Simplest DIY motor demo

Posted by Matthew Sun, 15 Jan 2006 23:10:00 GMT

Justin describes how to build a DIY four part motor. It requires a battery, a wire, a screw, and a small disc magnet. The hardest part is getting the screw to hang from the battery.

The way this motor works (as shown below) is by creating a closed circuit, where the current actually flows through the magnet. When this happens, a magnetic force turns the magnet, which spins the screw.

Simple motor in action

He also posted a Google video of the motor in action. This project has always been great for procrastination or entertaining youngsters.

A basically simple Beetle Robot

Posted by Matthew Mon, 09 Jan 2006 23:18:00 GMT

The Beetle Robot is a simple diy robot to impress youngsters or your non-technical friends. Its construction and operation are simple enough for just about anyone to understand.

Beetle Robot

The only components necessary are:

  • 2x - small 1.5 Volts motors
  • 2x - small paperclips
  • 2x - big paperclips
  • 2x - batteries AAA or AA
  • 1x - battery holder AAA or AA
  • 1x - 2 cm of heat shrink
  • 1x - wooden pearl (for the caster)
  • 1x - meter of electric wire
  • 2x - Sub-mini lever SPDT switches

The beetle’s operation is also fairly simple. If one of the SPDT switches is tripped, the polarity going to one of the motors is reversed. This causes the beetle to back away in the opposite direction.

The instructions are sketchy to say the least. ” Take the battery holder and make a connection to the connection.” Fortunately, the pictures are easy to follow.

16 Channel serial servo controller

Posted by Matthew Sat, 07 Jan 2006 15:23:00 GMT

Ever wonder exactly how to use a servo motor? How about 16 of them from a single serial connection?

Make Magazine’s Blog dug up an interesting way to accomplish this. To update servo positions, a host sends a serial signal to an Amtel microcontroller. The Amtel remembers the positions and generates 16 different control signals. (One signal for each servo). The data is sent as follows:

  • Byte1 = Sync (255)
  • Byte2 = Servo# (0-15)
  • Byte3 = Position (0-254)

The host is either the serial port of a computer or a single pin of a master microcontroller. Therefore, a PC program similar to his own can be used to find the exact servo positions necessary for the application before the code is embedded on a microcontroller in the robot.

Schematics and code are included. Other than that you are on your own.