Robot in Target Commercial - Mystery SOLVED - Thanks to JonnyMac

Whit

Anybody know what kind of bot is shown in this Target Commercial - see it about the 52-second mark. Seem to be a single-wheeled balancing bot with some sort of distance sensor.

https://ispot.tv/a/o93m

Here is the spot. Any info? And here is a screen capture...

Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)

Wow, that was a really brief appearance, but nonetheless intriguing -- assuming it wasn't just CGI.

-Phil

Whit

@"Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)" - I wonder if it is part of some sort of kit...

JonnyMac

That robot is a new character in the Star Wars universe. Our friend, Rick Galinson (Propeller-powered mini gun), recently built one to match the [upcoming] movie -- that could be it. It does not use a Propeller. Due to time constraints, he used an OTS balancing robot kit (electronics, Atmel-base). The mechanics were fabricated from scratch (machined and 3d printed).

Whit

@JonnyMac

Thanks! Got it. See https://www.target.com/p/star-wars-d-o-interactive-droid-target-exclusive/-/A-76457119



See the video too.

JonnyMac

Mystery solved -- it's a toy!

Whit

Pretty cool. Check out the 3d model too at the link above.

And look at the following info. Pretty neat for the price...

JonnyMac

I checked in with Rick. The unit he built is for live performances. It is controlled from a standard RC transmitter.

erco

Nice! It's by Hasbro. Jump to 1:00 in the video at https://video.disney.com/watch/a-visit-to-hasbro-galactic-builders-5937708e901a5ebd6b4f2a72

Engineer Melissa certainly belongs in your "Women in Robotics" thread, Whit!

Publison

erco wrote: »

Nice! It's by Hasbro. Jump to 1:00 in the video at https://video.disney.com/watch/a-visit-to-hasbro-galactic-builders-5937708e901a5ebd6b4f2a72

Engineer Melissa certainly belongs in your "Women in Robotics" thread, Whit!

Thumbs up on that video.

Whit

erco wrote: »

Nice! It's by Hasbro. Jump to 1:00 in the video at https://video.disney.com/watch/a-visit-to-hasbro-galactic-builders-5937708e901a5ebd6b4f2a72

Engineer Melissa certainly belongs in your "Women in Robotics" thread, Whit!

@erco - GREAT video and I completely agree about Melissa!

tritonium

Hi
Seems that link erco provided ends up at uk Disney shop!! from here in the uk.
Dave

erco

@tritonium : See if this Youtube video works across the pond. Jump to 1:00. Cheers.

erco

It's interesting that this bot uses static balance. Big internal weight instead of gyros & acceleIerometer required for an inverted pendulum. It's similar to a driveable gerbil ball I made years ago.

Roy Eltham

erco,
What makes you think the D-O bot above is using static balance? They specifically said it uses sensor to balance.
Did I miss something?

tritonium

Hey erco
That link works great.
Lucky kids- what an opportunity.
Nice to see such encouragement from experts to novices.
Thanks

oh by the way did you say sphero was controlled by infra red?- surprised enough ir got through the plastic to the sensor consistently.
Been going to build one for a long time- like many things- highest priority is a micro mouse maze solver.
Been going to do that since the eighties!!!
Dave

erco

DOH, Roy, I think you're right, I spoke too soon. I was watching the disassembled bot and it looked they placed the batteries and a chunk of stuff down low. Bad assumption on my part, it does appear to be doing dynamic balancing upon closer look.

robotsRcool

tritonium wrote: »

oh by the way did you say sphero was controlled by infra red?

My Sphero uses Bluetooth Low Energy for control and not IR.

erco

My ball was IR, Sphero was BTLE.

Whit

erco wrote: »

It's interesting that this bot uses static balance. Big internal weight instead of gyros & accelerometer required for an inverted pendulum. It's similar to a driveable gerbil ball I made years ago.

@erco - I had forgotten about this project. Ingenious!