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Mato Go Home

A project log for Little Friend

This companion robot, 9000 farads of super capacitance, spends less than eight minutes feeding--then 75 minutes or more she can be a buddy.

mike-rigsbyMike Rigsby 07/13/2016 at 15:400 Comments

This is the first phase of the "get home and recharge" project. By providing an illuminated, shielded homing light, Mato can take a "straight on" approach and come to the point light source.

I started by 3d printing a homing beacon (3d part and design files available on this site) into which I placed "stick on" led lights.

Next, I slid the cover over the led lights.

Then I tested it to see that the light could be diffused through the shield.

I took a 6 inch long 1 x 2 and screwed it to a 1 x 4 to make a stable base.

Now I'm ready to put the white piece (friction fit) onto the wood and place the beacon inside that.

OK--so Mato will now line up with and drive into the light source. Next, I have to get Mato to stop when she arrives at the source.

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