Tiny MicroPython robots (the PCB IS the robot platform)
Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2021 12:55 pm
Recently I started to work on Raspberry Pico and Pimoroni Tiny2040 based tiniy robots.
Last night I completed my Tiny2040bot (15.6g in total, 37×29×31mm (l×w×h) small), and my Picobot:
https://forums.raspberrypi.com/viewtopi ... 5#p1940066
Both robots can be controlled via Wifi, with WifiToSerial.ino example running on soldered ESP-01 (512MB module is sufficient for that).
This provides wireless MicroPython REPL using https://github.com/webrepl/webrepl locally.
In boot.py I have defined several high level commands I can execute, like "lft(100)" driving left wheel backwards, right wheel forwards, between rampup and ramdown for 100ms. Executing these commands that end with robot stand still avoid problems with Wifi connection loss and robot going wild. Last night I recorded youtube video of Tiny2040bot, here the last 3 seconds of 19 second video (youtube video has the impressive robot sound as well):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZarE88JjDzo
I do use the (wireless) MicroPython REPL not only for controlling the robots, but also for verification of soldering while building them. MicroPython is extremely handy for that.
Last Sunday I solved the telnet problem for telneting into MicroPython REPL, now cursor keys work as well after entering telnet client character mode:
viewtopic.php?t=10109#p62528
P.S:
Picobot is more stable, because the distance between front point of contact (6mm diameter airsoft pistol pellet superglued below Pico) to wheels is bigger (DRV8833 motor controler soldered below Pico):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3Wj4TJgsYA
And the micro motors are strong -- Picobot can even pull USB cable
https://forums.raspberrypi.com/viewtopi ... 5#p1939416
P.P.S:
New design Picobot is complete, with wireless telnet into Pico MicroPython REPL through ESP-01:
https://forums.raspberrypi.com/viewtopi ... 9#p1940729
Work on solar toy car MicroPython robot has started, 2nd motor with gear train has been extracted from 2nd car with Dremel already:
Last night I completed my Tiny2040bot (15.6g in total, 37×29×31mm (l×w×h) small), and my Picobot:
https://forums.raspberrypi.com/viewtopi ... 5#p1940066
Both robots can be controlled via Wifi, with WifiToSerial.ino example running on soldered ESP-01 (512MB module is sufficient for that).
This provides wireless MicroPython REPL using https://github.com/webrepl/webrepl locally.
In boot.py I have defined several high level commands I can execute, like "lft(100)" driving left wheel backwards, right wheel forwards, between rampup and ramdown for 100ms. Executing these commands that end with robot stand still avoid problems with Wifi connection loss and robot going wild. Last night I recorded youtube video of Tiny2040bot, here the last 3 seconds of 19 second video (youtube video has the impressive robot sound as well):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZarE88JjDzo
I do use the (wireless) MicroPython REPL not only for controlling the robots, but also for verification of soldering while building them. MicroPython is extremely handy for that.
Last Sunday I solved the telnet problem for telneting into MicroPython REPL, now cursor keys work as well after entering telnet client character mode:
viewtopic.php?t=10109#p62528
P.S:
Picobot is more stable, because the distance between front point of contact (6mm diameter airsoft pistol pellet superglued below Pico) to wheels is bigger (DRV8833 motor controler soldered below Pico):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3Wj4TJgsYA
And the micro motors are strong -- Picobot can even pull USB cable
https://forums.raspberrypi.com/viewtopi ... 5#p1939416
P.P.S:
New design Picobot is complete, with wireless telnet into Pico MicroPython REPL through ESP-01:
https://forums.raspberrypi.com/viewtopi ... 9#p1940729
Work on solar toy car MicroPython robot has started, 2nd motor with gear train has been extracted from 2nd car with Dremel already: