How to make a robot with your own hands. How to make a robot at home for a child? What can be taught thanks to this set?

Today we will tell you how to make a robot from available materials. The resulting “high-tech android,” although it will be small size and is unlikely to be able to help you with housework, but will certainly amuse both children and adults.

Necessary materials
In order to make a robot with your own hands, you do not need knowledge of nuclear physics. This can be done at home from ordinary materials that you always have on hand. So what we need:

• 2 pieces of wire
• 1 motor
• 1 AA battery
• 3 push pins
• 2 pieces of foam board or similar material
• 2-3 heads of old toothbrushes or a few paper clips

1. Attach the battery to the motor
Using a glue gun, attach a piece of foam cardboard to the motor housing. Then we glue the battery to it.

2. Destabilizer
This step may seem confusing. However, to make a robot, you need to make it move. We put a small oblong piece of foam cardboard on the motor axis and secure it with a glue gun. This design will give the motor an imbalance, which will set the entire robot in motion.

Place a couple of drops of glue on the very end of the destabilizer, or attach some decorative element- this will add individuality to our creation and increase the amplitude of its movements.

3. Legs
Now you need to equip the robot lower limbs. If you use toothbrush heads for this, glue them to the bottom of the motor. You can use the same foam board as a layer.

4. Wires
The next step is to attach our two pieces of wire to the motor contacts. You can simply screw them on, but it would be even better to solder them, this will make the robot more durable.

5. Battery connection
Using a heat gun, glue the wire to one end of the battery. You can choose any of the two wires and either side of the battery - polarity does not matter in this case. If you're good at soldering, you can also use soldering instead of glue for this step.

6. Eyes
A pair of beads, which we attach with hot glue to one end of the battery, are quite suitable as the robot’s eyes. At this step, you can show your imagination and come up with appearance eye at your discretion.

7. Launch
Now let's bring our homemade product to life. Take the free end of the wire and attach it to the unoccupied battery terminal using adhesive tape. You shouldn't use hot glue for this step because it will prevent you from turning off the motor if necessary.

The robot is ready!

Here's what ours might look like homemade robot, if you show more imagination:

And finally the video:

Based on materials from techcult

One of the very labor-intensive and exciting activities is to build your own robot.

Everyone, from teenagers to adults, dreams of making either a small and cute or a large and multifunctional robot, just as there are as many different modifications of robotics as there are people. Do you want to make a robot?

Before such a serious project, you should first make sure of your capabilities. Building a robot is not the cheapest or easiest thing to do. Think about what kind of robot you want to make, what functions it should perform, perhaps it will be just a decorative robot made from old parts or it will be a fully functional robot with complex, moving mechanisms.

I have met many craftsmen who create decorative robots from old, worn-out mechanisms, such as watches, alarm clocks, televisions, irons, bicycles, computers and even cars. These robots are made simply for beauty; they, as a rule, leave very vivid impressions, especially children like them. Teenagers are generally interested in robots as something mysterious, still unknown.

Decorative robot parts are attached different ways: glued, welded, screwed. In such an activity there are no unnecessary parts; any details are used, from a small spring to the largest bolt. Robots can be small, tabletop, and some craftsmen manage to make decorative robots of human size.

It is much more difficult and no less interesting to make a working robot. A robot doesn't have to look like a human, it can be tin with horns and caterpillars :) here you can show your imagination ad infinitum.

Previously, robots were mostly mechanical, all movements were controlled by complex mechanisms. Today, most crude mechanical components can be replaced with electrical circuits, and the “brain” of a robot can be just one microcircuit into which the necessary data is entered through a computer.

Today, the Lego company produces special kits for constructing robots, while such construction kits are expensive and not available to everyone.

