ESP8266 Community Forum

[RichardS]

- Mon Mar 14, 2016 11:01 am #43098 User
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Description
Grafting an ESP8266 WiFi module into a $10 3D printed robotic Hamster.
This is just a glimpse of a project I am working on right now.

It uses a single ESP8266 series 12 WiFi module to control 2 generic 28BYJ48 stepper motors.
Also note the Maxbotics sonar distance sensor (circa 5 metres detect) which is linked into the esp's analogue port
Image
The hamster creates its own server with a tiny control panel web-page.
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Its part of a mapping control system , with the idea of using multiple hamsters
(Maybe even scaled up mega hamsters with Nema17 motors)

Run through of the system.... and operation and first glimpse of its accuracy.
Starting with the On/Off switch, it is a split Swiss cheese magnet which operates a reed switch behind its sharp teeth.
The Hamster body parts were designed in Blender using Meta-Balls.
links to the 3D STL files can be found below
......and cured in Cura....

... notice the middle circular cavities which house 2x 3000mAhr 18650 lipo cells (mumpf-mumpf)
Image

I printed it in Glow PLA ....so it will creep you out if caught un-awares,,,,,
The hamster is short sighted , so I crafted a pair of rose coloured spectacles for it.
The wheels troubled me .... as I wanted paws...... so a compromise was made with a spoke effect with rubber o-rings for wheely good traction.
At the heart of the Hamster sits an ESP8266 WiFi module series 12 which controls two stepper motors.

The red/orange glow you see are the stepper drivers (neat that each phase has a LED, great for debug)
The ESP8266 is programmed using the Arduino IDE (please refer to my walk-through on how todo this)

The program enables the Hamster to host its own standalone server which which you can access from another WiFi enabled device.
I am using my net-book to access the Hamster software , when linked the hamster transmits its web gui (a bunch of click-able buttons) back to my net book where it can be controlled.
ESP8266 WiFi controlled Hamster

Parts

Links
Github
Thingiverse

Video


Images

Attachments

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Surplus parts
https://epartsconnect.com

Live realtime stock market prediction website. https://www.stocksignalslive.com my latest creation. Uses AI and machine learning.

New site featuring ESP8266 and ESP32 projects. tutorials, and news.
http://EverythingESP.com

ESP8266.com Founder and Administrator
The Mind Factory (get more from your 3D printer)

Home of the ESP8266, ESP8285, and ESP32 microcontrollers....

- Sun Mar 20, 2016 10:28 pm #43667 I like it. Looks like a lot of fun.

- Thu Mar 24, 2016 2:10 pm #43966 Hopefully this isn't totally against what you were going for, but with the music playing and the cut to the code, I was loling when you changed 41 -> 42

- Fri Mar 25, 2016 9:07 am #44004

I like it. Looks like a lot of fun.

Indeed It was quite a juggling act fitting everything in and doubling up on the not so spare GPIO pins.... good job the squirrel did not pass the casting couch.