Source: MC Today
AMC Bridge developers know for a fact that even hardware can be programmed to have charisma and prove time and again that nothing is impossible. They know how to put together a quadcopter using off-the-shelf items or 3D print a humanoid robot just for fun.
In an article for partnering media MC.today, AMC Bridge shares how we spend our free time, to what length we are ready to go to bring a child’s dream to life, and how we combine hobbies and work.
Once my daughter said it would be cool to have a robot
Oleh Spodynets, Software Development Engineer at AMC Bridge
Once my daughter watched the Sonic cartoon and saw Dr. Eggman with his drones in one of the episodes. She excitedly commented that it would be cool to have a robot like that. And I thought, “Why not.” At first, I considered making a two-wheeled robot-balancer, but then I decided to build a spider-robot that could move not only around the room but also across the lawn or stones. I also thought it would look interesting.
I had no experience in embedded development (adding software to everyday products—editor’s note), so I chose to start with the easy stuff like Arduino—a computing kit for amatory construction. I researched how bug-like mechanisms worked for a few days, and then I ordered the Arduino Mega 2560 microcontroller board and two dozens of microserver drives (engine controllers— editor’s note). I didn’t have to invent leg motor functions—there’s tons of open-source information on that. Once that was done, I started on the robot’s “soul.” First and foremost, I needed to implement the inverse kinematics of the manipulator; that is, I needed to calculate the variable joint parameters required to place the end of a kinematic chain (in our case, a spider leg) in a given position. That’s where the law of cosines and the Pythagorean theorem had come in useful. The algorithms for manipulating all six legs were more challenging. I used a copter board and a few connected receivers I owned to manipulate the spider.
I cut load-bearing parts from plywood and connected the server drives and legs to them. It took some more time to configure the settings and test the robot, and in a while, the robot made its first steps.
By the way, that’s when I noticed the difference between the cheap and costly server drives: the spider’s legs started going sideways in a matter of minutes. I had to find mechanisms of the right sizes and better quality and basically rebuilt the robot, but it was worth it. Once I configured the walking algorithms, it started looking like a real spider. Of course, it’s not the kind of robot we are used to seeing in movies, but if there’s a will, you can program a bit of charisma even into a piece of hardware.
My daughter was thrilled, particularly when the spider made its first steps. At first, it could walk only forward, and you couldn’t control it with a remote control. Once I added the remote control feature, my daughter learned how to use it in no time, and now she occasionally asks me to recharge the robot’s battery.
It’s still rather a remote-controlled automaton than a fully-fledged robot. It goes where it’s directed, but it calculates what leg to put where and how to walk best all by itself. In the future, I want to program it to overcome obstacles.
Come to think of it, I might even enhance it with “senses”: add feedback server drives, touch sensors, gyroscope, or even reprogram it for a neural network. Then, it would be able to climb the stairs, adjust to different surfaces, and even come on call. Although, it sounds like a story of a whole new robot.
A DIY quadcopter to participate in air races
Rostyslav Litynskyy, Software Development Engineer at AMC Bridge
I’ve been interested in engineering ever since I was a child. I put my mind to building a 3D printer and then a quadcopter out of curiosity. My everyday work is connected to 3D printing but at a different, narrower angle, and I had to learn much.
Now I have a second printer at home. The first one was a rather primitive tool with wires sticking out all around. It became less reliable and precise with time, but I could use it to print a new, better, and more functional device. I added the needed electronics to it, and now I have a fully functional 3D printer.
You don’t need to reinvent the wheel to build one. Many open projects are available on the web with all the necessary information: a full list of parts, their characteristics, a list of screws with their sizes, and whatnot. If you follow the instructions, you can easily make your very own printer. If you don’t enjoy the process, I’d recommend simply buying the ready-made device.
I don’t think my printer will ever be 100% ready. There’s always something to improve, weak spots to fix, accessories to add, things to automate.
I use it all the time: print some stuff for home, like racks, or things for fun. Once I printed a mask for Halloween. Though, the printing itself took 40 hours.
I also use it to help friends. For instance, one of them owns a cheburek house, and when he was upgrading his dough flattener from a manual to an electric drive, we designed it ourselves and printed all the necessary parts on my printer. I also remade the fuel supply system for my bike with the help of the printer. Now, I spend $4 on the filter expendables instead of $500.
I’ve also been into quadcopters for a long while, so I decided to make my own—not for professional photography, but for sport flights, to make it do different maneuvers. At first, I found an open-source BetaFlight software project. It had the functions I needed to program my quadcopter.
On the Internet, you can find a list of parts to build a quadcopter at home and buy them online. I built mine through trial and error. I bought parts, both new and used, from different vendors.
A DIY quadcopter rarely takes off on the first try. You build and rebuild it many times, rethinking its core in the process to make it “understand” it is connected to the main flight computer.
I participate in quadcopter races, and I see that every device built for maneuvers is a masterpiece. During the races, quadcopters fall and break very often, so you need to work and improve on their weak spots. I say it’s a cheap way to get an adrenaline rush: you stay rooted to the spot, but your hands do shake after a good flight.
A home-printed humanoid robot
Sergii Novak, Software Development Engineer at AMC Bridge
For years now, I’ve been working on projects in 3D printing and converting a great number of models for printing. In the long run, I became curious to try and build a device myself.
I didn’t want to spend much money on it, so I had two options: to buy a cheap and simple one manufactured in China or to build one myself using the ready-made parts. I browsed many resources and, in the end, found an optimal solution: buy a ready-made metal frame and quality electronic parts (those are usually the weakest points of the Chinese printers). Though not on the first try, I put the frame and the electronics together.
Then followed the longest part of the project that took me about a week—printer calibration and configuration. When all was done and dusted, I printed additional plastic parts to improve the look of the printer. Below you can see a casing for the electronic parts of the printer.
No additional configuration is required. All you need to do is design the part you need or find a suitable model and print it.
I use my printer pretty often. Sometimes I print things just for fun, like the skeleton of the Tyrannosaurus below.
I’ve also started printing an InMoov robot. It’s about the size of a person. You can print it on a smallish home 3D printer and “bring it to life.” InMoov was created by French sculptor Gael Langevin, who made it publicly available. It can hear sounds, see, talk, move, and understand verbal commands. It is a rather long process to print and program it. I haven’t had enough time to finish it yet, but I’ve already started.
A 3D printer is a useful thing. For instance, I use it to print casings for small electronic devices of the smart home system and childproof locks. I’ve also printed an electric drive for rolling shutters and various struts. Recently, I’ve also made a QI phone charger to use in the car.
It’s great to have such a printer at home because you cannot always find the right part you need on sale. All I need to do is open my 3D editor, draw what I need, and have the exact thing printed in a few hours. By the way, you can find ready-to-print models here.
The last but not least, 3D printing is utterly fascinating. It may not be what you call a typical hobby, but I like finding interesting models and watch them coming to life.
Return to blog page