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Blog [Upcycle It] Interactive Race Car Driver - What next?
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  • Author Author: Workshopshed
  • Date Created: 29 Jun 2017 9:27 PM Date Created
  • Views 1772 views
  • Likes 8 likes
  • Comments 9 comments
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[Upcycle It] Interactive Race Car Driver - What next?

Workshopshed
Workshopshed
29 Jun 2017

Despite a lack of posts there's actually been quite a bit going on over the last couple of weeks. Now that the challenge is over, I've been reviewing car and electronics.

Electronics

There's been a few recurrent problems with the solution mostly around the fragile wiring and power issues. The subsystems have all been tested and checked over the last couple of weeks in an attempt to get a better demo video. It's quite a complex design with multiple batteries, power convertors, grove connector breakout boards and level shifters. The results is that I've not actually had driver and car working at the same time from battery.

 

Many of the design features were only there for the benefits of the challenge. Now that those restrictions have been lifted I will simplify the electronics and wiring.

 

Car

The wooden parts of the car will be dropped and I'll be printing replacements. The single extruder replacement heads for the Cel Robox are quite expensive and also no-one seems to have them in stock. So I'm saving up and looking around for suppliers.

 

The car is a little back heavy and rather tall. This does mean that it likes to pull wheelies which is kind of cool but probably not good for the driver. So the battery will be moving to the middle of the car and electronics lowered.

 

Software

I've also been working through the software getting it all working together, I had trouble with DNS and security but resolved all that, last week. https://github.com/Workshopshed/UpcyclingDesignChallenge

image

The web page for driving the car is really just there to test things. What I would really like to have is a UI that my daughter can use to learn basic programming concepts. I've been looking at various things and Blockly looks good, it's open source, multi-platform and is easily customised. Blockly basically allows you to drag blogs onto a design area and when you run the code it compiles those into a language of your choice such as JavaScript. It's possible to create custom blocks with code which would send the same messages to MQTT as I currently do with my buttons. I can customise and add to the UI as she and the car evolve.

 

image

So this not the last of the interactive race car driver, there will be more to come.

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Top Comments

  • fvan
    fvan over 8 years ago +2
    Nice post-challenge update! I like the fact that you continue to improve upon the project, even after the challenge has ended
  • mcb1
    mcb1 over 8 years ago +2
    Eventually you'll add that blower You can always try 12blocks http://onerobot.org/index.html#12Blocks It has the advantage it's multiprocessor. mark
  • DAB
    DAB over 8 years ago +2
    Great idea Andy. I never finished a build where I did not see many ways to improve upon the initial effort. Most applications require a number of use and upgrade cycles before the end product reaches a…
  • jasonwier92
    jasonwier92 over 7 years ago in reply to Workshopshed

    I love it when a plan comes together!

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  • Workshopshed
    Workshopshed over 7 years ago

    Thanks to some ebay sales and a sponsored article on the Workshopshed blog, I've now been able to afford a replacement print head.

    So, you can expect a bigger engine bay, a new seat for the Furby and the missing rear bumper.

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  • Workshopshed
    Workshopshed over 8 years ago in reply to DAB

    Cheers Dab, I was trying really hard to provide a better demo but concluded it was better to strip the car down and built it back up. Definately going to be better than V1!

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  • Workshopshed
    Workshopshed over 8 years ago in reply to jasonwier92

    The Cel does have an upgrade kit for their dual extruder but that's over twice the cost of the single head. The people who've upgrade also recommended keeping the single head for quality. So for me a single one to replace the one I broke.

     

    I am aware of COAP but not looked at it recently so perhaps time for a review.

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  • DAB
    DAB over 8 years ago

    Great idea Andy.

     

    I never finished a build where I did not see many ways to improve upon the initial effort.

    Most applications require a number of use and upgrade cycles before the end product reaches a refined level of optimization.

     

    In every design, you make assumptions based upon your initial interpretation of the requirements.  As you go through the testing process you get a better understanding of what changes would improve the various aspects of the project.

     

    On those occasions where I had chances to go through a number of improvement cycles, the resulting system was always much better.

     

    So I look forward to seeing what you can do with your basic build.

     

    DAB

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