The mini TARS replica robot was built by Charlie Diaz. (Image Credit: Charlie Diaz/hackster.io)
Charlie Diaz is no stranger when it comes to Interstellar. The film features TARS, a two-legged robot, and he felt inspired enough to build a mini version. At that time, Diaz created three iterations, starting as a proof-of-concept that became an extremely reliable prototype with hours-long walking capabilities. His third one features two robotic arms for environmental interactivity. Ultimately, Diaz hopes others can use this to build their TARS robot and maybe improve it.
The mini TARS robot runs on Raspberry Pi 3B+ (Raspbian), and everything is controlled from an 8BitDo Zero 2 Bluetooth controller. It also features a suspension mechanism for shock absorption. Version three has five torso-mounted high-torque metal gear servos (to drive the two legs) and four micro-servo motors. The Raspberry Pi 3B+ communicates with the Adafruit 16-Channel PWM Servo Driver that controls all nine servos.
(Image Credit: Charlie Diaz/hackster.io)
A three-cell, 11.1 V, 1300mAh battery distributes power to the servos. Diaz explained in his post how TARS propels forward without its feet getting stuck. “At a glance, TARS appears to be a rather simple walking robot, consisting of only two legs, each with a single joint. Upon closer inspection one can find a hidden translational degree of freedom near the leg joints, responsible for creating clearance for the legs as they rotate past the center torso, or vice versa.”
TARS version one 3D-printed parts were surrounded by an aluminum sheet, and the bot was too heavy, causing the drivetrain parts to shatter. This also meant the robot couldn’t travel far. Meanwhile, version three features dual robot arms that interact with the surrounding environment. Diaz also made the CAD files and code available for those wishing to create a replica.
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