antintro3.jpg
Build a robot ant that can be remote controlled or operate autonomously. Using an infrared detector, it can find and pick up objects. It is controlled by a Picaxe 20x-2 microcontroller.

While this is a fairly intricate robot, some of the motor techniques and circuits can be used for other simpler robots.

This instructable shows how to:

1-Use a Picaxe controller to receive remote control signals from a standard universal TV remote.

2-Use a Picaxe controller to interface with an infrared distance sensor.

3-Send serial commands to a serial motor controller or serial servo controller.

4-Make a simple one servo robot gripper.



The video shows the robot using infrared to locate and pick up a wooden block. It also shows that like most ants, the robot ant has a certain disdain for its puny human masters.

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Step 1: How It Works

anttop.jpg
A Picaxe 20x-2 microcontroller controls an infrared distance sensor to locate and pick up objects. It uses serial commands to control a motor controller which operates the two gear motors that move the tank treads to propel the robot.

It also uses serial commands to control a servo controller which positions the three servos which operate the body, head and gripper movements.

It can be controlled by a standard TV remote control or it can operate autonomously.

The robot ant uses modular construction. Each circuit is a module that plugs into .1" header sockets. This makes it easy to test each circuit on a breadboard before it is installed. It also makes the modules available for the next robot or other project.

For details on making these modules see: http://www.instructables.com/id/Picaxe-Projects-1-Making-Fast-Printed-Circuit-Mo/

The robot ant is about 12 inches long and was made intentionally larger than necessary to allow room for more circuits. I intend to use it as a test platform for skin sensors and antenna sensors that I am working on.



ThamarBerber says: Dec 22, 2012. 7:27 PM
Wow! I could use this, only a bit bigger, and taller, or something in an robot arm, to get my bottles out of the fridge! Nice work!
Ironsloth1993 says: Aug 31, 2012. 3:24 PM
Thanks for replying early. Perhaps for the gear problems you could use piezoelectric materials. I don't know much about them, but they are smaller.
Matrix-technician says: Feb 13, 2011. 7:32 PM
Wow, for $39 this is an awsome build. I would like to see someone miniaturize it, as i have almost no skills is robotics building. keep up the good work! 5*
Mr.Stein says: Oct 30, 2011. 6:19 PM
It's actually $300. $39 is for the treads.
mman1506 says: Feb 13, 2011. 5:31 PM
cool robot really like the tank treads but the price is kinda steep at 39$
Mr.Stein says: Oct 30, 2011. 6:16 PM
What!? It's more like $300.
swilus says: Feb 13, 2011. 9:38 PM
Seriously? You can spend $39.00 on a movie and snacks for 2-3 people!
Kolf35 says: Mar 24, 2011. 5:21 AM
u kidding?im goin on a date soon and im gonna haf to pay 50 bucks nearly!!!!!!!!!
mman1506 says: Mar 24, 2011. 5:47 AM
Read the whole thread the total robot costs 300$. The tank treads cost 40$.
D5quar3 says: Feb 16, 2011. 9:47 AM
Ive spent 200 dollars now for my robot and it is still not working I wish I could take it all back and spend 39 dollars for a robot that does more than mine.
mikey77 (author) says: Feb 16, 2011. 7:08 PM
Sorry, the 39 dollars was just for the tank treads and two drive motors. The robot ant parts cost about $300 in total.

Don't give up on yours. Most of my robots do not work well for long periods of time until I slowly find all the bugs and eliminate them.
D5quar3 says: Feb 16, 2011. 8:10 PM
I have heard the dont give up on it a lot of times before, and I will not until I at least get this one done and then get more complex

thx for the encouragement
mman1506 says: Feb 16, 2011. 7:28 PM
I think people read my comment wrong i was just thinking of a cheaper method for the tank treads like the tamiya gearbox. I personnaly use use the picaxe all the time
Mr.Stein says: Oct 30, 2011. 6:14 PM
It might have been easier to read if you used punctuation.
pbecker83 says: Jun 23, 2011. 3:37 PM
Agreed. We are using this chip for a low cost robot kit for our robotics club here in Nashville. Great projects!
Kolf35 says: Mar 24, 2011. 5:19 AM
the vidyo was amazing!!!!!!!!
raykholo says: Feb 14, 2011. 5:46 PM
Your instructables keep getting better and better. Keep up the awesome work!
atomicwaterstudios says: Feb 14, 2011. 4:05 AM
how do i fave this thing???!?!!? i love it!!!
ynze says: Feb 14, 2011. 12:33 AM
Great!
ChrysN says: Feb 13, 2011. 4:03 PM
Awesome!
iminthebathroom says: Feb 13, 2011. 2:33 PM
sweet!!!!!!!!
Dr. Pepper says: Feb 13, 2011. 2:10 PM
Amazing!
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