Robotling 2

Robotling-2 is a small, simple 6-legged robot using the new Raspberry Pi micro controller RP2040 as brain. To move around, it uses a simplified tripod walk that requires only three servo motors - inspired by a 20 year old book called "Insectronics". Except from the electronics and a few screws, it is fully 3D printed. Software is available for MicroPython and MMBasic.

Check out the Wiki for details and video1, video2, and video3.

CO2 watchman ("CO2-Wächter")

For the CO2-sensor version of the robot, see videos (preview, building instructions). The robot is featured in an article in the German Make Magazin 2/23]. For the MMBasic code, see here.

Release Notes

• 2023-04-07
  • Servo calibration program in MMBasic added. For more information, see here.
• 2023-04-01
  • Own wiki page for MMBasic robot API
  • Now MMBasic program versions that use the new LIBRARY function
• 2023-03-09
  • Carsten Wartmann's mod added
• 2023-03-04
  • MMBasic code updated: Q now stops program gracefully, Servo-Pin handling in one place at the end of the program (see also here.
  • Some edits in the Wiki
• 2023-02-18
  • Replacing the Pololu voltage regulator U1V10F5, which is no longer available, by the type U3V16F5. Unfortunately, this is not a simple drop-in replacement, as the VIn and VOut are swapped. See instructions.
  • New versions of the MMBasic code (v1.1x).
  • Added new video.
• 2023-01-01
  • MMBasic code for CO2 watchman version of the robot added.
  • `.stl' files for CO2 guard added (sensor, servo and display holders); updated FreeCAD file added.
  • New wiki page on the CO2 watchman added.
• 2022-07-02
  • Code updates to account for the new unified display API in the MicroPython v1.19 firmware (beta) from Pimorono
• 2022-04-15
  • New version of the driver for Pololu time-of-flight sensors w/ pulse width modulation. It uses the RP2040’s PIO (programmable I/O) interface instead of waiting for time_pulse_us().
• 2022-04-08
  • MicroPython demo code updated:
    • Fixed small compatibility issues with MicroPython v1.18
    • Display distance measurements also for Pololu ToF sensors
    • Add "display" as a "device" to the configuration to allow the robot to operate also w/o a PicoDisplay and to prepare the use of other types of displays.
    • Servo calibration program added. For instructions, see here.
• 2022-02-12
  • New version of MicroPython demo code. Changes:
    • More consistent with MMBasic demo
    • Support for 3-channel time-of-flight distance sensor array
    • More gracefully ending the program when X is pressed
    • Constants for sensor port pins
    • Robot can now backup to avoid an obstacle
  • All .stl files adjusted to print orientation; .stl file for Pololu tof sensors added
  • Wiki pages added: "Mechanik", "Aufbau und Hinweise zum Zusammenbau", German version of "Elektronik, Platine, und Teile", "Erweiterungen & Modifikationen", "Sensoren"
  • Cleaned up and updated wiki pages for MicroPython and MMBasic
  • Added demo code loading instructions for both MMBasic and MicroPython.
  • Completed parts list
• 2022-01-22
  • Parts list added
  • Information about the distance sensors added
• 2021-12-16
  • Slightly updated version of board added
• 2021-11-20
  • MMBasic program explained (German) added to Wiki.
• 2021-11-07
  • Code v1.xx written in MMBasic added. It uses the Pico version ("PicoMite") version of the MMBasic interpreter written Geoff Graham and Peter Mather (see repository).
  • New wiki page about running the robot under MMBasic.
  • New sensor head for Time-of-flight distance sensors by Pololu #4064
• 2021-04-25
  • "Arm" for distance sensor added (i.e. the multi-pixel evo mini)
  • Battery compartment modified such that it can also carry a 1000 mAh single-cell LiPo.
• 2021-04-10
  • PCB slightly updated
  • Video and new pictures added
• 2021-04-05
  • Fritzing file and BOM for board (v0.3) added
  • .STL files for 3D printed parts added
  • FreeCAD document added
  • Some code added (so far only walk demo w/o sensors)
• 2021-03-27 - Initial release