Introduction: 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:
 - https://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:


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 (https://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.

Step 2: Taking Apart the Roll a Way Clock

Remove the 4 screws at the bottom.
Once open, remove the LCD display assembly with the two push buttons attached to it, they will not be used *.
Remove the snooze button assembly and the four time settings buttons, keep the snooze plastic cover.
Remove the two motor and detach the wires.
Remove the speaker at the bottom.
Remove the battery box.

Warm up your soldering iron for the next steps.

* PS: there are instructions on how to use the clock LCD module with an Arduino and it is what got me started on this when I saw the gear motors inside and the price of the unit at a local store ;)
http://arduino.cc/forum/index.php/topic,51464.0.html

Step 3: Assembling Part 1

Take two of the short length breadboard jumper wire - 4 inches - male to male and cut them in half; 
strip the ends and solder the resulting 4 short wires to the DC motor terminals.
Do the same for the speaker if you decide to use it.

Remove the wires from the battery box and solder two medium length breadboard jumper wire- 6 inches - male to male; you may want to use red and black colors to make it easier to distinguish polarity.

Solder the two 16 DIP sockets pins together keeping the notch on the same side.
Solder a small wire between pins 1 & 16, and one between 8 & 9.
Solder pins 4 & 5 together, and  also pins 12 & 13.
The junctions from pins 1 & 16, and pins 8 & 9  need to be joined, you can either solder a wire between them or use a small jumper wire from the opposite side of the socket..
(See http://www.freewebs.com/isuru-c/motor_driver.htm )



Step 4: Putting It All Together



Of course before cramming everything inside, do a dry run.
Upload the sketch to the Ardweeny and if everything is wired according to the schematic (sorry, I forgot to include the power switch in the diagram) the LED will flash in a heartbeat pattern; the only thing you may have to adjust is the polarity of the motors going to the H bridge. If any of the motors go in the opposite direction when you use the joystick or the keyboard, just reverse the position of the wires for that motor.

Once you are satisfied with the operation, your patience will be tested, as it is pretty crammed inside.
Look at my picture and take your time, you will succeed.

I am working on a smaller socket for the H bridge so that there will be more room inside, however it will not be for the faint of heart as it consists of bending the pins of the IC and soldering it directly to opposite side of the socket.

I hope you like this just as much as I did, I learned a couple of things along the way.

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

Cheers.



National Robotics Week Robot Contest

Finalist in the
National Robotics Week Robot Contest