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Star Wars Bb8 Remote Controlled Droid

Made by DIY-Machines / 3D Printing / Robotics / Star Wars

About the project

A 3D printable, low cost, BB8 project with easy to follow guides.

Project info

Difficulty: Moderate

Platforms: Arduino

Estimated time: 3 days

License: GNU General Public License, version 3 or later (GPL3+)

Items used in this project

Hardware components

	120mm Styrofoam Ball http://amzn.to/2Drccpn	x 1
	Arduino Uno http://amzn.to/2xbXNK4	x 1
	Motor Shield http://amzn.to/2gQUkL0	x 1
	HM10 Bluetooth Module http://amzn.to/2kW8BYs	x 1
	Motor and Wheel http://amzn.to/2mQGYxl	x 2
	Magnets http://amzn.to/2D6kZte	x 6
	Batteries http://amzn.to/2my0df4	x 4
	Battery Holder https://tinyurl.com/y9hwbhf2	x 1
	Hycote White Primer http://amzn.to/2FA0mGS	x 1
	Metallic Sharpies http://amzn.to/2GFXJoo	x 1
	Complete set of Sharpies http://amzn.to/2EvauRO	x 1

View all

Software apps and online services

Bluetooth Serial Lite

Hand tools and fabrication machines

	3D Printer I used my Prusa i3 Mk2	x 1
	Hot Glue Gun	x 1
	Soldering Iron	x 1
	Zip Ties	x 1

Story

I was long impressed by BB8 and how it moves. When I then learnt that they made various working models for the film I set about figuring out how to build my own. After a lot of trial and error, misprints and expletives I settled on this design.

This is an easy to build Disney Star Wars BB8 inspired robot. It's controlled by an Arduino UNO over a bluetooth connection from your smartphone.

You can find a link at the bottom of this article to download the 3D printable components.

Part one in the three part series covers the majority of the electrical assembly, and the creation of his main body.

Part two covers the construction of BB8's head and the placement of magnets to hold it in place:

Part three will be available soon. When it is I will update this project - please consider subscribing to my Youtube channel to be notified as soon as it is published.

During the creation of part two I realised I would need a hot wire cutter to cut the styrofoam in half. (The bread knife attempt made A LOT of mess and I got in trouble with the other half). I didn't want to buy one as they can be expensive, especially battery powered ones - so I designed my own. Here you can find instructions on how to build your own battery powered one:

List of items used in this project and where to find them:

■ Styrofoam Ball: http://amzn.to/2Drccpn

■ Arduino Uno:http://amzn.to/2xbXNK4

■ Motor shield: http://amzn.to/2gQUkL0

■ HM10 Bluetooth model: http://amzn.to/2kW8BYs

■ Motor and wheel: http://amzn.to/2mQGYxl

■ Magnets: http://amzn.to/2D6kZte

■ Battery: http://amzn.to/2my0df4

■ Battery Holder (eBay): https://tinyurl.com/y9hwbhf2

■ Hycote White Primer: http://amzn.to/2FA0mGS

■ Metallic Sharpies: http://amzn.to/2GFXJoo

■ Set of Sharpies: http://amzn.to/2EvauRO

Hot Wire cutter: ■ https://youtu.be/l8lAdbMGkgU

SUBSCRIBE: ■https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3jc4X-kEq-dEDYhQ8QoYnQ?sub_confirmation=1

FACEBOOK:https://www.facebook.com/diymachines/

PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/diymachines

Disclaimer: This project is shared for demonstration purposes only. BB8 is a Disney Star Wars created character. I make no claim to it's design, merchandise or anything like that. This is fan art for the community.

CAD, enclosures and custom parts

3D Printable Components on Thingiverse

Go to download

Code

//This program is used to control a robot car or similar using a app that communicates with Arduino through a bluetooth module

#include 

//creates two objects to control two terminals on the motor shield 
AF_DCMotor motor1(2); 
AF_DCMotor motor2(1); 

char command; 

void setup() 
{       
  Serial.begin(9600);  //Set the baud rate to your Bluetooth module.
}

void loop(){
  if(Serial.available() > 0){ 
    command = Serial.read(); 
    Stop(); //initialize with motors stopped
    //Change pin mode only if new command is different from previous.   
    //Serial.println(command);
    switch(command){
    case 'F':  
      forward();
      break;
    case 'B':  
       back();
      break;
    case 'L':  
      left();
      break;
    case 'R':
      right();
      break;
     default:
      Stop();
      break;
    }
  } 
}

void forward()
{
  motor1.setSpeed(220); //Define maximum velocity
  motor1.run(BACKWARD); //rotate the motor clockwise
  motor2.setSpeed(220); //Define maximum velocity
  motor2.run(FORWARD); //rotate the motor clockwise
}

void back()
{
  motor1.setSpeed(220); 
  motor1.run(FORWARD); //rotate the motor counterclockwise
  motor2.setSpeed(220); 
  motor2.run(BACKWARD); //rotate the motor counterclockwise
}

void left()
{
  motor1.setSpeed(220); //Define maximum velocity
  motor1.run(FORWARD); //rotate the motor clockwise
  motor2.setSpeed(100);
  motor2.run(FORWARD); //turn motor2 off
}

void right()
{
  motor1.setSpeed(100);
  motor1.run(FORWARD); //turn motor1 off
  motor2.setSpeed(220); //Define maximum velocity
  motor2.run(FORWARD); //rotate the motor clockwise
}

void Stop()
{
  motor1.setSpeed(0);
  motor2.run(RELEASE); //turn motor1 off
  motor2.setSpeed(0);
  motor2.run(RELEASE); //turn motor2 off
}

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Star Wars Bb8 Remote Controlled Droid

About the project

Project info