Personally, I’m interested in making a robot with my own hands from scrap materials. The most a big problem problem that arises during construction is a lack of knowledge in the field of electrical engineering. If something else can be done mechanically without problems, then with electrical diagrams things are more complicated, it is often necessary to combine several different electrical components, this is where difficulties begin, but all this can be fixed. When creating a robot, problems may arise with electric motors; good motors are expensive, you have to disassemble old toys, this is not very convenient. Many radio components have also become scarce, more and more equipment is made on complex microcircuits, and this requires serious knowledge. Despite all the difficulties, many of us continue to create amazing robots for a variety of purposes. Robots can do laundry, clean up dust, draw, move objects, make us laugh, or simply decorate our desktop.

I will periodically publish photographs of my new robots on the site, if you are also interested in this topic, then be sure to send your stories with photographs or write about your inventions on the forum.

Surely, after watching enough movies about robots, you have often wanted to build your own comrade in battle, but you didn’t know where to start. Of course, you won't be able to build a bipedal Terminator, but that's not what we're trying to achieve. Collect simple robot anyone who knows how to hold a soldering iron correctly in their hands can do it and this does not require deep knowledge, although it will not hurt. Amateur robotics is not much different from circuit design, only much more interesting, because it also involves areas such as mechanics and programming. All components are easily available and are not that expensive. So progress does not stand still, and we will use it to our advantage.

Introduction

What do we need

Making a board with MK

In our case, the microcontroller will perform the functions of the brain, but we will not start with it, but with powering the robot’s brain. Proper nutrition is a guarantee of health, so we will start with how to properly feed our robot, because this is where novice robot builders usually make mistakes. And in order for our robot to work normally, we need to use a voltage stabilizer. I prefer the L7805 chip - it is designed to produce a stable 5V output voltage, which is what our microcontroller needs. But due to the fact that the voltage drop on this microcircuit is about 2.5V, a minimum of 7.5V must be supplied to it. Used together with this stabilizer electrolytic capacitors to smooth out voltage ripples, a diode must be included in the circuit to protect against polarity reversal.
Now we can move on to our microcontroller. The case of the MK is DIP (it’s more convenient to solder) and has forty pins. On board there is an ADC, PWM, USART and much more that we will not use for now. Let's look at a few important nodes. The RESET pin (9th leg of the MK) is pulled up by resistor R1 to the “plus” of the power source - this must be done! Otherwise, your MK may unintentionally reset or, more simply put, glitch. Also a desirable measure, but not mandatory, is to connect RESET via ceramic capacitor C1 to ground. In the diagram you can also see a 1000 uF electrolyte; it saves you from voltage dips when the engines are running, which will also have a beneficial effect on the operation of the microcontroller. Quartz resonator X1 and capacitors C2, C3 should be located as close as possible to pins XTAL1 and XTAL2.
I won’t talk about how to flash MK, since you can read about it on the Internet. We will write the program in C; I chose CodeVisionAVR as the programming environment. This is a fairly user-friendly environment and is useful for beginners because it has a built-in code creation wizard.

My robot board

Motor control

Obstacle sensors

The first version of my robot's sensors

Robot firmware

#include
#include

The following lines are conditional because the PORTC values ​​depend on how you connected the motor driver to your microcontroller:

PORTC.0 = 1;
PORTC.1 = 0;
PORTC.2 = 1;
PORTC.3 = 0;

The value 0xFF means that the output will be log. “1”, and 0x00 is log. "0".

With the following construction we check whether there is an obstacle in front of the robot and on which side it is:

If (!(PINB & (1< {
...
}

If light from an IR diode hits the phototransistor, then a log is installed on the microcontroller leg. “0” and the robot starts moving backward to move away from the obstacle, then turns around so as not to collide with the obstacle again and then moves forward again. Since we have two sensors, we check for the presence of an obstacle twice – on the right and on the left, and therefore we can find out which side the obstacle is on. The command "delay_ms(1000)" indicates that one second will pass before the next command begins to execute.

