Elf - my RoboPi + Raspberry Pi 2WD robot

Bill Henning

I thought I'd take a break from my two large fun projects (HexPi and TBMST) to show you guys Elf - my RoboPi + Raspberry Pi + Magician 2WD based robot:

Right now, Elf also has a breadboard, an HC-SR04 ultrasonic range sensor, an L9110S based motor driver, and two battery packs

More details & Photos at my Elf build log at:

http://www.mikronauts.com/robot-zoo/elf-2wd-pi-robot/

Feel free to ask any questions about Elf here!

mklrobo

Bill Henning wrote: »

I thought I'd take a break from my two large fun projects (HexPi and TBMST) to show you guys Elf - my RoboPi + Raspberry Pi + Magician 2WD based robot:

Right now, Elf also has a breadboard, an HC-SR04 ultrasonic range sensor, an L9110S based motor driver, and two battery packs

More details & Photos at my Elf build log at:

http://www.mikronauts.com/robot-zoo/elf-2wd-pi-robot/

Feel free to ask any questions about Elf here!

:cool: Cool robot! What kind of activities does it do? Does Elf stand for Electronic Life Form?

Bill Henning

Thanks!

Right now, Elf can run around avoiding obstacles in front of him.

He is basically my testbed for controlling L9110S motor drivers from RoboPi, and I am working on enhancing the PWM motor API.

Later, he will get additional sensors (Pi Camera for one) and be able to do more

Electronic Life Form... good one!

Actually, I am using mythical creature species names for my Pi test bots:

Sprite - simple bot, without RoboPi, see January 2014 Servo (completed, may be improved in the future)
http://www.mikronauts.com/robot-zoo/sprite/

Elf - this bot, RoboPi + Pi - 2WD gear motor, PWM motor control
http://www.mikronauts.com/robot-zoo/elf-2wd-pi-robot/ (in progress, will be adding camera soon)

my fun/advanced RoboPi/Pi bot under construction (delayed due to work) is
HexPi - RoboPi + Pi - 18 servos - most sophisticated
http://www.mikronauts.com/robot-zoo/hexpi-hexapod-pi-robot/ (delayed due to MG-995 issues)

And since I really like Parallax's Boe-Bot chassis, I am also making

PiBoe - RoboPi + Pi - 2 servo drive, small
http://www.mikronauts.com/robot-zoo/piboe/ (working on it this weekend, planning on adding camera next week)

Yep, I am working on three different robots concurrently - but they all have RoboPi and Raspberry Pi's in common, and are helping me improve my RoboPi API.

I strongly suspect HexPi will take a while to complete... ditto with the associated "The Better Mousetrap" servo tester project.

mklrobo

Awesome projects! I will try to begin one of my own projects too, and probably use your Raspi board in the robot. I have
to complete my "tricorder" project first, as that is a pivot point for the rest of my projects.

Bill Henning

Hi guys,

I've updated my Elf article - today, I added:

- wiring info and photos for the L9110S motor driver
- wiring info and photos for the HC-SR04 range sensor
- sample Python code for RoboPi controlling the motor driver via PWM and reading the range sensor

Elf: http://www.mikronauts.com/robot-zoo/elf-2wd-pi-robot/
RoboPi: www.mikronauts.com/raspberry-pi/robopi/

Coming (hopefully) Soon: compass, Pi camera and more!

Whit

Great info Bill both on Elf and RoboPi - thanks so much for sharing this and in such great detail!

Bill Henning

Thank you Whit!

I am glad you like Elf & RoboPi.

I'll keep updating the Elf article as I add features, I am using Elf as the "low cost gear motor + low cost driver" testbed for RoboPi.

Soon I'll update PiBoe as well... I managed to get him to shrink by making a custom sintra plate to replace the 4"x3" PCB and EZasPi (B), shaving more than an inch off his height! I just need to find time to edit the photos & write up the changes. PiBoe is my "360 servo" testbed for RoboPi.

I need to order some BEC's and better batteries and resume work on HexPi as well...

So many bots... so little time... but it IS FUN!