This weekend I tried my hands on a very simple ROBOT (a photovore). It was fun to make it & more to see it running at its own (as it was powered by solar energy).
Actually a Robotics Workshop was conducted in our college & there was a good participation of students. The workshop was RoboBEAMS, a separate branch of robotics. BEAM stands for: -
B- Biology (for working ideas)
E- Electronics (for control)
A- Aesthetics (for looks)
M- Mechanical (for physical construction)
Today, the conventional studies means to cramb the theory & write everythig in the examination. Though we know the basics, but lack of practical knowledge prevents us from making such kind of things. Same was the case with me. But now I know what to do.
Anyways, I was telling you about the photovore. It is solar powered & has two motors to change its direction.
It was a two days workshop.
On the first day, we learnt the definition of ROBOT. A lots of answers but nothing was correct.
Finally, we were told, a ROBOT is a thing that cannot be defined. Great definition. It was in reference that each expert has his own definition for ROBOTS & no one is wrong.
After that, we made the simplest possible bug robot with the help of a toothbrush head, a pager motor (1.5 volts), a battery cell & few pieces of two sided tape. It was running & dancing on the floor. This boosted us to make a full time intelligently running robot.
Then we were taught the basic circuit to run a motor through the solar power. We then implemented that circuit on the bread-board & checked it in sodium light. And yes, it worked yaar.
On the second day, now finally armed with the knowledge of how solar power can be utilised to run a motor, we were taught the Miller's Engine (amazing, its the main circuit in any Solar Engine). We used two such engines to drive to motors fitted at two sides of the robot. From whichever side, the light intensity is more, the motor of that side slowers down, & opposite side motor runs as it is, thus resulting in the turning of the robot.
So, our ROBOT is ready which moves towards the direction where light is more. It can also turn when there is an obstacle, but I have still not attached sensors on it.
That was my light reacting ROBOT (Photovore).
I really enjoyed making it.
Hope you enjoyed reading it. If yes, do try it, its very easy.
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