Conclusion

List of components:

• ATmega16 in DIP-40 package>
• L7805 in TO-220 package
• L293D in DIP-16 housing x2 pcs.
• resistors with a power of 0.25 W with ratings: 10 kOhm x 1 pc., 220 Ohm x 4 pcs.
• ceramic capacitors: 0.1 µF, 1 µF, 22 pF
• electrolytic capacitors: 1000 µF x 16 V, 220 µF x 16 V x 2 pcs.
• diode 1N4001 or 1N4004
• 16 MHz quartz resonator
• IR diodes: any two of them will do.
• phototransistors, also any, but responding only to the wavelength of infrared rays

Firmware code:

MK type: ATmega16
Clock frequency: 16.000000 MHz
If your quartz frequency is different, then you need to specify this in the environment settings:
Project -> Configure -> "C Compiler" Tab
*****************************************************/

#include
#include

Void main(void)
{
//Configure input ports
//Through these ports we receive signals from sensors
DDRB=0x00;
//Turn on pull-up resistors
PORTB=0xFF;

//Configure output ports
//Through these ports we control the motors
DDRC=0xFF;

//Main loop of the program. Here we read the values ​​from the sensors
//and control the engines
while (1)
{
//Let's go forward
PORTC.0 = 1;
PORTC.1 = 0;
PORTC.2 = 1;
PORTC.3 = 0;
if (!(PINB & (1< {
//Go backwards 1 second
PORTC.0 = 0;
PORTC.1 = 1;
PORTC.2 = 0;
PORTC.3 = 1;
delay_ms(1000);
//Wrap it up
PORTC.0 = 1;
PORTC.1 = 0;
PORTC.2 = 0;
PORTC.3 = 1;
delay_ms(1000);
}
if (!(PINB & (1< {
//Go backwards 1 second
PORTC.0 = 0;
PORTC.1 = 1;
PORTC.2 = 0;
PORTC.3 = 1;
delay_ms(1000);
//Wrap it up
PORTC.0 = 0;
PORTC.1 = 1;
PORTC.2 = 1;
PORTC.3 = 0;
delay_ms(1000);
}
};
}

About my robot

According to your wishes, I am posting a video:

UPD. I re-uploaded the photos and made some minor corrections to the text.

We usually talk about robots created by various research centers or companies. However, robots are being assembled by ordinary people around the world with varying degrees of success. So today we present to you ten homemade robots.

Adam

A German neurobiology student assembled an android named Adam. Its name stands for Advanced Dual Arm Manipulator or “advanced two-handed manipulator.” The robot's arms have five degrees of freedom. They are powered by Robolink joints from the German company Igus. External cables are used to rotate Adam's joints. In addition, Adam's head is equipped with two video cameras, a loudspeaker, a speech synthesizer, and an LCD panel that imitates the movements of the robot's lips.

MPR-1

The MPR-1 robot is notable for the fact that it is constructed not from iron or plastic, like most of its counterparts, but from paper. According to the creator of the robot, artist Kikousya, the materials for the MPR-1 are paper, several dowels and a couple of rubber bands. At the same time, the robot moves confidently, although its mechanical elements are also made of paper. The crank mechanism ensures the movement of the robot's legs, and its feet are designed so that their surface is always parallel to the floor.

Boxie Paparazzi Robot

The Boxie robot was created by American engineer Alexander Reben from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Boxie, somewhat similar to the famous cartoon character Wall-E, should help media workers. The small and nimble paparazzi is made entirely of cardboard, it moves using caterpillars, and navigates the street using ultrasound, which helps it overcome various obstacles. The robot conducts interviews in a funny, childish voice, and the respondent can interrupt the conversation at any time by pressing a special button. Boxie can record about six hours of video and send it to its owner using the nearest Wi-Fi point.

Morphex

Norwegian engineer Kare Halvorsen created a six-legged robot called Morphex, which can transform into a ball and back. In addition, the robot is able to move. The movement of the robot occurs due to motors pushing it forward. The robot moves in an arc rather than in a straight line. Due to its design, Morphex cannot independently correct its trajectory. Halvorsen is currently working to resolve this issue. An interesting update is expected: the creator of the robot wants to add 36 LEDs that would allow Morphex to change colors.

Truckbot

Americans Tim Heath and Ryan Hickman decided to create a small robot based on an Android phone. The robot they created, Truckbot, is quite simple in terms of its design: the HTC G1 phone is located on top of the robot, being its “brain”. At the moment, the robot can move on a flat surface, choose directions of movement and accompany all sorts of phrases with collisions with obstacles.

