Published September 8, 2021 © CC BY

Easy DIY Companion Bot Build

Build your own companion bot in this choose your own adventure style guide. Choose a chassis type and make your bot come to life.

IntermediateFull instructions provided15 hours1,689

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Arduino Nano R3

Arduino Nano Screw Terminal

SG90 Micro-servo motor

Standard Servo Motor

LED (generic)

9V battery (generic)

9V Battery Clip

Slide Switch

Software apps and online services

Arduino IDE

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Soldering iron (generic)

3D Printer (generic)

Story

This activity was designed to be delivered as a workshop for high school age students to build a companion bot over a three day school holiday session. Students can choose from 4 styles of premade 3D printed chassis, including a tall shape, peabody, standard and shoulder fit. The smaller chassis use micro servo motors, and the larger two use standard servo motors. This activity will make it easy for your to build your own robot with a personality, or host the activity for a small class of students. If you've already got know-how for 3D printing and Arduino, this activity will be a breeze.

My example robot for this activity is a crow build using the peabody chassis type.

Over the three days, students learnt how to design their own motor attachment (like the key turning in the crow example) in TinkerCAD, how to assemble a circuit and upload code with Arduino. Lastly (and not least!) decorating the final build with crafting materials.

Step 1 - Ideation

What do you want your bot to look like? If you don't have one already, consider starting a maker journal. Start sketching rough ideas, and when you're settled on a theme, pick a chassis to match and sketch your bot around the rough silhouette.

Lots of rough ideas to sift through

Sketch your concept around a rough chassis shape

Once your chassis type is chosen, 3D print out the shape from the STL files below.

Step 2 - 3D Printing

Add a feature on your bot that moves with the turning of a servo motor. In my example above, I have a key winder attached to a servo motor. Use TinkerCAD to 3D model something, pulling the servo motor model from the library as a guide. 3D print out your final shape and attach it to a motor.

Use the motor examples under 'components' to size your shape to the motor fins.

Step 3 - Circuit Building

Pre-solder a slide switch to the 9V battery connector if you wish to easily turn your bot on and off. Otherwise, you can skip this step and just unplug it when you want to turn it off. Follow the circuit diagram below and attach the motors, LED light and 9V battery connector to the Arduino Nano. This step is easier if you have a Nano Screw terminal, simply put the wires into the slots rather than soldering.

Next, download and install the Arduino code to make the motors move and LED turn on. I had an issue at this step with the micro servos which were moving erratically with the code. The solution to this was making sure to purchase angled rotation servos rather than full 360 rotation servos.

After the circuit is working, install the parts into the chassis, screwing the motors and screw terminal into the slots.

Step 4 - Decoration

This step allows you to really build some character around the bot build, and I'd recommend allowing more time for this than you think you need. Start by using a thick gauge wire to bend any rough shapes you'd like (for example, the head on my crow build) and use crafting materials to cover the chassis.

I'd recommend looking around for locals who have scrap fabric / plastic parts to use for this, I have a collection of bits from my local Reverse Garbage store. I used scrap wool car seat fabric, faux leather scrap, wire, copper sheet and craft store eyes. Also recommend finding a tiny hat for your bot to wear.

1 / 2

yeehaw

Schematics

Code

Arduino Code

#include <Servo.h>

Servo servo1; 
Servo servo2;


int i = 0;

void setup() {

  pinMode(5, OUTPUT);
  
  servo1.attach(8,880,2120);
  servo2.attach(7,880,2120); 

}

void loop() {
  for (i = 0; i < 10; i++) { 
    servo1.write(i);              
   
      
    delay(10);                      
  }
  for (i = 10; i > 0; i--) { 
    servo1.write(i);                

    delay(10);                      
  }

    for (i = 0; i < 10; i++) { 
            
    servo2.write(i);     
      
    delay(10);                      
  }
  for (i = 10; i > 0; i--) { 
             
    servo2.write(i);     
     
    delay(10);                      
  }
  digitalWrite(5, HIGH);   // turn the LED on (HIGH is the voltage level)
}

Credits

Stephanie Piper

1 project • 3 followers

Easy DIY Companion Bot Build

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Story

Step 1 - Ideation

Step 2 - 3D Printing

Step 3 - Circuit Building

Step 4 - Decoration

Custom parts and enclosures

Chassis STL Files

Schematics

Circuit Diagram

Code

Arduino Code

Credits

Stephanie Piper

Comments

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Easy DIY Companion Bot Build

Easy DIY Companion Bot Build

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Story

Step 1 - Ideation

Step 2 - 3D Printing

Step 3 - Circuit Building

Step 4 - Decoration

Custom parts and enclosures

Chassis STL Files

Schematics

Circuit Diagram

Code

Arduino Code

Credits

Stephanie Piper

Comments

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