How to Create a Robot
Robots are exciting, complex machines born from the imagination of famed inventor Leonardo da Vinci, and being perfected on a daily basis by some of the greatest minds of our time.
With the advent of affordable electronics for hobbyists, the ability to construct small, basic robots has become more feasible for the average tinkerer than ever before.
Whether your design uses the time-tested power of electricity or a newcomer like solar or wind energy, whether it scoots on wheels or runs on legs, whether it can see, hear, or feel its environment, your robot will need some basic components.
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Things You'll Need
- Body design (and materials)
- Body mechanics
- Power source
- Sensor apparatus
- Soldering iron and solder
Instructions
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1
Design a body shape for your robot. Will it be a four-legged animal design, or a six-legged insect? Will it roll on wheels, float on water or skitter on legs? Try drawing out your designs before you commit to one; this will allow you to ascertain whether all your components will fit, and to troubleshoot potential design problems before you expend any energy actually building the design.
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2
Construct your decided-upon robot shape, complete with the moving mechanics necessary to drive your robot in the manner you've chosen; e.g., a wheeled robot needs the motors aligned and ready for connection, while a floating robot needs its fan(s) secured and align.
Be sure to quality-control your design at this phase, because a shoddy or loose-jointed construction will inevitably fail later on, and cause possibly catastrophic damage to your robot.
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3
Choose and install the power source for your robot, including the On/Off switch. If you will be employing standard battery power, install the battery holder in this stage, but leave out the actual batteries until you're ready to test your design.
Your power source will by necessity be attached to an On/Off switch to control the robot (unless your design calls for otherwise). Make sure this switch is in the "Off" position before attaching any kind of power source, to avoid damage to the circuits. -
4
Install the sensor apparatus you've chosen for your robot. This is often the most delicate part of the construction process, as sensors are notoriously touchy and easy to disrupt, so be especially careful during this phase.
Various types of sensors will require different constructions, so be sure to meet all the requirements of your chosen sensor array; for example, a touch sensor will need some kind of "whisker" extending outward from the robot to act as a predictive nerve for the sensor. -
5
Ensure your components are well-connected by solid solder connections. A robot designed for rough conditions like rocky terrain or constant vibrations will need extra-strong connections for its components, to avoid a disastrous connection failure.
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Tips & Warnings
An enclosure of some kind can be added as a medium for customizing the robot, allowing you to paint or otherwise decorate it without compromising the internal hardware.
Soldering irons run extremely hot, so use common sense and safety precautions while using it to avoid potentially serious injuries.
