Junkbots

These two videos are very much in the spirit of the junkbots project (and I wish I had created them) - two fantastic robotic builds. Wobblebot (construction details can be found at: http://researchparent.com/homemade-wobblebot/ ) Wrigglebot (details can be found at: http://researchparent.com/homemade-wigglebot/ ) which is a drawing bot. The plan is to try out some of the ideas with in the junkbots project. If you would like to know more about the Junkbots project contact scott.turner@northampton.ac.uk

Junkbots ( http://junkbots.blogspot.co.uk/ ) are based around using  materials such as drink's cans, broken propellors and motors to produce something that moves by vibration. Previous designs be found at: Raspberry Pi Controlled Junkbots Junkbots blog The latest tweak to the Raspberry Pi based Junkbot design is to use the combination of Python and Pimoroni's  Explorer HAT PRO  to control it. Explorer HAT Pro is a good choice, it can control two motors with a library provided to simplify the programming. For this the Junkbot was the one shown above: a drinks can, pen, LEGO bits, motor and broken propellor. Before the Explorer HAT can be used the library needs to be installed via the Terminal and the instructions below curl get.pimoroni.com/explorerhat | bash Python code to control the junkbot is shown below. import explorerhat from time import sleep def spin1(duration):     explorerhat.motor.one.forward(100)     sleep(durati...

A recent presentation as part of the Department of Computing and Immersive Technologies, University of Northampton Research Seminar series, looking a on going project within the Department. Junkbots has been a ongoing and ever evolving project since 2009 around the use of 'junk' as part of activities to developing skills in STEM subjects. In particular in the presentation (below) shows the links between these activities and Computational Thinking were discussed. Junkbots and computational thinking   from  Scott Turner If you'd like to find out more about Computing at the University of Northampton go to: www.computing.northampton.ac.uk. All views and opinions are the author's and do not necessarily reflected those of any organisation they are associated with If you would like to know more about the Junkbots project contact scott.turner@northampton.ac.uk

If you would like to know more about the Junkbots project contact scott.turner@northampton.ac.uk

Raspberry Pi Junkbot - Home : A new website providing more information of the Raspberry Pi Junkbot project (combining Raspberry Pi, Scratch programming and junk). This will be added to as the  project develops. At the moment it includes - Introduction -Discussion about the robot controller card -ScratchGPIO - Example of the drawing bot. 'via Blog this'

Figure 1 In previous posts I start looked at using ScratchGPIO to control a junkbot  ( http://junkbots.blogspot.com/2014/08/junkbot-pi-1-scratchgpio.html ) and showed a Pi controlled junkbot briefly in action ( http://junkbots.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/junkbot-raspberry-pi-2-raspberry-pi.html ). In this post I aim to discuss - Choice of motor controller card - Provide an example of a drawing junkbot controlled through Scratch and Raspberrry Pi Choice of interface/Controller card The card choosen was the 4Tronix PiRoCon card  ( http://4tronix.co.uk/store/index.php?rt=product/product&product_id=182 ). Selected for four reasons - Price is reasonable (in my opinion). - Fits straight onto the Pi through the GPIO - no extra cables needed. - ScratchGPIO has it as an addon so it makes programming it even easier (see http://cymplecy.wordpress.com/2013/10/31/pirocon-from-4tronix/ ). - Others are using it for robot projects. Use it is quite easy plug the board directl...

A development I have being wanting to develop for a while is the combine the Raspberry Pi with a Junkbot to add some control.  This the first of postings about these experiments. All the development will be around ScratchGPIO ( http://cymplecy.wordpress.com/scratchgpio/ ) so this posting will look into its use . Why ScratchGPIO? Short answer - simplicity. It is designed to look and work like Scratch ( http://scratch.mit.edu/ ) but allowing access to board that can drive motors. Installing ScratchGPIO? As a suggest use as lastest as possible version of the operating system as you can on your SD card. Initially we had trouble with missing Python files that was resolved when using an updated version of the operating system. In the LXTerminal Type in: sudo wget http://goo.gl/Pthh62 -O isgh5.sh then type in sudo bash isgh5.sh You should get to new icons for ScratchGPIO5 and ScratchGPIO5Plus Now use these instead of the Scratch that came with the operating...

A recent paper was presented by John Sinclair and co-authored by  Stuart Allen, Linda Davis-Sinclair, Trish Goodchild, Julie Messenger, and Scott Turner  a t Northampton Learning and Teaching Conference 2014- Northampton 2018: Planning, Designing and Delivering Student Success  about STEM outreach and employability.  Elements of junkbots were one of the science activities forming part of the activities aiming to empower students. Enhancing student employability skills through partnership working in STEM outreach. from Scott Turner Enhancing student employability skills through partnership working in STEM outreach John Sinclair, Stuart Allen, Linda Davis, Trish Goodchild, Julie Messenger, Scott Turner Contact details: john.sinclair@northampton.ac.uk Abstract: For over a decade, University of Northampton staff and students have delivered successful STEM outreach activities, master classes and co-working opportunities to learners in ...

