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Robotic Arm for Electronic Workshop

Collaborative Robotic Arm with Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Used as Assistant in an Electronic Workshop by Voice Commands

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The main functions of my project are: a) Controlling and depopulating PCBs for harvesting chips, resistors, capacitors, coils, etc; b) Pick and place a box; and c) Controlling a bottle. Here I am using Artificial Intelligence (AI), but with hardware as Alexa Echo Dot, ESP32-WROOM-32, and Arduino Nano 33 BLE Sense; and free open source tools such as FauxmoESP library an Arduino IDE. Using a robotic arm as a third arm can be a very good idea in difficult cases where we are looking for a good placement of the object that we want to remove from the PCB.

This project was a good experience as I used a free tool to control my robot arm with the Alexa Echo Dot device. Also I can increase the voice commands as far as the memory capacity of the processor allows. As you can see, the clamp has large dimensions, so it can hold much larger objects, or even hold them in the right place so that we can work comfortably, the results were interesting and you can see them in the video below

servoMG995-datasheet.pdf

Servo_datasheet

Adobe Portable Document Format - 98.94 kB - 05/14/2022 at 16:44

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  • 1 × 6 DOF Robotic Arm
  • 1 × Alexa Echo Dot (3rd Gen)
  • 1 × Arduino NANO 33 BLE Sense
  • 1 × ESP32-WROOM-32

  • 6. Test and Conclusion

    Guillermo Perez Guillen05/12/2022 at 04:22 0 comments

    In the video below I show you the tests with a PCD board and harvesting a connector.

    Now, pick and place a box containing a lamp.

    Finally, in the video below I show you the tests with a water bottle

    Conclusion

    • I have used free tools to develop a robotic arm that can help us in the tasks of an electronic workshop, eg:
    • Achieve desoldering unusable PCB boards, where I have recovered and reused hundreds of components such as chips, capacitors, and resistors. The robotic arm has a stall torque of 8.5 kgfxcm (4.8V) and 10 kgfxcm (6V) in each servo, so the force used is less in manipulating PCB boards;
    • The test of picking and moving a box with a lamp, I have used it as an experimental test, since I would really like it to pick and place the unsoldered electronic components, but in this case I will have to make modifications in the robotic arm clamp to achieve this effect; and
    • The test of holding and moving a bottle has also served as an experimental test, since my intention is that it provides me with isopropyl alcohol to clean PCB boards and desoldered electronic components. Even I could develop a small fire system with this idea.
    • Finally, I also have plans for the future with this innovative idea, but I will publish these in my next log.

  • 5. Code for Arduino NANO 33 BLE Sense board

    Guillermo Perez Guillen05/12/2022 at 03:59 0 comments

    To programming the Arduino NANO 33 BLE Sense, I have used next code: robot-arm-arduinonano.ino

    #include <Servo.h>
    
    Servo myservo1;  // create servo1 object to control a servo1
    Servo myservo2;  // create servo2 object to control a servo2
    Servo myservo3;  // create servo3 object to control a servo3
    Servo myservo4;  // create servo4 object to control a servo4
    Servo myservo5;  // create servo5 object to control a servo5
    Servo myservo6;  // create servo6 object to control a servo6
    
    #define RED 22     
    #define BLUE 24     
    #define GREEN 23
    #define LED_PWR 25
    
    int pos1 = 90;    // variable to store the servo1 position - front
    int pos2 = 90;    // variable to store the servo2 position - vertical
    int pos3 = 90;    // variable to store the servo3 position - vertical
    int pos4 = 150;   // variable to store the servo4 position - vertical
    int pos5 = 90;    // variable to store the servo5 position - vertical
    int pos6 = 20;    // variable to store the servo6 position - gripper close
    
    const int buttonPin1 = 4;     // the number of the pushbutton pin
    const int buttonPin2 = 7;     // the number of the pushbutton pin
    const int buttonPin3 = 8;     // the number of the pushbutton pin
    const int buttonPin4 = 12;    // the number of the pushbutton pin
    const int buttonPin5 = 13;    // the number of the pushbutton pin
    const int buttonPin6 = 2;     // the number of the pushbutton pin
    
    int buttonState1 = 0;         // variable for reading the pushbutton status
    int buttonState2 = 0;         // variable for reading the pushbutton status
    int buttonState3 = 0;         // variable for reading the pushbutton status
    int buttonState4 = 0;         // variable for reading the pushbutton status
    int buttonState5 = 0;         // variable for reading the pushbutton status
    int buttonState6 = 0;         // variable for reading the pushbutton status
    
    void setup() {
      myservo1.attach(3);  // attaches the servo on pin 3 to the servo object
      myservo2.attach(5);  // attaches the servo on pin 5 to the servo object
      myservo3.attach(6);  // attaches the servo on pin 3 to the servo object
      myservo4.attach(9);  // attaches the servo on pin 3 to the servo object 
      myservo5.attach(10); // attaches the servo on pin 3 to the servo object 
      myservo6.attach(11); // attaches the servo on pin 3 to the servo object
    
      pinMode(buttonPin1, INPUT);
      pinMode(buttonPin2, INPUT);
      pinMode(buttonPin3, INPUT);
      pinMode(buttonPin4, INPUT);
      pinMode(buttonPin5, INPUT);
      pinMode(buttonPin6, INPUT);  
    
