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  • Author Author: tariq.ahmad
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The Learning Circuit 86: How to Make an Ultrasonic Nervous Robot

element14 presents
How to Make an Ultrasonic Nervous Robot

The Learning Circuit | element14 presents |  Project Videos

 

 

In this episode of the Learning Circuit Karen creates another robot! This robot has three ultrasonic distance sensors in its mouth, two micro:bits that make up eyes, and an Arduino as its brain. The sensors detect when something steps in front of the robot, and as the object moves left and right, the eyes of the robot will follow it. Not only can the robot detect when an object is in range, it can detect when that object gets too close and it will look down at the object to follow it moving. Check out the video to see Karen break down the code and show how she built the robot.

 

Supplemental Content:

 

 

Bill of Material:

 

Product NameManufacturerQuantityBuy KitBuy Kit
Single Board Computer, BBC micro:bitBBC Micro:bit2Buy NowBuy Now
Edge Connector Breakout Board Pre-Built, BBC micro:bit, Prototyping Area with 3V/0V RowsKITRONIK2Buy NowBuy Now
Arduino Uno, ATmega328P MCU, 14 3.3V I/O, 6 Analogue Inputs, 6 PWM OutputsArduino1Buy NowBuy Now
Ultrasonic Sensor, Development Board Accessory, For Arduino, Raspberry PiMCM3Buy NowBuy Now
USB Cable, Type A Plug to Type B Plug, 162 mm, 6.3 ", USB 2.0, WhiteAMP - TE CONNECTIVITY1Buy NowBuy Now
Power Bank, 5V, 2.2 Ah Capacity, 2 Ports, 92 mm x 23 mm x 23 mmMULTICOMP PRO1Buy NowBuy Now
Board-To-Board Connector, 2.54 mm, 4 Contacts, Receptacle, 1 RowsMulticomp3Buy NowBuy Now
Pin Header, Board-to-Board, 2.54 mm, 1 Rows, 6 Contacts, Through Hole Straight, 2211S SeriesMulticomp3Buy NowBuy Now
Signal, 2.54 mm, 2 Rows, 20 Contacts, Through Hole Right AngleMolex2Buy NowBuy Now
Prototype Board, Phenolic, 1.6 mm, 45 mm, 91 mm, (2) smallMulticomp1Buy NowBuy Now

 

Additional Parts:

 

Product Name
Case Material

Extra Wire

Attachments:
NervousRobot_Resources.zip
Anonymous
Parents

  • Nice build Karen.

     

    You are probably getting some sonic bleed over between the sensors, especially since you are triggering all three at the same time.

     

    You could put some cardboard tubes around each of the receivers to limit their field of view.

    That might improve your detection of objects on each sensor.

     

    DAB

Comment

  • Nice build Karen.

     

    You are probably getting some sonic bleed over between the sensors, especially since you are triggering all three at the same time.

     

    You could put some cardboard tubes around each of the receivers to limit their field of view.

    That might improve your detection of objects on each sensor.

     

    DAB

Children
  • in reply to DAB

    Yeah. I was concerned that there was bleed over between the sensors, but didn't have a good, aesthetically acceptable solution for it. I wonder if simply tilting the outer sensors out farther would help. I assume by bleed over, you mean the ultrasonic waves from one sensor may reflect back to a different sensor giving a false reading? I'm not sure of a good solution for that other than physically isolating them more, which doesn't really work with the current design.

  • in reply to makerkaren

    Try just wrapping some paper around each sensor pair. It will look like the face has some big teeth, but it will make the directional detection a little more stable.

     

    DAB