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IMG_8693 2.MOVIMG_0061.MOVLife - Sized R2-D2 (In Progress)
Life - Sized R2-D2 (In Progress)
My motivations for undertaking this vast project is my love for Star Wars and for storytelling through engineering. I’m passionate about creating realistic robots and animated figures that allow people to be fully immersed in the story that is being told. R2-D2 embodies this due to his recognizable nature and ability to interact through both manual control and preprogrammed show sequences. This project has given me the opportunity to utilize my prior knowledge as well as attain a stronger understanding of electronics and mechanical mechanisms that were vital in creating R2-D2.
This project consists of a fully 3D printed design that will have lights, sound, and motion once completed.
The electronics will be custom programmed using ArduinoIDE that is based on C++ to control the multiple doors and arms using servo motors, along with motor drives to enable the droid to move and convert between a driving (3 leg mode) to a standing (2 leg mode).
Other features it will include are utilizing Bluetooth low energy to interact with other droids, pre-programmed movements.
I have also researched possible effects that can be utilized to mimic a hologram appearing in mid air from R2-D2. This system is still far from being implemented, but after initial testing utilizing a Pepper's Ghost effect, it may work. However, it introduces an issue where pieces running the effect can be seen from certain angles. This is not desirable due to the infinite angles that this can be viewed as R2-D2 will not be a static figure.
Ultimately, after many small systems have been implemented in R2-D2 I plan to create a machine learning algorithm to allow R2-D2 to see his environment and make decisions based off the camera's feed while still being able to avoid obstacles. This would bring a completely different level of realism to the droid. However, it has many possible points of failure, along with possibly endangering nearby people if they are not detected by the program. This will require a significant amount of time and testing to ensure the safety of anyone that may come in contact with this droid.
Miniature R-Series Droids (3D Printed)
Miniature R-Series Droids (3D Printed)
Version 1 (Completed):
RC controlled movement with an off-the-shelf transmitter and receiver.
Bluetooth enabled sound along with preprogrammed sound files ready to play.
LED lights are found in the dome that can react to sound to give the droid some personality.
Version 2 (In Progress):
This version will fully utilize the skills that I have built utilizing coding by using C++ in ArduinoIDE for an ESP-WROOM-32 board.
Version 2 possesses the same functionality as Version 1, while adding new features.
This version will have preprogrammed buttons that will correspond to a programmed action such as spinning around and playing sounds.
With this, the personality profile will be able to change with the press of one button. This will consist of different sound effects that will play based on the current mode along with altering the programmed actions that the droid performs.
Version 2 also allows for more fluency and less inconsistencies as everything will be run from one system, and it will feature an easier control system. These aspects combined can help add to the realism of the droid.
This version will also include Bluetooth low energy technology so that if two droids are in a close proximity to each other they will be able to cross-communicate and perform preprogrammed actions as if they were interacting with each other. This elevates the storytelling that these droids can provide.
The droid will also feature an accelerometer attached to an external ESP-WROOM-32 board that can communicate wirelessly to the one in the droid. This will allow the droid to move according to how the accelerometer is angled, so this system could be worn as a glove which will allow the droid to move according to hand motion.
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