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  • Author Author: tariq.ahmad
  • Date Created: 30 Dec 2020 2:12 PM Date Created
  • Last Updated Last Updated: 1 Jan 2021 8:24 AM
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Raspberry Pi 2XL Robot Assistant Part 2 -- Episode 479

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In a previous element14 presents project, Matt took an old 2XL robot toy from the 1970s and, with the help of a Raspberry Pi, dragged it into the 21st century by turning it into a functional AI voice assistant. Now, after a few other challenges focusing on retro computers and esoteric timepieces, he's back to put some finishing touches on 2XL! In this video, Matt will repair the malfunctioning 8-track player that is at the heart of the original 2XL toy, attempt to build a voice changer to make his assistant sound more like the original robot voice, and top it all off by building a power distribution solution that will allow him to run everything from a single power supply!

Supplemental Content:

  • How To Build A 5V Buck Converter
  • How To Build A Voice Changer
  • Voice Changer Toy Teardown
  • How To Repair An 8-Track Player Mechanism
  • Assembling the Velleman MK171 Voice Changer Kit

Bill of Material:

Product Name Manufacturer Quantity Buy KitBuy Kit
Rotary Potentiometer TT ELECTRONICS / BI TECHNOLOGIES 1 Buy Now
De-Ox-Id AEROSOL 4 oz GC Electronics 1 Buy Now
Hobby Project Kit, Voice Changer Novelty Kit, On-Board Microphone Velleman 1 Buy Now
Zener Single Diode, 3 V, 500 mW, DO-35, 5 %, 2, 200 C RoHS Compliant: Yes Nexperia 1 Buy Now
Speaker, Mini, 60 mm, 0.5 W, 8 ohm, 260 Hz to 4 kHz Multicomp Pro 1 Buy Now
MICROPHONE, MINIATURE, ELECTRET Kingstate 1 Buy Now
Through Hole Resistor, 4.7 kohm, LR Series, 250 mW, ± 1%, Axial Leaded, 200 V TE 2 Buy Now
Ceramic Disc Capacitor, 0.1 µF, 50 V, MCFY Series, +80%, -20%, Y5V, 5 mm Multicomp Pro 3 Buy Now
LED, Diffused, Red, Through Hole, T-1 3/4 (5mm), 10 mA, 2 V Dialight 2 Buy Now
Electrolytic Capacitor, 4.7 µF, 16 V, MCNP Series, ± 20%, Radial Leaded, 2000 hours @ 85°C Multicomp Pro 1 Buy Now
Electrolytic Capacitor, 10 µF, 25 V, FC Series, ± 20%, Radial Leaded, 1000 hours @ 105°C Panasonic 1 Buy Now
Electrolytic Capacitor, 100 µF, 16 V, M Series, ± 20%, Radial Leaded, 2000 hours @ 85°C Panasonic 2 Buy Now
Electrolytic Capacitor, 22 µF, 16 V, MCGPR Series, ± 20%, Radial Leaded, 2000 hours @ 85°C Multicomp Pro 1 Buy Now
Trimpot, Single Turn, Cermet, Top Adjust, 47 kohm, Through Hole, 1 Turns Bourns 1 Buy Now
Rotary Potentiometer, 100 ohm, 1 Turns, Linear, 2 W, ± 10%, 93 Series Bourns 1 Buy Now
Through Hole Resistor, 47 kohm, MF25 Series, 250 mW, ± 1%, Axial Leaded, 250 V Multicomp Pro 1 Buy Now
Through Hole Resistor, 10 kohm, MF12 Series, 125 mW, ± 1%, Axial Leaded, 200 V Multicomp Pro 1 Buy Now
Through Hole Resistor, 1.2 kohm, MCF Series, 500 mW, ± 5%, Axial Leaded, 350 V Multicomp Pro 1 Buy Now
Through Hole Resistor, 10 ohm, MCMF0W4 Series, 250 mW, ± 1%, Axial Leaded, 250 V Multicomp Pro 1 Buy Now
Through Hole Resistor, 330 ohm, MCCFR0W8J Series, 125 mW, ± 5%, Axial Leaded, 200 V Multicomp Pro 2 Buy Now
Through Hole Resistor, 100 kohm, LR Series, 250 mW, ± 1%, Axial Leaded, 200 V Multicomp Pro 1 Buy Now
Audio Power Amplifier, 325 mW, AB, 1 Channel, 4V to 12V, DIP, 8 Pins TI 1 Buy Now
Tactile Switch, FSMJ Series, Top Actuated, Through Hole, Round Button, 160 gf, 50mA at 24VDC TE 4 Buy Now
Surface Mount Power Inductor, SLF Series, 22 µH, 1.9 A, 0.0591 ohm, ± 20% TDK 1 Buy Now
Electrolytic Capacitor, Miniature, 180 µF, 16 V, UPW Series, ± 20%, Radial Leaded Nichicon 2 Buy Now
Schottky Rectifier, 45 V, 6 A, Single, TO-263AB, 3 Pins, 600 mV Vishay 1 Buy Now
Multilayer Ceramic Capacitor, 0.47 µF, 50 V, Mono-Kap Series, +80%, -20%, Radial Leaded, Y5V Vishay 1 Buy Now
Ceramic Disc Capacitor, 10000 pF, 50 V, D Series, +80%, -20%, Z5V, 6.4 mm Vishay 1 Buy Now
Electrolytic Capacitor, 15 µF, 50 V, GA Series, ± 20%, Radial Leaded, 1000 hours @ 105°C Panasonic 3 Buy Now
Buck (Step Down) Switching Regulator, Fixed, 8V-40V In, 5V And 5A Out, 260 kHz, TO-263-7 TI 1 Buy Now

