WEEK 27: BUYING ADDITION COMPONENTS

OBJECTIVE

1. To decide what type of components that suitable to develop my new design project.
2. To search electronic store that sells the components that needed with a reasonable price.

METHODOLOGY

1. Understanding the steps taken to build the quadruped robot on https://www.instructables.com/id/ESP8266-WIFI-AP-Controlled-Quadruped-Robot/ . 
2. Comparing the design to my 3D printed body parts and decide what components suitable for my project.
3. Listing the addition components that need to buy.
4. Searching the electronic store on Jalan Pasar, Pudu, Kuala Lumpur.
5. Buying the components.

RESULT

As a result, I found one electronic store near Jalan Pasar, Pudu, KL that offer all the components needed to build my project. The named of the store is 'Online Components Sdn Bhd'. 

Online Components Sdn Bhd near Jalan Pasar

The addition components that I've bought on this store is:

WeMos D1 Mini

PCA9685 16-Channel 12-bit PWM Servo Motor Driver

Hobbywing UBEC 5V or 6V switchable max 3A

Mini DC-DC Step Down Converter

Li-Poly RC Battery 7.4V 2200mAh

Boat Button Switch

ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION

The store provide me all the addition components required for me to build my prototype. The reason why I choose these components is because: 

WeMos D1 Mini: This is the same type as NodeMCU dev kit. it has ESP8266 WiFi module but this component is a lot smaller than nodeMCU. I choose this component because of it small size so that it is fit to my robot since my robot is small. It also has less pin however, I only use 4 pins for my project. thus, less pin does not give problem to build my prototype.

PCA9685 16-Channel 12-bit PWM: This component is recommended from the project that I found in the internet. it can give addition of PWM pin to my arduino Pro Mini. This board is powered using 5V power and very useful for building a robot or proect that use many PWM servo motor.

UBEC 5V or 6V switchable max 3A: This component works as voltage regulator to 5V of 6V similar to DC to DC voltage regulator. However, it has filtering so it will reduce noise that can affected the motor glitch and it has high ampere that's enough to lift up the robot load.

Mini DC to DC Step-Down Converter: The mini DC to DC step-down converter is to regulate power from source to 5V which then can supply to the components that powered up with 5V. It has no filtering so, for this project I will not powering up servo motors with this component.

Li-Poly RC Battery: This LiPo is the main power source for my robot. It gives 7.4V power to connect to the UBEC and DC to DC step-down.

Boat Switch Button: For safety issues and power saving consumption, I will make a power switch from the LiPo using the Boat switch button since the LiPo doesn't have switch button.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the components to build this project have already been bought. All the components are bought with a reasonable price. Thus, I can continue to developing the quadruped robot using the addition components.

WEEK 26: DISCUSS WITH SUPERVISOR REGARDING THE PROJECT CHOSEN

OBJECTIVE

1. To meet with Sir Zaki to discuss regarding the project that I selected suitable for my project.
2. To ask for his permission and advice on continuing my project as we discussed.

METHODOLOGY

1. Inform Sir Zaki earlier to conduct a meeting to discuss about the project that selected.
2. Meet him at his office within the week.
3. Discuss the project and explaining to him why this project can relate to my project.
4. Ask for his permission to continue building the project following the project that have been chosen.

RESULT

On the discussion session, I explain to him that this project can be done but I need to buy addition components and modified the current project. I explain to him that this project doesn't use BLYNK application however it use a web browser and the ESP8266 function as the WiFi Access Point.

ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION

Sir Zaki approved my plan on developing this type of project. However Sir Zaki wanted me to modified the robot. Thus, I will use my current 3D printing body parts and modified the arduino codes to match my 3D body parts design.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the discussion going as plan and Sir Zaki approved my project. Thus, I will continue developing the project by buying the addition components first.

WEEK 25: FINDING ANOTHER BENCHMARK

OBJECTIVE

1. To find more suitable project related to IoT robot.
2. To find other ways to control quadruped robot using IoT.

METHODOLOGY

1. Finding other suitable project related to IoT robot using internet.
2. Finding other ways to control quadruped robot using IoT from the internet.
3. List the selected projects obtained from the internet.
4. Compare the selected projects with my project.
5. Choose a more suitable and simple project that can modified according to the criteria for my project.

RESULT

As a result, there are various project found that are related to IoT robot and quadruped robot. The list below are the link of the projects obtained from the internet.

• https://www.instructables.com/id/QUATTRO-the-Arduino-Quadruped-Robot/
• https://www.instructables.com/id/ESP8266-WIFI-AP-Controlled-Quadruped-Robot/
• https://oscarliang.com/arduino-quadruped-robot-stalker/
• https://www.instructables.com/id/Synopsis/

ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION

After comparing each projects obtained from the internet as listed in the result. 

https://www.instructables.com/id/ESP8266-WIFI-AP-Controlled-Quadruped-Robot/ 

has more similar project to mine. This project use WiFi to control the robot. The robot can be control using smartphone similar to my main objective. I want to develop a quadruped robot that can be control using smartphone. However, the component that this project use slightly different than what I have bought for my previous project and the quadruped robot body is different than my 3D printed body parts that i have already printed out. The figure below are the quadruped robot from the link in the description above. Nonetheless, I can modified and comes out with different idea to build according to my design.

ESP8266 WiFi AP CONTROLLED QUADRUPED ROBOT

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, this quadruped robot is more suitable for me to imitate because it is similar to my project however this robot did not use BLYNK application to control the robot but it use web browser to control the robot and the ESP8266 works as WiFi access point for smartphone to interface.