build your r2d2! or should I say, ardu-d2

Published March 26, 2021 © GPL3+

ardu-d2

All of us just love r2d2 from star wars- why not build your own!

IntermediateFull instructions provided304

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Arduino UNO

you can use any arduino- clone or original. i have used the older original version.

Geared DC Motor, 12 V

i have used the common yellow gear motor

Pimoroni Maker Essentials - Micro-motors & Grippy Wheels

you can use the standard gear motor wheels too.

9V battery (generic)

you can also use 2 batteries for each motor.

9V Battery Clip

Tinned Copper Wire, Solid

you can also use plain wire that you commonly get in shops.

Battery Holder, AA x 2

LED, RGB

if you dont have this type of rgb you may use any other colour or another rgb.

Toggle Switch, Toggle

you may use any switch of your choice.

SG90 Micro-servo motor

9V to Barrel Jack Connector

you may also use a usb or any other suitable power source for your arduino.

Jumper wires (generic)

use male to male jumpers.

Software apps and online services

Arduino IDE

you can also use the arduino web editor or any other suitable app.

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Scissor, Electrician

any scissor will do.

Hot glue gun (generic)

you can also use any other super glue, if you do not have a glue gun.

Wire Stripper, High Carbon Steel

any other wire cutter, or a scissor will also suffice.

Drill, Screwdriver

any drill will do. also, you can use a hot iron or soldering iron to make holes.

Tape Measure, Manual

You may also use a scale.

Story

build your r2d2! or should I say, ardu-d2

r2d2 is a cute little droid! and most fans of star wars would love to have him as a toy, or a model. so if you are an arduino nerd and a star wars fan, you can build these very easily! I built this using simple materials that I found in my house.

actually its been only a month since I started watching star wars- and by the time I completed episode one, I knew that I just had to make r2! so I began the work a week or two later. and its been about 2 or three years since I started doing robotics, so it only took me about 2 or 3 days to build r2. though my droid does not look like the original one, it pretty much does the same things- but not repair! it only moves in a straight line and has an rgb led on its head. so now where does the arduino come in? the head rotates using the sweep servo program. so now, lets begin our work! now we can start building our bot.

HOW TO BUILD r2d2

first take a large cylindrical tin, say an ice cream tin. remove the lid and keep it aside. On the outer side of the cylindrical lid, stick one gear motor in an appropriate position. If you have dual shaft motors then drill a hole for the extra shaft and stick the motor using glue. Opposite to this motor, stick the other motor in the same way. Attach the wheels. Above the two motors, drill two holes each For the wires. Wire the motors as shown in the diagram. Place the battery inside the tin. on the back part of the tin(opposite direction of the direction in which the wheels move) drill another two holes and fix the switch outside. Alternately keep the switch inside and wire it. Your engine is now ready. make sure both motors run in the same direction.

now take the lid. Drill two holes a little after the edge. Now cut some rectangular cardboard pieces of size 3cm x 3.5 or 4 cm. Stick these along the edge as shown in the picture, in such a way that there are triangular, or trapezium or any other similar shaped gaps in between. Fill these gaps using cardboard cut into the required shapes. Then, on one cardboard rectangle in the front side, make a hole as to stick the rgb led. Glue it in. Attach wires to the led and extend them through the holes. Now close half of the top part with an appropriately cut piece. For the other half, cut the required piece and cello tape this piece onto the other piece in such a way that the tape acts as a hinge and will serve as an openable hatch, just in case of any repair. Now place the AA cell holder inside the tin and do the required connection with the led as given in the diagram. stick the switch outside near the other switch and make holes for the wire. Now test the led. If you do not have a cell holder you can use a button battery with the same connections.

let us now start the work on the rotating head. Program and wire your arduino as given below. Stick an ice cream stick inside the tin So that the servo can be stuck on that. next drill a hole near the bottom so that the barrel of the barrel jack can be placed inside while the connector stays outside. Connect the Arduino to the jack and place it inside. Now back to the servo. Stick the lid on the servo. If the groove of the lid prevents rotation, reduce the friction by applying cello tape or insulation tape. Now test it. Your ardu d2 is ready!😀

Now decorate your bot! Have fun!

Code

code for the servo motor

/* Sweep
 by BARRAGAN <http://barraganstudio.com>
 This example code is in the public domain.

 modified 8 Nov 2013
 by Scott Fitzgerald
 http://www.arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/Sweep
*/

#include <Servo.h>

Servo myservo;  // create servo object to control a servo
// twelve servo objects can be created on most boards

int pos = 0;    // variable to store the servo position

void setup() {
  myservo.attach(9);  // attaches the servo on pin 9 to the servo object
}

void loop() {
  for (pos = 0; pos <= 180; pos += 1) { // goes from 0 degrees to 180 degrees
    // in steps of 1 degree
    myservo.write(pos);              // tell servo to go to position in variable 'pos'
    delay(15);                       // waits 15ms for the servo to reach the position
  }
  for (pos = 180; pos >= 0; pos -= 1) { // goes from 180 degrees to 0 degrees
    myservo.write(pos);              // tell servo to go to position in variable 'pos'
    delay(15);                       // waits 15ms for the servo to reach the position
  }
}

ardu-d2

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Story

build your r2d2! or should I say, ardu-d2

Schematics

motor diagram, led diagram, servo diagram

led diagram

servo diagram

Code

code for the servo motor

Credits

arduino_mastermind

Comments

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ardu-d2

ardu-d2

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Story

build your r2d2! or should I say, ardu-d2

Schematics

motor diagram, led diagram, servo diagram

led diagram

servo diagram

Code

code for the servo motor

Credits

arduino_mastermind

Comments

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