Recently a post on a scoop.it site Primary Robots & Coding curated by Steve Thomas (His twitter feed is a great resource  @ stephendathomas )  caught my attention - Art "Robot" ( http://www.instructables.com/id/Art-Robot/ ). Essentially a similar idea, but it many ways a more sophisticated idea, than my drawing bots . The Art "Robot" takes an idea similar to the  drawing bots  of using junk to make drawing 'robot'; then kicks it up a gear. The use of the ice-lolly stick push it further into the area of reusing materials (instead of my broken propellors - I wish I had thought of the lolly sticks). The cork for adding weight to a light motor is clever. Have a look at  http://www.instructables.com/id/Art-Robot/   for more details of how they built theirs. Art Robots are not just being made from 'junk' another curated post from  Primary Robots & Coding  has Lego and Scratch being used to make drawing robots . I plan to i...

Junkbots – it is not one thing! : Turner S (2013)  Junkbots – it is not one thing!   Engage 2013 27-28th September 2013 The School of Science and Technology at the University of Northampton have been working with local schools to create robots made from junk. This is an initiative by the University to introduce environmental sustainability, engineering and computing to students and has been funded by Northampton Enterprise Limited and east midlands development agency (emda).  For more details on the junkbots project go to:  http://junkbots.blogspot.co.uk/   This and other posters at Engage 2013 can be found at:  https://www.publicengagement.ac.uk/engage2013/poster-party 'via Blog this'

Another example of 'junkbot'-type robot:  http://www.instructables.com/id/Simple-Bots-Wobbler/  Simple Bots: Wobbler : "Simple Bots: Wobbler by randofo Typically, you learn how to wobble before you learn how to walk. But in the world of bots, anything is possible! That is why a day after showing you how to walk and two after showing you how I roll, I am back to show you how to do a little wobble wobble. That's right! In almost no time, you can be out wobbling around with the best of 'em. All of the parts in this project are simple to find and even less-than-experienced bot builders should be able to make this one pretty easily. And, more experienced bot builders should be able to have some fun modding this one, as the casing leaves a lot of room for experimentation. 'via Blog this'

Related examples of junkbot-type projects: go to  http://www.instructables.com/id/Simple-Bots-Skitter/  for more details. Simple Bots: Skitter : "Simple Bots: Skitter by randofo

Some related 'junkbot'-type projects: A Scrubbing robot Simple Bots: Scrub : "Simple Bots: Scrub by randofo  low-cost cleaning bot called Scrub Bot.  'via Blog this'

During National Science and Engineering Week 2013, as part of the activities provided by the University of Northampton, the Junkbots project returned as part of programme of activities to South End Primary School, Rushden, northamptonshire, UK.  National Science and Engineering Week is annual event celebrating science and engineering activities ( http://www.britishscienceassociation.org/national-science-engineering-week ) Last year during the same week Junkbots also formed part of the activities (see  http://junkbots.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/junkbots-goes-south.html ). This time we worked with two classes - a year 2 and a year 5 class; building the drawing junkbot. Examples of previous drawing junkbots are shown above. Approximately 50 children took part across the two 45 minute activities. Essentially  a drawing junkbot is based around a drinks can that: - draw patterns without anyone touching it; -carried the battery pack or not depends on the age of...

Popular posts How to build junkbots: Old toys In a previous blog entry the idea of using drinks can and an unbalanced motor was discussed. but what else have the projects participants t... How to build junkbots: Drinks can, unbalanced motor The junkbots project has now being running for 18 months in Northamptonshire, UK. But how have the junkbots being built? A video produced by... How to build junkbots: Wheels don’t always work well Back to the main approach, simplest way and probably the quickest:- A body (drinks can and drinks bottles usually) and an unbalanced motor -... Huxlow Pt 2: Lego Robots  The second half (programming lego robots) on the junkbots project has been carried out at  Huxlow Science College  on 28th February 2011. ... Toys from trash Arvind Gupta has produced a lot of work on turning junk into toys that aim to demonstrate the engineering ideas in an very interesting (wel... Brooke We...

The insperation for the Junkbots project came from reading the seminal book  Junkbots, Bugbots, and Bots on Wheels   by  Dave Hrynkiw and Mark W Tilden. In this book they discussed turning electrical 'junk' into some very interesting robots - and sneaking in some very interesting engineering challenges and principles. A sample chapter can be found here  looking at producing a solar powered motored 'bug'.  The robots built within the JunkBots project are simpler but the principles are the same. If you are interested in this area this book is a must read.