Embedded Files
Executive Summary
Executive Summary
ExecutiveSummaryBeetlebots.mp4This video highlights the achievements I have been able to make over the six weeks I have done this project. The video illustrates one beetlebot in the arena by itself, and then three beetlebots.
This photo represents all the work I have done on this project. It shows how much much I have progressed on this project. I started with a simple frame, struggling to create my first beetlebot. Now, my beetlebots are mcuh more durable and are are of better quality.
The overall goal of this project is to improve the beetlebot overall. I was able to do so, by changing numerous facets of the beetlebot(listed in journal). These changes include changes in position to many extraneous objects on the beetlebot. The changes I have made have had a two-fold effect on the beetlebot project.
1. These changes are improving the idea of a standard beetlebot dramatically. These changes have made the beetlebots more durable, usable and consistent.
2. These changes will lead to the increase of the success rate of the beetlebot project. One of the reasons I took this project on was because I saw how many people failed this project and I wanted to change that. I believe these new changes are going to improve the success rate to over 50% for newer makers and a 90% success rate for makers who have a couple weeks of making/tinkering experience in Summer Fab Lab or Design Thinking.
Journal
Journal
There were two goals to this project. Firstly, the beetlebot should become better for other to use and should become better overall. Isn't that the focus of most projects(except original research)? My project improved the beetlebot, primarily regarding consistency and durability. After completing said tasks, I created a step-by-step instruction manual so that others can replicate the result of the beetlebot. The beetlebot is a relatively easy project, as it only requires skills regarding the creation of laser cutting files, the use of the laser cutter, the use of hot glue guns and the use of a soldering iron. It also doesn't require many materials and has a unit cost of under $5. Though it is easy to make and is accessible to many, the project has a very low success rate. Many senior members at my school would say the project has a success rate of around 30%, which is much lower than a project of its caliber should have. Therefore, I have embarked on this quest to create a better step-by-step instruction manual so others, especially younger children, have the ability of creating their own beetlebot. In order to do so, I had to create a beetlebot. And another. And another. At the beginning, I was trying to figure out the wiring of the motors and the limit switches.
I began to experiment with the weights that were normally were placed at the back of the beetlebot.
- I found that people put the weights very far from the actual beetlebot by attaching the weight to a paper clip.
- I saw a substantial difference if people put the weight close to the beetlebot and if that wasn't possible, to stack the weights on top of each other to keep the mass centered.
As time went on, I realized that I had to change the material that I was using for the antennae.
- Back then, I was using paper clips, didn't leverage the limit switch and activate them when they hit the wall. That is when I changed over to bamboo skewers.
- Bamboo skewers were better because they made better contact with the wall and triggered the limit switches. However, the bamboo skewers did not last long because they snapped off after a little while.
I thought of a combination fo the two when a perfect solution was introduced to me.
- In the lab, there was a thin metal gauge wire that was durable yet flexible, and was perfect for the antennae. It was durable enough that it triggered the limit switches, and flexible enough so the antennae didn't snap off every time they hit the wall.
My last issue was the center of mass. The beetlebots constantly leaned toward one side or the other. I laser cut a base plate to glue to the battery holder that had engraved lines which told people where to put the next piece. This helps the issue a bit but does not solve the issue completely .
A project like this is very dependent on what the creator does and will never be perfect. I am confident that I have solved as many problems as possible and have created a step-by-step instruction manual that will yield better results than other instructions that have been put out there.
Initial body of the beetlebot
Trying to figure out the wiring of the beetlebot
Figured the wiring out. But more experimentation had to be done...
I realized that for convenience's sake, I should probably have a on/off switch. This hasn't been a part of any other beetlebot designs before in the past
Without heat shrink tubing, the beetlebot doesn't work. It just stays still. The heat-shrink tubing acts like the tires on a car.
The weights at the back should be stacked up on each other so that the center of mass is preserved.
My first trial of the bamboo antennae. They worked much better than the paper clips, but still wasn't right.
An almost final beetlebot. It has the best antennae I could find, and the weights maintain the center of mass.
Experimentation with the center of mass.
Engraved lines on the base plate had engraved lines that told creators where to put the cross piece with the motors.
Beetlebot with the center of mass baseplate. When this was completed, it went much straighter than the other prototypes I had made.
Reflection
Reflection
The beetlebot was a very long, difficult project that I was able to finish within about two months. I am glad of my work on this project, and have a lot to reflect about.
Making things simpler therefore makes them more efficient.
- At the beginning of the project, I spent a lot of time just turning on the beetlebots. For another 5 minutes of time to find materials and solder, I added an on/off switch, which made the ease of using the beetlebot dramatically increase.
- Throughout the project, I always looked back to see what my predecessors did. My mentor, Mr. Moss told me that my predecessors had a very hard time figuring out how to make sure that the antennae were not in the same horizontal plane. I just added some cardboard under one of the limit switches, and I was done.
Weights at the Back of the Beetlebot
- The weights at the back are not just important, they are necessary for beetlebot. Over the course of this project, I realized that the weights are more important because they suspend the main body of the beetlebot in mid-air.
- I also realized that when putting more weights, you should not put them on the side of the original weights. I did , and the center of mass got messed up. Therefore, makers should put weights on top of each other to preserve center of mass.
Antennae
- Antennae should be a thin gauge metal wire. I originally tried paper clips but they didn't trigger the limit switch when hitting the wall. Then, I tried bamboo skewers. They triggered the limit switches properly after hitting the wall but they snapped off the limit switch after a few times. Then, I settled on a thin gauge metal wire, which had the best elements of both.
- Antennae should be attached to the limit switches by hot gluing. I made many mistakes when jamming the limit switch with hot glue. I learned that you should glue up until the point that there is a hole and then stop. Once the wire is secured, put a little more hot glue on top of the existing hot glue.
- Empirical evidence(and common sense) says that the antennae have to be larger than the turn radius of the beetlebot. I personally made this mistake many times, making the antennae to short so that the leverage of the limit switches would be higher. It was higher, but the beetlebot couldn't properly turn.
IMG_3039 2.MOVIMG_3298.TRIM.MOVIMG_3002 2.MOV
IMG_3039.MOVDirection of Beetlebot/Center of Mass
- The laser cut/laser engraved base plate and cross piece are very important to ensuring center of mass. They have been tested extensively so that it is close enough to the actual center of mass and it avoids tipping over.
- Sometimes, when the beetlebot goes "out of control" and starts favoring one side over the other, I discovered that sometimes its more useful to simply to adjust the angle of the motor and battery holder. If the angles are larger(to the point that the shaft no longer has any traction on the ground), the beetlebot will move faster on that side. If the angles are smaller, the beetlebot will move slower on that side. Makers can adjust the angles to counteract any external forces that may influence the beetlebot
- To standardize the angle of the motors, It has been suggested to me to create a mold out of wood. I think that this is a great idea that I should definitely attempt to implement if given the time. I think that the mold could also be 3D printed if wood is not available.
Miscellaneous
- Heat Shrink Tubing is very important. The heat shrink tubing as a lubricant for the metal shafts. Without the tubing, the beetlebot stays still with the occasional spinning in place.
- I need to build a bigger and better arena so that the beetlebots don't constantly crash into each other. The videos proving my work would be better as well.
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