How To Build A Simple Robot
Posted on May 29th, 2005 in How To Make a Robot, ProjectsThis article lists some ideas for starting a simple robot. A good read for beginners.
Do not miss the new up-to-date and detailed How to Build a Robot – Grand Tutorial Series.
If you like this article, check out this. How to Build A Simple Robot, The Beetle Robot.
This is the first of a multi-part series on how to build a simple robot. I will not be covering a lot of theory but instead will cover the nuts and bolts of building a robot. In this first instalment I will cover some of the different options in building this robot.
Platform:
You have several options for the base material.
- Wood Depending on the size of your robot plywood may be a good choice it is inexpensive or free and easy to work with simple tools. You can get 1/4″ and 3/8″ plywood at Hardware, Home Improvement, Craft, or Hobby stores. A good place to look for free material is at a Cabinet shop they have lots of scrap too small for their use but perfect for a small robot.
- Aluminium Light weight and moderately easy to work can also be found at Hardware, Home Improvement, Craft, or Hobby stores. You should always be very cautious when working with aluminum as edges can be very sharp and should be sanded or filed to round the edges.
- Plastics Acrylic or Plexiglas are both easy to work and can also be found at Hardware, Home Improvement, Craft, or Hobby stores. High-speed tools should not be used, as they will melt the plastic. When cutting or drilling use low speeds.
- Old CD’s These can be easy to find most people get them in the mail from AOL or Earthlink instead of throwing them away you can use them to make a robot. They can be a little on the brittle side so go easy when you do any cutting or drilling. I will be using Plexiglas from my local home center but you can use whatever material you want.
Motors:
- Servos You can use servos for easy to get gear motors. Hobby shops will usually carry several sizes and brands. You will need to modify them for use there are many sites on the net with different methods; the one I like is detailed at the PARTS website. Servos already have all of the control circuitry built in and are easy to control they have 3 wires signal, +, and ground by pulsing the signal line you can go forward, stop, or backward. Servos are probably the easiest and cheapest way to go but may not be the best for you.
- Gear motors These are available from surplus stores or hobby shops some people modify servos and remove the electronics to use them as gear motors. Gear motors will require control circuitry normally an H-bridge to allow forward and reverse motion and in some cases braking. Gear motors can give the greatest flexibility but at a higher cost compared to servos. Another source for gear motors is the toy section of your locale department store. What you want are the radio control toys that have differential steering, meaning they have a separate motor for each side. To turn left they go forward on the right motor and turn off the left motor and do the opposite to turn right. The really good cars will turn right by going backward on the right motor and forward on the left this will allow a vehicle to almost turn on a dime. If you use gear motors you will need to devise a method to mount the wheels I will be using a toy for my example.
Wheels:
You can use wheels from toys or you can buy wheels from a hobby shop they have pneumatic or foam wheels for model aircraft that are very easy to use.
Power System:
Batteries You will need to decide what type of batteries to use. It can quickly become very expensive replacing batteries. Rechargeable batteries are best; there are a number of different types to choose from. Electronic supply stores or Hobby shops are good places to look, you will need batteries and a charger to charge them with.
Power supply We will need a voltage regulator to drop the voltage from the battery to the 5 volts needed by the Microcontroller and other parts of the Brain for the robot.
I will cover using two different voltage regulators both are available FREE from National Semiconductor as samples. Each part has its good and bad points:
LM2825 Integrated Power Supply 1A DC-DC Converter is a complete switching power supply on a 24 pin DIP although a little large it requires no other components and has an efficiency of 80%. It does require at least 7 volts on the input but your batteries will last much longer than with a linear regulator.
LM2940 1A Low Dropout Regulator is a linear regulator in a TO 220 package it requires a couple of filter capacitors it is not as efficient as the LM2825 the big up point is it only requires 5.5 volts input to give a regulated 5 volts out.
