Cam Motor Encoders

Okay, so programming wasn't as easy as I thought it would be. This is my first experience with basic electro-mechanical systems. I've begun to realize that tuning the cams to account for gravitational backlash and finding optimal resting positions is more important than the scripting. All success is built from failure...

Corpora Cardiaca

The parts have arrived and the assembly has taken place. Just a few minor glitches in understanding pull down resistors. The direct access hardware sketch has been completed in EZ-Builder and now it's time for establish basic actuation algos. Let the double stepping begin....

New Nerves

The H-Bridges have arrived from China. I am still quite amazed at the direct from China prices for all types of electronic devices. The motor connections have been connected using header pins, hot glue and some jumper wires from Pololu.com. I don't have a competent soldering iron so it's hot glue, jumpers and electrical tape. Probably faster then soldering anyways...

Inside the Carapace

I've been waiting for what seems like an eternity on DJ Sures at EZ-Robot to decode version "2007/02/03" IR signals, I made the decision to explore the connectors and see how the motors are wired. He mentioned, in the version that he had modified to work with the EZ-B, that there was a 200 millisecond delay which the Roboquad could receive IR / EZ-B commands. This was a trade off for the library of movements the Roboquad had in it's on board programming. Now the delay is a mute point; I'm going to go with 3 H-Bridges for instantaneous movement. Will they fit in the carapace or will they ride on it's back along with the EZ-B v. 3...

The Head

The Roboquad's head is currently very limited from a perception point of view; it can only sense IR light in a somewhat general way with a depth of vision at approximately 4 meters. It has 6 flashing LEDs and a nice saucer like design giving it a cute yet alien appearance. My hack requires beheading it completely. Here you will see some scanned images of the head adapter:

The Starting Line

Welcome...

The Wowee RoboQuad is an amazing work of engineering and design  As I have taken it apart piece by piece, I am amazed at the level of craftsmanship  It is a very complex toy with many seams and screws. It is not recommend to disassemble the RoboQuad unless you no longer plan on using it as a toy and as the starting point to liberating if from toy status into hack du jour.

This blog is about hacking a toy. Learning electronics. Using the EZ-Robot micro-controller. Best of all just messing around...