My prototyping techniques are fairly limited and pretty standard: using stripboard or protoboard. One day I hope to graduate to PCBs but so far I haven't gotten around to it as learning a PCB package doesn't seem like fun. And, as they say, when the fun stops, STOP!, so I never started. But who knows, perhaps one day on a wet winter day. Still, I wanted to make a contribution to this Project14 competition and then I realised that I could use TinkerCAD. I use TinkerCAD to create the designs for my 3D printed parts and after about four years of trying I am just about getting to the point where I can (mostly) make the shapes that I want. I noticed recently that TinkerCAD also provides something called Circuits so I thought why not try this out. Also, some time ago I purchased two plastic eyeballs with the intention of making some sort of eyeball on sticks thingy and this seemed the perfect opportunity.
TinkerCAD Circuits is a Simulation programmed for the Arduino UNO or Micro:Bit. I do not have much experience of using Micro:Bit so I decided to go with the Uno and I just happened to have one for a Tiny85 programmer that I have never made (One day maybe!).
It seems a fairly simple package to use, you just click on the 'components' that you want and then link them up with 'wires'. You can only use the components that they provide which is why I used the Uno as there isn't a Nano. I wanted two servo motors so I just added them and connected up a few wires.
The Simulation circuit view can also be converted into a proper schematic at the click of a button..
There is the capability to write programmes within TinkerCAD Circuits and they can be written in Arduino C the same as the Arduino IDE or in Blocks. I haven't used Blocks before so I just stuck to C. My Arduino C programme is simple, just attaching two servo motors and then randomly moving them to various points in the 0 to 180 degree range.
It doesn't convert from Arduino C to Block code, but it might be able to convert from Blocks to Arduino C. I didn't try this as it wipes the C code when starting Blocks. You can then simulate the programme and anything in the circuit will be animated that can be animated. In my example the two servo motors can be seen moving randomly. Sorry about the video quality, it is a video of my laptop screen.
Sadly, TinkerCAD Circuits does not have the capability to program the Uno - well I couldn't find it, so you need to download the programme into the Arduino IDE to program the Uno, so that is what I did.
As I was already using TinkerCAD I decided to try and make a nice 'box' for the EyeBall Thingy. I wanted to keep it simple so designed a box shape to hold the 4 x AA batteries, the Uno and the two servo motors and came up with the following TinkerCAD shape. This is the upsidedown view as I was seeking to minimise support material. It still took six hours to print.
Then I designed a small base to fit onto the top of the servo motor and a pole to fit the eyeball.
Everything just push fits together although I did have to use a screw to hold the base onto the servo motors. Below is a photograph of all the components before they were stuffed into the box.
It looks OK although I was hoping for something a bit more organic and lifelike looking but I discovered during this project that I do not (yet) know how to make those types of biological/organic shapes. I'm sure it's possible, I just haven't worked out how. So below is the final product. Two eye balls on sticks randomly moving backwards and forwards.
It doesn't do very much but the theme of the Project14 competition is Prototyping and not making lifelike creatures. Maybe another Project14 competition sometime. I did think of getting it to do more, maybe some sensors, or move about by itself but that would have made the 3D printing, the circuit and the programme code much more complicated and I wanted to keep it simple (more commonly known as running out of time).
Dubbie