For the brain, lets have a look at three different microcontroller’s. I will admit I am bias when it comes to Basic Micro products as I have been using them for quit a while now and have always been very happy with the products and the support.
Atom from Basic Micro is mostly compatible with the Basic Stamp but is much better, just to name a few of the things that set it above the Basic Stamp:
- 8k of program space
- IDE for programming
- ICD for in circuit debugging lets you watch your program run
- Floating point 32×32 bit math allows you to do real math. In case you don’t now it 5/2=2 to a Basic stamp but to the Atom 5/2=2.5
- Interrupts (Up to 14 Sources) allow the Atom to stop where it is in a program and jump to another part of a program and when finished go back where it came from based on an event either internal or external.
- Analogue to Digital Converter 4 10 bit analog to digital converters.
You can also buy the Atom28 28 Pin Interpreter Chip and build it up on a solderless bread board.
Basic Stamp from Parrallax the old workhorse of the list has a well-established base of users and resources. Their educational resources are outstanding and nothing else really compares they have texts on Robotics, Earth Measurements, Industrial Control, and more.
PIC16F876 Programmed with Mbasic compiler also from Basic Micro version 5.0 is basically syntax compatible with the Atom most of the differences being pin designations with Mbasic you can use any one of a number of PIC Micros. I will provide a hex file of the program so that those who don’t want to buy a compiler at this time can still build the robot. I will have PIC16F876 chips programmed with a boot loader available to those who don’t have the ability to program pic’s you can download the ISP-PRO Programmer software Ver 4.0.4.1 from Basic Micro to program the chips using the boot loader. If you purchase an ISP-PRO you can make all the boot loader chips you want for free.
Any of the micro controllers above are a good choice so which should you choose? I personally like the Atom it is superior to the Basic Stamp. Below are the prices for both the module and the development kit with module for each. Though you don’t have to buy the development kit it will make the project much simpler and really is money well spent.
Cost:
Basic Micro
Atom Module $59.95
Atom Combo $129.95
Parallax
BASIC Stamp 2 Module $49.00
BS2 Starter Kit with Board of Education $159.00
You could also just buy the module and a solderless breadboard or piece of perf board to build on instead of a development board and save a little money.
A third choice is to buy a Basic compiler; I will be using Basic Micro’s 2840 Combo w/ Pro Compiler. This development board lets you use either 28 or 40 pin PIC’s. I will be using the 5.0 beta Version of the Mbasic compiler which is still in beta the current version is 4.0.3 but the 5.0 should be available by the time we start the programming and updates are free.
Below are some things that make the Atom or Mbasic compiler far superior to the Basic stamp they are speed, Basic interrupts, and hardware pulse width modulation.
The first speed is obvious; you can’t have too much speed. The second Basic interrupts we will use by connecting whiskers so they generate an interrupt if something is bumped and the program will jump to a subroutine that will determine the correct course of action and after it completes that returning to continue the program from where it was when the interrupt was generated.
The third hardware pulse width modulation will really shine if you use gear motors instead of servos. With the Basic Stamp we will just be able to turn the motors on at one speed because we have other things to do. We will not be able to do variable speed but the Atom or a PIC16F876 both have 2 hardware pulse width modulation channels which means we can set the pulse width and it continues until we change or stop it which will give us variable speed.
For gear motors we can use the same HPWM command on the Atom to get a variable speed. The Basic stamp has a PWM command but it is done with software and the Stamp cannot do anything else so it is not really usable for variable motor speed because we will not get smooth movement so all we can do is turn the motor on full speed
Sensors:
We will use infrared obstacle avoidance and bump sensors we will use the PNA4612M it is easy to use and inexpensive you could substitute the infrared detection module from Radio Shack. So what will you need to complete a robot as described in this series of articles? Material for a base a piece of material 8″ x 8″ will be more than enough.
Motors:
You will need 2 motors either servo’s modified for continuous rotation or gear motors. You could also hack a toy that has the motors and the wheels or even legs.
A toy called a Battle Scarab is a good candidate for hacking.
