SolarRoboFlower
38
Likes
522
Downloads
1691
Views
Published on February 14, 2012
This thing was Featured on August 26, 2012
Description
Micro-controlled servo flower
WTF?!
A light tracking robot flower!
History 2009
Seeing great stuff done with microcontrollers raised the curiosity to create something with an Arduino, too.
After the first HelloWorld, the next step was to connect some sensors to react on input.
Within a short time after more and more parts were assembled playfully, a lovely flower evolved.
The first construction resembles a robotic arm. Five individual light sensors mounted on a primitive construction of broken circuit boards, wires and wire-straps create the crucial base for the controller unit.
The controller unit evaluates the input signals, makes a decision and sends a reaction in form of calculated signals to the three servos.
Currently
Overflo and me are working on an easy-to-build-version of the Flower. And we are about to have a cool version finished ^^
How to use it?
Hm... How to use a flower?
(NOTE: No watering required!!! && Likes Light and 5 Volt)
WTF?!
A light tracking robot flower!
History 2009
Seeing great stuff done with microcontrollers raised the curiosity to create something with an Arduino, too.
After the first HelloWorld, the next step was to connect some sensors to react on input.
Within a short time after more and more parts were assembled playfully, a lovely flower evolved.
The first construction resembles a robotic arm. Five individual light sensors mounted on a primitive construction of broken circuit boards, wires and wire-straps create the crucial base for the controller unit.
The controller unit evaluates the input signals, makes a decision and sends a reaction in form of calculated signals to the three servos.
Currently
Overflo and me are working on an easy-to-build-version of the Flower. And we are about to have a cool version finished ^^
How to use it?
Hm... How to use a flower?
(NOTE: No watering required!!! && Likes Light and 5 Volt)
Instructions
3x Micro Servos
1x Arduino(or similar)
5x PhotoSensors
Acrylic in 3mm and (probably 1 - 1.5mm depending on the version you want to build)
Some M2 and M3 Screws and Nuts
Some Wire ^^
About the SolarRoboFlowr files :)
The dxf file contains different assembly versions and I hope they will work out for you. You might need to adapt the fittings for the servos and the servo-horns you choose or got. There are different Layers in the File for (I think) two different Servos. Depending on the CAD software you use, you might need to switch some layers off.
In this version the fittings for the servos are made of 3 layers (like a sandwich with the servo horn as ham/cheese in the middle), but it turned out the work good when you skip that parts and directly screw the the servo horn onto the arms.
I also uploaded 2 Arduino files to operate the microcontroller. (.pde) One with less code - to show how easy it is to build feedback driven robots. And one with more code for calibration, smoothing, gauging and 2 buttons etc... If you are using the less code version you might want to hard-code calibration values for sensors and servos (and pin numbers), otherwise it might move like an insane robot plant.
Overflo and me are currently working on an easy-to-build-version of the Flower. And we are about to have a cool version finished.
How to use it?
Hm... How to use a flower?
(NOTE: No watering required!!! && Likes Light and 5 Volt)
1x Arduino(or similar)
5x PhotoSensors
Acrylic in 3mm and (probably 1 - 1.5mm depending on the version you want to build)
Some M2 and M3 Screws and Nuts
Some Wire ^^
About the SolarRoboFlowr files :)
The dxf file contains different assembly versions and I hope they will work out for you. You might need to adapt the fittings for the servos and the servo-horns you choose or got. There are different Layers in the File for (I think) two different Servos. Depending on the CAD software you use, you might need to switch some layers off.
In this version the fittings for the servos are made of 3 layers (like a sandwich with the servo horn as ham/cheese in the middle), but it turned out the work good when you skip that parts and directly screw the the servo horn onto the arms.
I also uploaded 2 Arduino files to operate the microcontroller. (.pde) One with less code - to show how easy it is to build feedback driven robots. And one with more code for calibration, smoothing, gauging and 2 buttons etc... If you are using the less code version you might want to hard-code calibration values for sensors and servos (and pin numbers), otherwise it might move like an insane robot plant.
Overflo and me are currently working on an easy-to-build-version of the Flower. And we are about to have a cool version finished.
How to use it?
Hm... How to use a flower?
(NOTE: No watering required!!! && Likes Light and 5 Volt)
License
SolarRoboFlower by mind is licensed under the Attribution - Non-Commercial - Creative Commons license.
More from mind
Add solar panel petals and maybe it can water itself ;)
Yes - solar panels would be nice ^^