    // intitialize the digital Pin as an output
    pinMode(RED, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(RED, LOW);
      
    pinMode(BLUE, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(BLUE, LOW);
    
    pinMode(GREEN, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(GREEN, LOW);
    
    pinMode(LED_PWR, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(LED_PWR, LOW);
    }
    
    void loop() {
      // read the state of the pushbutton value:
      buttonState1 = digitalRead(buttonPin1);
      buttonState2 = digitalRead(buttonPin2);
      buttonState3 = digitalRead(buttonPin3);
      buttonState4 = digitalRead(buttonPin4);
      buttonState5 = digitalRead(buttonPin5);
      buttonState6 = digitalRead(buttonPin6);
    
      // check if the button is is HIGH:
      if (buttonState1 == HIGH) {
        // MOVE THE OBJECT (BOX)
        digitalWrite(LED_PWR, LOW);
        digitalWrite(GREEN, LOW);
        digitalWrite(BLUE, LOW);    
        digitalWrite(RED, HIGH);
    
    
      } else  {
        // END
        digitalWrite(RED, LOW);
        digitalWrite(GREEN, LOW);
        digitalWrite(BLUE, LOW);    
        digitalWrite(LED_PWR, HIGH);    
        delay(10);
      }          
    }
    

    You can get the codes on the download section or the github account of the main post.

  • 4. Code for ESP32 board

    Guillermo Perez Guillen05/12/2022 at 03:52 0 comments

    To programming the ESP32-WROOM-32 I have used next code: robot-arm-esp32.ino

    // AUTHOR: GUILLERMO PEREZ GUILLEN
    
    #include <Arduino.h>
      #include <WiFi.h>
      #define LED_BUILTIN 2 // define the GPIO 2 as LED_BUILTIN  
      #define RELAY_PIN_3 17  // LAMP 3 
      #define RELAY_PIN_4 18  // LAMP 4
      #define RELAY_PIN_5 19  // LAMP 5 
      #define RELAY_PIN_6 21  // LAMP 6        
    
    #include <fauxmoESP.h>
    #define SERIAL_BAUDRATE 115200
    #define WIFI_SSID "*********"
    #define WIFI_PASS "************"
    #define LAMP_1 "box" // 
    #define LAMP_2 "breadboard" // 
    #define LAMP_3 "bottle" // 
    //#define LAMP_4 "lamp four" // 
    
    fauxmoESP fauxmo;
    
    // Wi-Fi Connection
    void wifiSetup() {
      // Set WIFI module to STA mode
      WiFi.mode(WIFI_STA);
    
      // Connect
      Serial.printf("[WIFI] Connecting to %s ", WIFI_SSID);
      WiFi.begin(WIFI_SSID, WIFI_PASS);
    
      // Wait
     
      Serial.println();
    
      // Connected!
      Serial.printf("[WIFI] STATION Mode, SSID: %s, IP address: %s\n", WiFi.SSID().c_str(), WiFi.localIP().toString().c_str());
    }
    
    void setup() {
    
      // Init serial port and clean garbage
      Serial.begin(SERIAL_BAUDRATE);
      Serial.println();
    
      // Wi-Fi connection
      wifiSetup();
    
      // LED
    
      pinMode(LED_BUILTIN, OUTPUT); // initialize GPIO pin 2 LED_BUILTIN as an output.
      digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, HIGH);   // turn the LED on 
      
    
      // Add virtual devices
      fauxmo.addDevice(LAMP_1);
      fauxmo.addDevice(LAMP_2);
      fauxmo.addDevice(LAMP_3); 
    //  fauxmo.addDevice(LAMP_4);
    
      fauxmo.onSetState([](unsigned char device_id, const char * device_name, bool state, unsigned char value) {
        // Callback when a command from Alexa is received. 
        // You can use device_id or device_name to choose the element to perform an action onto (relay, LED,...)
        // State is a boolean (ON/OFF) and value a number from 0 to 255 (if you say "set kitchen light to 50%" you will receive a 128 here).
        // Just remember not to delay too much here, this is a callback, exit as soon as possible.
        // If you have to do something more involved here set a flag and process it in your main loop.
            