In short, you will need:
- 2 Wheels
- Batteries and a holder if needed you will need between 6 and 12 volts depending on what motors and regulator you use. Servos will run fine on 6 volts.
- A voltage regulator LM2825 or a LM2940
- A microcontroller ATOM, Basic Stamp or PIC16F876
- Infrared detection module you will need 1 or more we will go more into these later.
- You will need a development board a solderless breadboard or perfboard to build on.
- If you are using gear motors, you will also need a motor controller either a L293DNE Dual H Bridge with diodes or two 3952 Full-Bridge PWM Motor Drivers available from Alegro as ree samples.
Links to free samples:
- http://www.national.com/pf/LM/LM2825.html
- http://www.national.com/pf/LM/LM2940.html
- http://www.allegromicro.com/sf/3952/index.htm
Links to Suppliers:
For an up-to-date detailed guide on how to build a mobile, please consult The Grand Tutorial Series.
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June 9th, 2008 at 21:16
the build is simple but it works.. can you add more of solar bots and sources of on where can we get small solar panels except calculatrs
June 9th, 2008 at 21:16
IM 11 GOING TO 12 YRS OLD AND WANT TO MEKE A ROBOT HOW?!?!?
June 9th, 2008 at 21:16
for the beetle robot instructions the picture covers some of them do u mind sending me them or something. o and great web page it tells u how to make stuff and not how to order it its awsome hope u can reply
June 9th, 2008 at 21:16
i am 15 and i want to make a simple robot with household stuff i want to make a simple bug
:sigh
June 9th, 2008 at 21:16
Hey Guys, I put together a robot called the “WASP Solderless” and it was very easy and I didn’t need any tools to do it. The cool thing was I still got to work with electronic parts. I’m not sure who sells it.
June 9th, 2008 at 21:16
im in the fourth year of high school and we need to make something for our science investigatory project. our project is based on our physics cubject ang our theme is about electromagnetism. we need help because our deadline is on the last week of the month. :sigh
June 9th, 2008 at 21:16
this site was very amazing…and I get some great information…thank ya very much… :grin
August 3rd, 2008 at 00:58
GOOD
but
pictures of robots made ,shouild hve been displayed
August 6th, 2008 at 11:49
very informative, but also please mention how to program the microcontrollers & using which languages. do c or c++ work?
August 12th, 2008 at 06:22
i wana make a simple robot with simple approach but wana some epert’s help anybody plz help me!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
August 13th, 2008 at 11:07
i m going to participate in a robotic competition and i want to know the procedure for making obstacle avoiding robot.
September 10th, 2008 at 10:58
I am going to make my first and I think this article is going to help me……Thanks….
September 12th, 2008 at 02:55
this site was very amazing…and I get some great information…thank ya very much…
September 30th, 2008 at 01:25
good i like your creativity
September 30th, 2008 at 05:24
i am B.TECH 1st year student i want to make a robot for simple use as “to burn a candel” or pick up a boll etc.
pls tell me required part and oter things to make a robot.
October 22nd, 2008 at 07:14
this site is very good for give a very good information f or build a robot
October 26th, 2008 at 08:35
hey i want to make a b’day card built wid robotics does ny1 can help me out plzz
October 28th, 2008 at 11:46
hey i find this sight very interesting but i can’t find parts. CAN SOMEONE HELP PLEASE!!!! :smile
October 30th, 2008 at 08:44
This is cool. I want to make a simple robot , line follower, pls help,
October 31st, 2008 at 03:43
i m b-tech 2 years std …
this site is good but how we can start to make simple robot….
what is procedure,step by step …
pls help
November 13th, 2008 at 22:32
hey i paying anyone $200,000 if you can teach me how to build robots
November 24th, 2008 at 06:41
hii.. i m studying B.ENGG (HONORS)( 2nd year) in Information technology. i want to build a robot for the tech fest being organized by some other colleges . so can you send me some information regarding which type of robot i should build at this level of my study.
