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TyroBot Alive

A project log for TyroBot

Easy to build and program walking robot. Powerful 32bit microcontroller, 7 servos, touchscreen display, and 3D printed parts

tyspatyspa 12/12/2016 at 20:352 Comments

Before reading, please fill out this 6 question survey regarding my project to potentially win a $50 3D hubs gift card!

Despite the clear lack of project documentation by me, progress on TyroBot is still underway albeit less due to school. Some main points on progress since Auguest:

With the board working and the robot moving around exquisitely, I decided to shift focus to the human user interface. In the above picture, TyroBot is aesthetically complete, but the touchscreen is yet to be operational and the electronics are seen in the background.

One of the main goals of this project is usability. TyroBot in its name references the newbie. When complete, TyroBot will be printable on a bed of only 4"^3, and can be assembled with only a small screw driver. Other robots like this exist, but no robot will compare when it comes to software.

One of the biggest advantages TyroBot will have to other robots is its software. TyroBot will not force the user to copy and paste code from stack overflow or be limited with an iPhone app. TyroBot will be programmed either from an IDE similar to Arduino (but better) or directly from the the display on the robot's face. My current challenge is getting the display to work.

Instead of a static face like many robots, TyroBot's face will be a flat 2.8" touchscreen display. This will allow me or the user to change TyroBot's expression or robot settings without the need of an external computer or phone. I've convinced displays from ebay already on PCB's to work, and am in the process of designing TyroBot's rev 3 board to work with the displays out of the box. Instead of using the 40 pin ili9341 displays Adafruit uses, I will be using 18 pin variants like the ones found on the red ebay boards. If anyone has done this before, let me know, I need all the help I can get.

    Discussions

    deʃhipu wrote 12/13/2016 at 10:14 point

    Nice to see it alive and kicking!

    Any chance for a video of it walking?

      Are you sure? yes | no

    tyspa wrote 12/13/2016 at 14:40 point

    Once I get the screen working and put all the electronics put back together a video will be posted. :)

      Are you sure? yes | no