Installing PADAWAN

So I have been working on getting the PADAWAN system installed as much as possible for Planet ComiCon. First things first: I need a motherboard to mount all the different pieces to, so they're not just floating around inside the robot body or something. Also some way of getting to them easily. Based on some pictuers I've seen of someone else's build, I've decided to go with a wooden panel that can fold down once the rear door is removed. So, I picked up some wood at the store and cut it to about an 8x10 rectangle, and added my first few components, thus:

From top to bottom that's the playstation 2 remote control receiver, the arduino that runs everything (in blue), the mp3 player (in red), the motor driver for the dome motor (on the left) and the 5V regulator for the dome lights and speaker (on the right). Since the battery is 12V, I need to run it through the voltage regulator to feed the dome lighting system.

Incidentally, here you can see the slip ring in the middle of the dome which feeds the power up. You can see I've attached a small quick-connect plug on the end there, and bundled up the wires so they're not kicking around all over the place.

And here's the motherboard bolted inside the R2 unit. There's a hinge n the back so it will fold down, and I'm using velcro tie-downs to hold it up. The shot is a little dark, but you can see a lot of wires going up the right-hand pole to the dome motor, dome lights, and speaker (the black rectangle in the top foreground). It's one of those USB powered ones, so since USB is a 5v draw, I was able to put it in with the dome lights downstream from the regulator. Kind of a pain though, as once I snipped off the USB plug, the actual power wires within were very tiny, maybe 24-26 gauge.

On the back I mounted a big ol' power switch (I'm actually going to have to replace it with a DPDT (double-pole, double-throw: that means I can turn two circuits on at once) switch later, as I'll want this to toggle both the 12V and 24V circuits at the same time. The 24V circuit will be strictly for the foot motors, actually moving this sucker around).

And here's R2 on his brand new handtruck, ready for his debut :)

I think this week I might get back to 3-D printing body parts. After the con I'd really like to tackle as much body stuff as possible,and work on getting the legs together. Then snag some skins as soon as a set show up, and after that... I gotta figure out how to move this sucker around.

Oh, boy.

dome motor mount

I got a dome motor and mount from one of the folks on astromech, but it turns out the current crop of COM8 budged frames doesn't have the drill holes for it. I went back and forth with a couple folks until we determined that nope, the holes totally aren't there. Kind of a bummer, but it wasn't too bad, as someone dug up a picture of where the holes ought to go, and so I was able to drill and countersink them tonight. A quick smoke test to the motor, and I have a spinning rockler bearing:

Fits nice and snug too.

Actually, speaking of smoke tests, I powered it with a nice new 12V/7Ah SLA battery I got from the Radio Shack down the street. The bad news is, it's going out of business. The good news? 3 of those batteries for $1.75 each. Oh, heck yes. They may not drive the wheel motors as well as 24Vs, but they'll take care of the rest plenty fine.

Anyway, I should be getting dimensions on the aluminum skins soon, specifically the back maintenance hatch. I will be getting the actual dome motor controller before long as well, so that will be nice. I should have sounds and dome spinning working in time for Planet ComiCon.