December 1st, 2008 at 11:15
Hello.I am a a6 years old and i want to make a simple robot car.Please help.
December 17th, 2008 at 16:17
hi. i am 12 yrs old and want to make a robot out of a old vacuum cleaner. It still works but does now suck up objects really well. How do I do this?
January 8th, 2009 at 07:55
i wanna know how to make a simple robot out of junk. and i want it to be a bit presentable. i don’t know if that thing works. i guess i have to find out. =)
February 6th, 2009 at 19:39
this is cool
but um make easier to read
its a little hard to read
so yeaaaa
im gonnna try to make it also!
bye
diana
February 15th, 2009 at 07:15
it s cool i got confidence dat i can make a robo in short
February 22nd, 2009 at 05:44
i wanna know on wat basis the motors & DPDT are selectedfor a simple robot
March 11th, 2009 at 01:40
hi.
i wan make simple robots …..wat is the step?????????
May 1st, 2009 at 04:47
good robot . i tried myself
July 27th, 2009 at 01:32
Hai guys I am an iitian i want build an robot . This site gVE ME SOME IDEA TO HAVE SOME INITIATIVE.
July 31st, 2009 at 05:31
the way u explained is good .thanku
September 1st, 2009 at 04:04
now i can make robats thank you
October 1st, 2009 at 09:51
the instruction is very nice. But it will be very nice if any body publish a video of making this robot.
October 10th, 2009 at 22:19
http://letsmakerobots.com/start
heres a site that provides video for making a simple robot!!
October 19th, 2009 at 18:03
very cool website i make a fighting robot and I won a contest
January 11th, 2010 at 09:56
im not so adult but i tried it is very easy to make and it is very cool robot
January 16th, 2010 at 06:04
I give a big thank’s to this side and it give help to me to make a robot .
January 26th, 2010 at 10:18
im 13 years old and i need to build a robot with my friends(were doing a project) but we have no idea where to start!!
were not dumb (:|) but building a robot is hard!! someone help!! :0
February 14th, 2010 at 20:36
this technique is good. bt me my friends are participating in a robotics event. in which we ned to demobilize or throw d other robot out of a small arena. we are looking forward to design that sort of robot which can win the compitition. plz do reply or help us.
February 14th, 2010 at 22:46
OH ! yessssssssssss !
i have made it
a simple robot of wood with simple AC motor
it helps me in transferring only objects like cup of milk @ speed of 2m/min(approx.)
it is a 25 cm robot.
okayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!
February 26th, 2010 at 09:24
i will try making one
March 3rd, 2010 at 01:11
Rajat!! Congrats!!
Can we get some help, please??
We’re really inspired by your invention and we need to know the starting point so that we can also get our own robot….
Botime…
March 15th, 2010 at 03:38
hi ia from mumbai thanks to ur sit , it given a greate idea to make a robot ,
March 25th, 2010 at 10:31
im 13 yrs old, im crazy about building robots, but i need someones help PLS help me
April 13th, 2010 at 13:46
Hi i m Rahman i m 13 from Malaysia its good i like that but i think there should be a video so we can simply watch and follow so we can learn easily to build our own robot
April 13th, 2010 at 14:22
Great idea. If anyone wants to put together a building video, I’ll put it on the site. I might even pay you
April 13th, 2010 at 22:03
THIS WEBSITE SHOULD PROVIDE SOME INFORMATION ABOUT PARTS OF ROBOTS SO WE CAN KNOW WHAT IS IT FOR
April 15th, 2010 at 04:55
if more pictures were added it would be more easy to build
May 2nd, 2010 at 00:27
where can i find a servo motor
June 7th, 2010 at 12:41
where can i get servo’s for transmission and lightgates for building a small robot.im living in india
June 18th, 2010 at 21:46
I’m going to build and make my own robot.I would put how to put it on here but I don’t know how too.
But this robot above does look cool. 
June 20th, 2010 at 08:35
Hi I am Bikash from nepal. I am going to make my own robot by using some ideas from here. so thank you
June 23rd, 2010 at 06:30
I am B.TECH student.First i am going to build a simple robot n then a wonderfull one.The information provided by this website is enough in order to build a robo.
June 28th, 2010 at 16:06
hi! i’m a highschool student and i want to make a simple robot for my science fair… pls help me …
July 3rd, 2010 at 01:52
Maybe u should make it more simple, I mean, it is hard to get all that stuff.
Other wise……….. I LOVE It!
Sarah xx
July 28th, 2010 at 10:35
Hai iam studying in Vlll Std . Please tell me how to make a robot with simple things . I want to make it for an exhibition in my school in august
July 28th, 2010 at 10:42
Hi Karthik,
You are lucky, we are about to publish a series of thorough guides on how to build a robot so stay tuned and you will soon have your answer.
Also, for now, you can visit http://www.robotshop.com/learning-center.html for tons of information on how to build a robot.
I Hope this helps!
August 4th, 2010 at 12:57
HI SIR I AM STUDYING B.TECH 2nd YEAR STUDENT. I WANT TO MAKE A SMALL ROBOT.PLEASE TELL ME SIR WHICH COMPONENTS ARE USED AND WHAT IS THE PROCESS TO MAKE THE ROBOS.
August 4th, 2010 at 13:24
Hi Babji,
You are in luck! RobotShop will soon release the “How To Build a Robot” Grand Tutorial (Lesson 1). We project releasing a new lesson roughly every week and we will be welcoming feedback. We will be using the RobotShop Rover as an example as it has all the components (separately) used in making a mobile, autonomous robot.
http://www.robotshop.com/robotshop-rover-arduino-basic-kit-6.html
You can see all the components included here:
http://www.robotshop.com/robotshop-rover-arduino-package-contents.html
August 9th, 2010 at 12:37
dear sir,
i m b tech 2nd year student & i want to learn robitics. first of all i want to know the basic of robotics.its my humble request to u that please suggest me something or guide me how i can learn the robotics.
thankyou
August 13th, 2010 at 01:25
i like this article,I am trying to make this robot at my home ,keep writing.
August 18th, 2010 at 03:18
Hey umm, I Have a battle Scarab and I lost the controller like, 10 years ago so I don’t know what if looks like, I would really appreciate it if you could put up a pic of it? this is the only picture of a battle scarab I have seen at all on the internet
August 18th, 2010 at 10:08
I wanna make simple pick and place ROBBO!!!!!!!!!!
Can you help me?
August 18th, 2010 at 10:12
Hi Ajay,
We can certainly help you, come over to our forum so we can have a lengthier discussion. Anyway, the first think you will need is an effector, such as a robot arm.
August 19th, 2010 at 23:38
super da mapla tis
August 25th, 2010 at 08:29
good
August 27th, 2010 at 00:09
I am a student and i m doing a project for my final year.
My project is about Wifi Controlled robotic car. In this project i want to control a robotic car placed in one wifi zone with the help of the mobile phone.
The robotic car should have a camera which will capture images and send it back to the Mobile phone. Plz help me how should i start with the project. Plz guide me for the various components required for the hardware of the robotic car.
Waiting for your reply.
August 27th, 2010 at 10:42
Hello Rohan,
In order to produce a WiFi Robot, we suggest you use a BlackWidow, coupled with a motor controller and a 2WD or 4WD platform. For mor in depth discussion, please start a tread in our forum.
September 1st, 2010 at 08:30
I wanna make a simple Robot…. Please help me by suggesting procedures
September 2nd, 2010 at 13:37
[...] start from line followers: http://www.kmitl.ac.th/~kswichit/ROBOT/Follower.pdf An AVR-based Robot How To Build A Simple Robot – GoRobotics.net (fallow inside links) How to Build a Robot Tutorial – Society of Robots I like this
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