Makers, hobbyists, and Arduino enthusiasts searching for a project to keep them busy this weekend may be interested in this awesome wirelessly controlled crawling robot project created by Instructables user MusaW. This project is perfect for those who enjoy combining hardware and software to create something truly unique and functional. Check out the video below to learn more about the tutorial that provides all the instructions you need to make your own 12 DOF or four-legged, quadruped robot using SG90 servos that can be controlled using a WIFI Web server via your smartphone browser.
Components and Tools Required
To get started with this project, you will need a few essential components and tools. The primary component is the Wemos D1 Mini, a versatile NodeMCU variant that serves as the Web Server for the quadruped robot. This microcontroller will act as an Access Point, allowing you to connect to the Quadruped AP and control all the movements of your robot. Additionally, you will need SG90 servos, which are small and lightweight, making them ideal for this type of project. Other necessary components include a power supply, jumper wires, and a breadboard for prototyping.
For the construction of the robot, you will need materials such as acrylic sheets or 3D printed parts for the robot’s body, screws, and nuts to assemble the frame. Basic tools like a screwdriver, pliers, and a soldering iron will also be required to put everything together.
Building and Programming the Robot
The first step in building your quadruped robot is to assemble the frame. You can either use pre-cut acrylic sheets or 3D print the parts based on the design provided in the tutorial. Once the frame is ready, you can start attaching the SG90 servos to the designated spots on the legs and body. Make sure to secure them tightly to ensure smooth movement.
Next, you will need to wire the servos to the Wemos D1 Mini. This involves connecting the signal wires of the servos to the appropriate GPIO pins on the microcontroller. The power and ground wires should be connected to a suitable power source that can provide enough current for all the servos.
Once the hardware setup is complete, it’s time to move on to the programming part. The tutorial provides a detailed code that you can upload to the Wemos D1 Mini using the Arduino IDE. This code sets up the microcontroller as a Web Server and defines the movements of the robot based on the commands received from the smartphone browser.
“There is a lot of NodeMCU variant in the market and basically have the same functionality, for this project I chose Wemos D1 Mini. This part will serve as a Web Server for our quadruped as an Access Point. What you need is just to connect to the Quadruped AP and control all the movements of your robot, and maybe for future projects, it will display all the sensors dashboard you need.”
Controlling the Robot
Once the code is uploaded and the robot is powered on, you can connect to the Quadruped AP using your smartphone. Open a web browser and enter the IP address provided in the tutorial to access the control interface. This interface allows you to send commands to the robot, making it move forward, backward, turn, or perform other predefined actions.
The flexibility of this project lies in its potential for future enhancements. For instance, you can add various sensors to the robot, such as ultrasonic sensors for obstacle detection or gyroscopes for balance control. The Web Server can be updated to display real-time data from these sensors, providing a comprehensive dashboard for monitoring the robot’s environment and performance.
For more details on the Arduino crawling robot project, jump over to the Instructables website by following the link below.
Source: Instructables
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