 

Additional Parts:

 

Product Name
HT8950A Voice Modulator Chip

Voice Changer Toy

Mego 2XL

element14 presents
Raspberry Pi 2XL Robot Assistant Part 2

element14 presents  |  About Matt |  Project Videos

  • buck
  • vishay
  • potentiometer
  • buck converter
  • te
  • microphone
  • 8-track player repair
  • nexperia
  • voice changer
  • gc electronics
  • 2xl robot makeover
  • e14presents_airbornesurfer
  • boost converter
  • 70s toy hack
  • 8-track player restoration
  • panasonic
  • tt electronics
  • velleman
  • mego 2xl
  • matt eargle
  • friday release
  • kingstate
  • multicomp
  • dialight
  • bourns
  • 1970s 2xl
  • friday_release
  • inductor
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  • speaker
  • 2xl restoration
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Top Comments

  • DAB
    DAB over 5 years ago +2
    Nice repair. DAB
  • kmikemoo
    kmikemoo over 5 years ago +1
    I'm amazed that you have (or find) these old toys. Nice upgrade. The robot voice certainly fits the look.
  • airbornesurfer
    airbornesurfer over 5 years ago in reply to DAB +1
    Thanks! It's always fun to get one of these ancient beasts working!
  • kmikemoo
    kmikemoo 3 months ago in reply to omartinjordan

    omartinjordan Have you checked out the Supplemental Content?  There is a lot of stuff buried there.

    There are also articles on Alexa and Home Assistant on the Community (although way more for Home Assistant).  Try the search engine.  There will be more than one page of links and references.  Sometimes the best stuff is a couple of pages back.

    While the Ben Heck Sow isn't in production anymore, there are some awesome resources there and element14 has them all. Alexa Automated Workbench Part 1 -- Episode 325 could get you started.

    Good luck!  Please share the project when you're done. Relaxed

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  • omartinjordan
    omartinjordan 3 months ago

    I just found mine in my parents attic.  I'd like to turn it into an Alexa.  Does anyone know if there are more detailed instructions than the youtube videos?  

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  • airbornesurfer
    airbornesurfer over 5 years ago

    Because I totally didn't forget to hit "publish" on the supplemental content:

     

    How To Build A 5V Buck Converter

    How To Build A Voice Changer

    Voice Changer Toy Teardown

    How To Repair An 8-Track Player Mechanism

    Assembling the Velleman MK171 Voice Changer Kit

     

    Also: ashwhitt ICYMI

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  • airbornesurfer
    airbornesurfer over 5 years ago in reply to kmikemoo

    It's a gift and a curse--especially if you ask my wife! image

     

    Seriously, though, old toys are the best toys! There's a certain charm to their designs that you don't really see much anymore, and it's always satisfying to breathe a little more life into them!

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  • airbornesurfer
    airbornesurfer over 5 years ago in reply to DAB

    Thanks! It's always fun to get one of these ancient beasts working!

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  • kmikemoo
    kmikemoo over 5 years ago

    I'm amazed that you have (or find) these old toys.  Nice upgrade.  The robot voice certainly fits the look.

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  • DAB
    DAB over 5 years ago

    Nice repair.

     

    DAB

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