Lynxmotion Tech Support

Finally after some thinking of how to remote control my hexapod “BlackWido” I found a way! I just connected my Wii remote and there you go!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsBj7koZ9lk

There are still some issues that I need to solve for a smooth motion because there still is some noise on the data that I receive from the remote. I hope that I can spend some more time on this later this week.

More comming up…

Xanore

LOL I don't mind at all! Great work Xan! Looking forward to see more of your "BlackWido" (Phoenix) . As you said it's almost an exact copy, even the coxa parts. WOW. Do you got any photos too?

Hi Zenta,

I’m glad that you don’t mind that I made a copy of your Phoenix. I am (was) totally new at robotics and didn’t know exactly where to start in the mechanical design. That is when I saw your design, rebuild it in Solidworks and started ordering parts. That’s where my hex was born.

The difference between your Phoenix and mine is that I’ve got my SSC below deck which makes some room for the BotBoard to fit in. The ATOM 28 pro does all the IK calculations. Just under the BotBoard you can see the BlueSmirf.

The current status of my project is that IK is fully implemented in the ATOM. I don’t have the gait implemented yet but that’s up next. Currently I’m working on controlling BlackWido with my WiiRemote which will make testing much easier. As you can see in the movie, there is still some noise in the data that I receive with my BlueSmirf. So I need to find out where that’s coming from.

The other thing is that the WiiRemote is using the Bluetooth HID profile. The BlueSmirf only works with the SPP protocol so it isn’t possible to connect the WiiRemote directly to the remote. Right now I wrote a C# program called WiiPortal which converts the received data from the remote to serial data including a checksum that I’m sending to BlackWido. I’m thinking of replacing the BlueSmirf with another module that does support the HID profile.

Here are some pictures. I’m sure that they look kind of familiar…













Greetings Xanore

I don't know what i'm doing wrong but the photos don't show up on the forum while looking on another computer. If i copy the link to my browser it is working just fine...

are you using Html code or the bbcode?

if using one try changing it to the other

The pix problem seems to be due to an anti pix hijacking feature of where your pix are located. To see the pix, copy a link from below and copy it in to a new brouser page.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/JJH.Janssen/SAJKaC ... 000543.JPG
http://lh6.ggpht.com/JJH.Janssen/SAJKai ... 000550.JPG
http://lh4.ggpht.com/JJH.Janssen/SAJKcC ... 000564.JPG
http://lh4.ggpht.com/JJH.Janssen/SAJKbC ... 000551.JPG
http://lh6.ggpht.com/JJH.Janssen/SAJKbi ... 000559.JPG
http://lh6.ggpht.com/JJH.Janssen/SAJKZi ... 000525.JPG

Hi!

I saw the pictures! Wow you did a very good job. It looks even better than the original. I'm guessing you have a CNC mill? Smart to place the SSC32 card inside the body, are you using a LiPo battery? I'm guessing you had a "fight" with the servo wires

Did you create your own IK software/code or did you use powerpod?

Looking forward to see more of your work!

Hi,



Thanks for the help with my pictures! As you can see i finally found a way to post them!




THANKS! I don't have a CNC mill myself but i know somebody who does I sandblasted the parts (even the plastic ones) when they where done to give them a nice finish.

As you can see on the pictures I've placed the SSC upside down. This made it easier to wire them up but still... it was a hard job because i also wanted to put the battery inside the body.

The power for the servos is comming from a custom made NiHM Battery. I've searched for different batteries including lipo but they where all to big or to weak. So i purchased 5 seperate NiHM Cells. They give me 4300mAh by 6V. That makes about 25 min

What kind of batteries are you using?

Xanore

Hi Zenta, Xan,

Yeah, I agree that Phoenix is an interesting design. I'm not sure if I'd copy the femur, but I'd like to design a coxa of my own similar to yours and/or Xan's.



Good job Xan as well!

It looks like you use a spacer along side the top and bottom "plates" of the coxa. Do either of you use bearings? Yet one of the holes in the top piece is bigger? Not quite clear to me yet.

Alan KM6VV

Hi Xan,

Sandblasting sounds and looks great on the aluminium parts. Actually we have a sand/glas-blasting machine at work, I'll have to try that. Have someone considered using caustic soda to make a finish?

I'm currently using 2700 mAh NiMh battery. Very smart to mount the SSC32 with bottom up! I'll have to try that.


Hi Alan,

The bigger hole is caused of the spacer you mentioned (the screw is mounted the other way), take another look

I'm using ballbearing at the bottom coxa part.

Hi Alan, Zenta,



Zenta already mentioned what the bigger holes are for. I’m not using any bearings right now. Currently I’m using a nylon locking nut because I couldn’t find any suitable bearings in the hardware store nearby. (They are specialized in normal and big size hardware) But I’m planning to change that in some time. Zenta, can you tell us what kind of bearings that you are using?



I’ve never heard making a finish with soda. What kind of finish does it give? More matted or like a polish finish?

Xan

Hi Xan,

Lye (caustic soda) should give a matte finish. Sandpaper in one direction will give a brushed finish similar to that offered by LM. I need to do something to my tibia parts as well. I'd also like to try an anodize finish some time. There are kits available.



OK, bigger holes to clear the SHCS for the spacer. I still need to work out the design and dimensions of the coxa plates. As to the bearings, I need to find about 2 dozen! I'm also inclined to go to imperial dimensioned parts. Hard to find inexpensive ones with flanges.

Hi,
I bought them from a local RC shop. The dimensions are 6x3x3 mm (outher x inner x height). I don't know the brand.

Hi,

I’ve purchased some bearings for the coxa part but I didn’t mounted them on my hex yet. After a few weeks of struggling with my wii remote I’m able to use all his data. So this weekend I’ve spent some time connecting the received data to the already implemented IK model. The only thing that I’m missing at the moment is rotation on Y. Maybe next week…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPI3zhylXW4

I couldn’t wait to implement the gait so there is a movie of his first steps.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMtifBKX3kE

Zenta, you’ve asked me if I’m planning to share my code. My code is isn’t even close to finished. But if you need something, I will be happy to return the favour! Are you also planning to add a onboard CPU?

As you’ve noticed some legs are slippery on the wooden flour. I don’t know if I can solve this by recalibrating the servo positions (hate that) or adding rubber socks in some kind of way. Does your phoenix act the same way on a slippery surface?

Greetings Xan

I see you have it walking with Atom Pro code. Nice work, very cool! Lynxmotion would be happy to host a project page for Phoenix (Black Widow) code. That way there is one place for all who have this design to help each other with the process. Just let me know if you're interested.