A DIY Rescue Robot With Arduino, 3D Printed, and Lego-compatible Parts
Introduction: A DIY Rescue Robot With Arduino, 3D Printed, and Lego-compatible Parts
Introduction
Rescue robots are designed to assist humans in search and rescue operations. They usually assist rescue crews in tasks such as searching, 2D/ 3D mapping of the search area, removing rubbles and object manipulations, delivering supplies, and or evacuating casualties from disastrous sites. For instance, rescue robots were used in the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2016. As rescue robots work in disastrous sites, they should be able to move on rough trains. Therefore, their locomotion mechanism should enable them to go over the steps and inclined terrains. They are usually equipped with tracked locomotion mechanisms, as it provides high traction for the rescue robots to move on uneven surfaces. They should also be equipped with a robotic manipulator to enable object grasping and manipulation.
Step 1: Rescue Robot’s Track and Gripper Mechanisms
Rescue robots that are controlled by an operator from a safe distance are called teleoperated robots. In this case, the operator sends command signals to the robot through a communication channel. 949
The robot follows the commands to safely move toward the target locations and, for example, to manipulate objects or to displace rubbles.
If the size of the rescue robot is small, it can be deployed in confined and tiny places where larger rescue robots cannot operate.
Step 2: General View of Operator Console and Handheld Rescue Robot
In practice, they’re sent out to find victims or shut off the gas valves in collapsed buildings, or disastrous sites. Hence, they are all equipped with grippers as their primary tool to utilize in the field. The operator’s proficiency in controlling the robot from a distance, agility, and durability of the locomotion mechanism, dexterity of the robotic manipulator or gripper, and the capacity of the communication channel are the main issues affecting the whole rescue operation.
Step 3: Electrical Assembly
In this tutorial, we will show you how to make a teleoperated rescue robot out of Lego Technic pieces, Arduino boards, off-the-shelf DC and servo motors, NRF communication modules, and joystick module. The current project uses an Arduino Uno and Nano boards as the main controller of the robot and the operator console, respectively.
The body structure of the robot is made of Lego Technic pieces. Arduino boards and DC and servo motors are then connected to Lego pieces using custom-designed 3D printed parts. The servo motor is in charge of opening and closing the gripper, and DC gear-motors are used to provide the main movements of the robot.
The operator console has a joystick for controlling the robot’s main movements and two pushbuttons for the opening and closing of the gripper. The command signals are transmitted to the robot using the NRF module. The instructions are given in a way that you can easily make one at home. 832