Roll-A-Way Rover

Age Group: 13 - 18

 My experimental rover that I built from a Roll-A-Way alarm clock that was on clearance for $5.
 It can be controlled via the numeric section of a keyboard when the serial port is connected to a computer or
 a Wii Nunchuck attached directly to it, using either the joystick portion, or the accelerometer while pressing the bigger button.
 
 It uses one of my customized Ardweeny and an H bridge L293D motor driver chip:
 - http://www.instructables.com/id/Ardweeny-2-How-to-customize-an-Ardweeny/
 - http://www.freewebs.com/isuru-c/motor_driver.htm

Here is a preview video:

Assimilated Roll-A-Way Clock from Raf Cellucci on Vimeo.

 

My next step would be to make it wireless and add a couple of sensors; I was thinking of a tiny wireless camera too, however because it rolls so much it would not be very practical.

I hope you like this just as much as I did, I learned a couple of things along the way. I built this at the same time while working on two different robots and rovers, however this one was simpler in hardware requirement and the code, and I can see a lot of potential for learning off it and expanding from it.  Also if you find it too tight to put all the components inside you can always just use the code and the hardware on a bigger customized frame.

Please let me know if something is not clear or you need more details.

Included is my code: Roll_A_Way_Rover_v1_1.pde

Step 1 Parts and Material used

1x   Roll-A-Way Clock
1x   Ardweeny 2 (http://www.instructables.com/id/Ardweeny-2-How-to-customize-an-Ardweeny/ )
1x   USB interface for Ardweeny
1x   H bridge L293D motor driver chip (http://www.freewebs.com/isuru-c/motor_driver.htm )
2x   16 DIP sockets (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dual_in-line_package )
1x   small power switch
1x   LED with small mounting clip
1x   220 ohm resistor
20x Short length Breadboard jumper wire -  4 inches - male to male

For the USB serial interface cable extension:
6x   Medium length Breadboard jumper wire- 6 inches - male to female
2x   Female Socket Strip - Strip of 6

1x   Wii Nunchuck
1x   Wii Nunchuck adapter (http://www.sparkfun.com/products/9281 )
6x   Medium length Breadboard jumper wire- 6 inches - male to male

4x   AAA batteries (rechargeable preferred)

Soldering equipment & basic tools.

Comments

[monkeysinacan]

I found an original Clocky at GoodWill for $3
And this is the first thing I did when I got it home. I had a ton of wires coming out of it's "mouth" to the arduino. (The Uno was way too big to fit inside)
I'm Hoping to Make it completely contained and turn it into a simple wall avoiding bot.

[TheRafMan]

Cool, that's a bargain!
You can always put the Arduino outside on top where the LCD was. Love to see it.

[Win Guy]

Dude, this has POTENTIAL! It's awesome. I have a chrome Clocky^® like this and I love it!
 Win Guy

[TheRafMan]

Thanks and yeah it has a lot of potential. I am still thinking of going wifi and/or Bluetooth with it and even incorporate a built in cam, but it would be a 'rocky' video feed... I am thinking of using an Arduino Pro Mini and a WiFly if I go that route.

You haven't pitched your Clocky against the wall yet after you caught it ? :)

[Win Guy]

1. An Arduino Pro Mini would be a good choice if you were to go wireless - as would a WiFly - and a camera, even if it were to have a rocky video feed, would still be better than no video feed! It's a good idea.

2. No, I haven't pitched Clocky at the wall - I awaken easily enough...

 Thanks for the awesome project!
  Win Guy

[Computothought]

I just bought some l293d's, but have not had a chance to use them yet. Missed the robot contest deadline.

[Mottr]

Where specificly did you get the roll-away-clock? What store. I know the original Clocky's are around 40 dollars. To expensive when there are generic cheap ones, like the one you have.
Very cool.
Thanks

[TheRafMan]

Thank you Mottr.
They are the same and, yeah... makes you wonder what kind of profit margin they have, doesn't it?
I happened to be at Staples last month to pick up some supplies for my daughter when I saw them at $4.97 but didn't buy them right away. A couple of days later I saw this post on Hackaday (http://hackaday.com/2011/02/10/driving-a-salvaged-lcd/) and realized that they would be good for parts alone at that price, so went back and bought a couple; I then just stored them on a shelf, until last week when the idea of making one into a rover came back to me and decided to do it.
Now I really want it to be wireless and I am waiting for the YellowJacket from AsyncLabs to be available again.

[Mottr]

Thanks, I will check at my local Staples for some. Hope there are some because I'm looking for another arduino project.

Mottr