Robot shareholder

One day, American Brian Dorey, who was developing expansion boards, was faced with the following problem: it is very difficult to solder a double-row pin comb with his own hands. Brian needed an assistant, so he decided to create a robot that could solder. It took Brian two months to develop the robot. The completed robot is equipped with two soldering irons that can solder two rows of contacts at the same time. You can control the robot via a PC and tablet.

Mechatronic Tank

Every family has its own favorite hobby. For example, the family of American engineer Robert Beatty designs robots. Robert is helped by his teenage daughters, and his wife and newborn daughter provide them with moral support. Their most impressive creation is the self-propelled Mechatronic Tank. Thanks to its 20 kg armor, this security robot is a threat to any criminal. Eight echolocators mounted on the robot's turret allow it to calculate the distance to objects in its field of view with an accuracy of an inch. The robot also shoots metal bullets at a speed of a thousand rounds per minute.

Robodog

An American named Max created a mini-copy of the famous one. Max made the supporting structure of the robot from scraps of five-millimeter acrylic glass, and to fasten all the parts together he used ordinary threaded bolts. In addition, when creating the robot, miniature servos were used, which are responsible for the movement of its limbs, as well as parts from the Arduino Mega kit, which coordinate the motor process of the mechanical dog.

Robot ball

The robotic bun was designed by Jerome Demers and runs on solar batteries. There is a capacitor inside the robot that is connected to the solar power parts. It is needed to accumulate energy in bad weather. When there is enough solar energy, the ball begins to roll forward.

Roboruk

Initially, Georgia Tech professor Gil Weinberg designed a robotic arm for a drummer whose arm was amputated. Gil then created automated synchronization technology that would allow a two-armed drummer to use a robotic arm as an extra arm. The robotic arm reacts to the drummer's playing style, creating its own rhythm. The robotic arm can also improvise, while analyzing the rhythm in which the drummer plays.

On the shelves of modern stores for children you can find a wide variety of toys. And every child asks his parents to buy him one or another toy “new thing.” What if family budget planning does not include this? To save money, you can try making a new toy yourself. For example, how to make a robot at home, is it possible? Yes, it is quite possible, it is enough to prepare the necessary materials.

Is it possible to assemble a robot yourself?

Nowadays it’s difficult to surprise anyone with a robot toy. The modern technology and computer industry has come a long way. But you may still be surprised by the information on how to make a simple robot at home.

Undoubtedly, it is difficult to understand the operating principle of various microcircuits, electronics, programs and designs. It is difficult to do in this case without basic knowledge in the field of physics, programming and electronics. Even so, every person can assemble a robot on their own.

A robot is an automated machine that is capable of performing various actions. In the case of a homemade robot, it is enough that the car simply moves.

To make assembly easier, you can use available tools: a telephone handset, a plastic bottle or plate, a toothbrush, an old camera or a computer mouse.

Vibrating bug

How to make a small robot? At home, you can make the simplest version of a vibrating bug. You need to stock up on the following materials:

• a motor from an old children's car;
• lithium battery CR-2032 series, similar to a tablet;
• a holder for this very tablet;
• paper clips;
• electrical tape;
• soldering iron;
• LED.

First you need to wrap the LED with electrical tape, leaving free ends. Using a soldering iron, solder one LED end to the back wall of the battery holder. We solder the remaining tip to the contact of the motor from the machine. The paper clips will serve as legs for the vibrating bug. The wires from the battery holder are connected to the motor wires. The bug will vibrate and move after the holder comes into contact with the battery itself.

Brushbot - children's fun

So, how to make a mini-robot at home? A funny car can be assembled from scrap materials, such as a toothbrush (head), double-sided tape and a vibration motor from an old mobile phone. It is enough to glue the motor to the brush head, and that’s it - the robot is ready.

Power supply will be provided by a coin cell battery. For remote control you will have to come up with something.

