*2));

    if(leg[1].backLeg)
      pos = legBPos[posNum].Pivot;
    else
      pos = legFPos[posNum].Pivot;
    
    if(leg[1].revPivot)
      leg[1].Pivot.write(leg[1].cntrPivot - pos + revLag);
    else
      leg[1].Pivot.write(leg[1].cntrPivot + pos);
      
    leg[1].Lift.write(leg[1].cntrLift + legFPos[posNum].Lift);
    
    //===== Leg 2 =================================    
    posNum = getNext(i+incNum);
    
    if(leg[2].backLeg)
      pos = legBPos[posNum].Pivot;
    else
      pos = legFPos[posNum].Pivot;
    
    if(leg[2].revPivot)
      leg[2].Pivot.write(leg[2].cntrPivot - pos + revLag);
    else
      leg[2].Pivot.write(leg[2].cntrPivot + pos);
      
    leg[2].Lift.write(leg[2].cntrLift + legFPos[posNum].Lift);

    //===== Leg 3 =================================
    posNum = getNext(i+(incNum*3));
    
    if(leg[3].backLeg)
      pos = legBPos[posNum].Pivot;
    else
      pos = legFPos[posNum].Pivot;
    
    if(leg[3].revPivot)
      leg[3].Pivot.write(leg[3].cntrPivot - pos + revLag);
    else
      leg[3].Pivot.write(leg[3].cntrPivot + pos);
      
    leg[3].Lift.write(leg[3].cntrLift + legFPos[posNum].Lift);
    
    
    
    delay(DELAY_TIME);
  }//for i
  
}//testWalk

//================================================================================

int getNext(int val)
{
  int newVal = val;
  
  if(val == 8)
    newVal = 0;
  else if(val == 9)
    newVal = 1;
  else if(val == 10)
    newVal = 2;
  else if(val == 11)
    newVal = 3;
  else if(val == 12)
    newVal = 4;
  else if(val == 13)
    newVal = 5;
    
  return newVal; 
  
}//getNext

//================================================================================

void testLeg(int legNum)
{
  for (int i; i<LEG_NUM_STEPS; i++)
  {
    leg[legNum].Pivot.write(leg[legNum].cntrPivot + legFPos[i].Pivot);
    leg[legNum].Lift.write(leg[legNum].cntrLift + legFPos[i].Lift);
    delay(DELAY_TIME);
  }//for
}//testLeg

//================================================================================

void demo1()
{
  for(int i = leg[0].minLift; i <= leg[0].maxLift; i++)
  {
    leg[0].Lift.write(i);
    leg[1].Lift.write(i);
    leg[2].Lift.write(i);
    leg[3].Lift.write(i);
    Serial.println(i);
    delay(DELAY_TIME);
  }//for

  for(int i = leg[0].maxLift; i >= leg[0].minLift; i--)
  {
    leg[0].Lift.write(i);
    leg[1].Lift.write(i);
    leg[2].Lift.write(i);
    leg[3].Lift.write(i);
    Serial.println(i);
    delay(DELAY_TIME);
  }//for

  for(int i = leg[0].minPivot; i <= leg[0].maxPivot; i++)
  {
    leg[0].Pivot.write(i);
    leg[1].Pivot.write(i);
    leg[2].Pivot.write(i);
    leg[3].Pivot.write(i);
    Serial.println(i);
    delay(DELAY_TIME);
  }//for

  for(int i = leg[0].maxPivot; i >= leg[0].minPivot; i--)
  {
    leg[0].Pivot.write(i);
    leg[1].Pivot.write(i);
    leg[2].Pivot.write(i);
    leg[3].Pivot.write(i);
    Serial.println(i);
    delay(DELAY_TIME);
  }//for
}//demo1

void adjustServos()
{
  int exit = 0;
  byte curLeg = 0;
  byte curPos = 0;

  while(!exit)
  {
    if ( Serial.available())  
    {
      char ch = Serial.read();
    
      switch(ch){
        case '8':
          curPos = leg[curLeg].Lift.read();
          if(curPos+1 > 179)
          {
            Serial.println("You can't turn it up anymore (you might damage it!");
          }
          else
          {
            leg[curLeg].Lift.write(++curPos);
            Serial.print("Lift: ");
            Serial.println(curPos);
            delay(100);
          }
          break;
    
        case '2':
          curPos = leg[curLeg].Lift.read();
          if(curPos == 0)
          {
            Serial.println("You can't turn it up anymore (you might damage it!");
          }
          else
          {
            leg[curLeg].Lift.write(--curPos);
            Serial.print("Lift: ");
            Serial.println(curPos);
            delay(100);
          }
          break;
    
        case '4':
          curPos = leg[curLeg].Pivot.read();
          if(curPos == 0)
          {
            Serial.println("You can't turn it up anymore (you might damage it!");
          }
          else
          {
            leg[curLeg].Pivot.write(--curPos);
            Serial.print("Pivot: ");
            Serial.println(curPos);
            delay(100);
          }
          break;
    
        case '6':
          curPos = leg[curLeg].Pivot.read();
          if(curPos+1 > 179)
          {
            Serial.println("You can't turn it up anymore (you might damage it!");
          }
          else
          {
            leg[curLeg].Pivot.write(++curPos);
            Serial.print("Pivot: ");
            Serial.println(curPos);
            delay(100);
          }
          break;
          
        case 'n':
          if(++curLeg > 3)
          {
            curLeg = 3;
            Serial.println("We have reached last servo");
          }
          
          else
          {
            Serial.print("Switched to Leg ");
            Serial.println(curLeg);
          }
          break;
    
        case 'p':
          if(--curLeg < 0)
          {
            curLeg = 0;
            Serial.println("We have reached first servo");
          }
          else
          {
            Serial.print("Switched to Leg ");
            Serial.println(curLeg);
          }
          break;
  
        case 'x':
          leg[curLeg].maxPivot = curPos;
          leg[curLeg].cntrPivot = (leg[curLeg].maxPivot - leg[curLeg].minPivot)/2;
          break;
  
        case 'm':
          leg[curLeg].minPivot = curPos;
          leg[curLeg].cntrPivot = (leg[curLeg].maxPivot - leg[curLeg].minPivot)/2;
          break;
  
        case 'q':
          exit = 1;
          break;      
  
        default:
          Serial.println("Unknown Command... ");
          break;
      }//Switch
    }//if Serial
  }//while  
}//adjustServos

Credits

Jeremy Dunham

1 project • 10 followers

Developer, designer, animator and all around creator(games, apps, characters, animations, etc..)

Thanks to mePed Quadruped Robot by SpierceTech and Bary Nusz .

Cloud connected Reconnaissance Droid

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Story

Custom parts and enclosures

Basic Starting point

Schematics

Servos

Duck Antenna and PIR sensor

Duck Antenna, Particle Photon, and PIR sensor

Duck Antenna, Particle Photon, and PIR sensor

Camera

Code

Quadruped_Starter_v0.2.ino

Particle Photon ReconDroid Firmware

Original PIR UWA by Bary Nusz

Credits

Jeremy Dunham

Comments

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Cloud connected Reconnaissance Droid

Cloud connected Reconnaissance Droid

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Story

Custom parts and enclosures

Basic Starting point

Schematics

Servos

Duck Antenna and PIR sensor

Duck Antenna, Particle Photon, and PIR sensor

Duck Antenna, Particle Photon, and PIR sensor

Camera

Code

Quadruped_Starter_v0.2.ino

Particle Photon ReconDroid Firmware

Original PIR UWA by Bary Nusz

Credits

Jeremy Dunham

Comments

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