        Serial.printf("[MAIN] Device #%d (%s) state: %s value: %d\n", device_id, device_name, state ? "ON" : "OFF", value);
    
    ////////// MOVE THE BOX //////////
        if ( (strcmp(device_name, LAMP_1) == 0) ) {
          Serial.println("RELAY 1 switched by Alexa");
          if (state) {
            digitalWrite(RELAY_PIN_1, HIGH);
            delay(1000);
            digitalWrite(RELAY_PIN_1, LOW);
          } else {
            digitalWrite(RELAY_PIN_2, HIGH);
            delay(1000);
            digitalWrite(RELAY_PIN_2, LOW);
          }
        }
    
    
    void loop() {
      static unsigned long last = millis();
      if (millis() - last > 5000) {
        last = millis();
        Serial.printf("[MAIN] Free heap: %d bytes\n", ESP.getFreeHeap());
      }    
    }
    

     Dont forget to insert the credentials of your modem in the Wi-Fi.

    #define WIFI_SSID "*********"

    #define WIFI_PASS "************"

  • 3. Software

    Guillermo Perez Guillen05/12/2022 at 03:38 0 comments

    Prerequisites

    The FauxmoESP

    To control the ESP32 with Alexa Echo Dot, you need to install the FauxmoESP library. This library emulates a Belkin Wemo device, allowing you to control your ESP32 using this protocol. This way, the Echo Dot instantly recognizes the device, after uploading the code, without any extra skills or third party services. You can read more about FauxmoESP here:

    https://bitbucket.org/xoseperez/fauxmoesp/src/master/

    https://github.com/vintlabs/fauxmoESP

    Installing the ESP32 Board in Arduino IDE

    In order to upload code to your ESP32 using Arduino IDE, you should install an add-on for the Arduino IDE that allows you to program the ESP32 using the Arduino IDE and its programming language. You can read more about Installing the ESP32 Board in Arduino IDE here:

    https://randomnerdtutorials.com/installing-the-esp32-board-in-arduino-ide-windows-instructions/

    Installing the AsyncTCP Library

    You also need to install the AsyncTCP Library. You can read more about Installing the AsyncTCP Library here:

    https://github.com/me-no-dev/AsyncTCP

  • 2. Hardware

    Guillermo Perez Guillen05/12/2022 at 03:35 0 comments

    The schematic diagram below shows the electrical connections of the electronic components.

    How does it work?

    • We use voice commands to perform three functions: 1) controlling a bottle; 2) controlling a board; and 3) controlling a box.
    • The voice commands are activated through Alexa Echo Dot, and they reach the ESP32-WROOM-32 board via WiFi.
    • Finally, these voice commands are transmitted to the Arduino Nano 33 BLE Sense board, which controls the robot arm.

  • 1. Introduction

    Guillermo Perez Guillen05/12/2022 at 03:29 0 comments

    A cobot, or collaborative robot, is a robot intended for direct human robot interaction within a shared space, or where humans and robots are in close proximity. Cobot applications contrast with traditional industrial robot applications in which robots are isolated from human contact. Cobot safety may rely on lightweight construction materials, rounded edges, and inherent limitation of speed and force, or on sensors and software that ensures safe behavior.

    Cobots can have many uses, from information robots in public spaces, logistics robots that transport materials within a building, to industrial robots that help automate unergonomic tasks such as helping people moving heavy parts, or machine feeding or assembly operations.

    In my case, the innovation consists of developing a collaborative robot for home use that helps me in my tasks of extracting electronic components from unusable PCB boards. By this method I have managed to recover chips, transistors, and diodes as shown in the image below.

    I have also recovered electrolytic and ceramic capacitors.

    Even a few hundred resistors and potentiometers of different values and types.

View all 6 project logs

  • 1
    Software apps and online services
    • Arduino IDE
    • The FauxmoESP library
    • the AsyncTCP Library
  • 2
    Hand tools and fabrication machines
    • Digital Multimeter
    • Soldering iron (generic)
    • Switching Power Supply - 330W

    View all instructions

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    Discussions

    Guillermo Perez Guillen wrote 06/10/2022 at 20:16 point

    This project is innovative and revampes the electronic recycling market... even we can make adaptations to the gripper to collect different sizes of electronic devices, or mount support brackets to handle different types of PCB boards.

      Are you sure? yes | no

    Guillermo Perez Guillen wrote 06/10/2022 at 19:46 point

    In an electronics workshop this project helps to solve the problem of extracting components from old PCB boards, such as resistors, capacitors, diodes, transistors, inductors, chips, etc. for later reuse or recycling.

      Are you sure? yes | no

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