Cardboard robot

How to make a robot at home if a child demands it? You can come up with an interesting toy from simple cardboard.

You need to stock up:

• two cardboard boxes;
• 20 plastic bottle caps;
• wire;
• with tape.

It happens that dad wants to make some kind of wonder for the baby, but nothing sensible comes to mind. Therefore, you can think about how to make a real robot at home.

First you need to use the box as a body for the robot and cut out the bottom of it. Then you need to make 5 holes: under the head, for the arms and legs. In the box intended for the head, you need to make one hole that will help connect it to the body. Wire is used to hold the robot parts together.

After attaching the head, you need to think about how to make a robot arm at home. To do this, a wire is inserted into the side holes, onto which plastic covers are placed. We get movable arms. We do the same with our legs. You can make holes in the lids with an awl.

To ensure the stability of the cardboard robot, careful attention must be paid to the cuts. They give the toy a good appearance. It is difficult to connect all the parts if the cut line is incorrect.

If you decide to glue boxes together, do not overdo it with the amount of glue. It is better to use durable cardboard or paper.

The simplest robot

How to make a light robot at home? It is difficult to create a full-fledged automated machine, but it is still possible to assemble a minimal design. Let's consider a simple mechanism that, for example, can perform certain actions in one zone. You will need the following materials:

Plastic plate.

A pair of medium-sized brushes for cleaning shoes.

Computer fans in the amount of two pieces.

Connector for 9-V battery and the battery itself.

Clamp and tie with snap function.

We drill two holes with the same distance in the brush plate. We fasten them. The brushes should be located at the same distance from each other and the middle of the plate. Using nuts, we attach the adjusting mount to the brushes. We install the sliders from the fastenings in the middle location. Computer fans must be used to move the robot. They are connected to a battery and placed in parallel to ensure the rotation of the machine. It will be some kind of vibration motor. Finally, you need to put on the terminals.

In this case, you will not need large financial expenses or any technical or computer experience, because here we describe in detail how to make a robot at home. It is not difficult to get the necessary parts. To improve the motor functions of the design, microcontrollers or additional motors can be used.

Robot, like in advertising

Many people are probably familiar with the browser's commercial, in which the main character is a small robot spinning and drawing shapes on paper with felt-tip pens. How to make a robot at home from this advertisement? Yes, very simple. To create such an automated cute toy, you need to stock up on:

• three felt-tip pens;
• thick cardboard or plastic;
• motor;
• round battery;
• foil or electrical tape;
• glue.

So, we create a form for the robot from plastic or cardboard (more precisely, we cut it out). It is necessary to make a triangular shape with rounded corners. In each corner we make a small hole into which a felt-tip pen can fit. We make one hole near the center of the triangle for the motor. We get 4 holes around the entire perimeter of a triangular shape.

Then insert the markers one by one into the holes made. A battery must be attached to the motor. This can be done using glue and foil or electrical tape. In order for the motor to stay firmly on the robot, it is necessary to fix it with a small amount of glue.

The robot will move only after connecting the second wire to the attached battery.

Lego robot

"Lego" is a series of toys for children, which consists mainly of construction parts that are combined into one element. Parts can be combined, while creating more and more new items for games.

Almost all children from 3 to 10 years old love to assemble such a construction set. In particular, children's interest increases if parts can be assembled into a robot. So, to assemble a moving robot from Lego, you need to prepare the parts, as well as a miniature motor and control unit.

In addition, ready-made kits with parts are now sold that allow you to assemble any robot yourself. The main thing is to master the attached instructions. Eg:

• prepare the parts as indicated in the instructions;
• screw the wheels, if any;
• we assemble fasteners that will serve as support for the motor;
• insert a battery or even several into a special unit;
• install the engine;
• connect it to the motor;
• We load a special program into the design’s memory that allows you to control the toy.

It would seem that it is quite difficult to assemble a robot, and a person without certain knowledge will not be able to do it at all. But that's not true. Of course, it is difficult to build a full-fledged automated machine, but anyone can do the simplest version. Just read our article on how to make a robot at home.