Raspberry Pi5 Robot Prototype

This past summer I studied E&M and felt inspired to apply my basic circuit knowledge and past experience with designing in building my first robot. The idea of this robot was to create a base to integrate AI computer vision so the robot can move adapting to its surroundings. With limited material and experience, I have designed and built a prototype for the base.

For the circuit:

1. Raspberry Pi 5
2. Jumper wires
3. half-H motor controller
4. 2 DC motors
5. Breadboard
6. 5V battery
7. Portable battery pack
8. PCB board, motor controller pins, solder iron, flux

For the prototype build:

1. Legos
2. axle, gears and threads
3. cardboard
4. Tape
5. glue

Softwares used:

1. VS Code - Python
2. Fusion 360

I had a lot of trial and error with creating the circuit learning from basic lighting an LED and running motor circuit tutorials online and connecting it with a Raspberry Pi 5. I studied how the motor controller worked by connecting it to buttons and testing the motors. Finally, I shifted the wires connected to the buttons to the Raspberry Pi pins and used a simple python program to test it.

The diagram above was my final circuit design. I completed this portion by soldering the components together onto a circuit board.

My robot's build was visibly inspired by Wall-E. In the bottom there was the (1) chassis to hold the motors and the axles, an (2) upper shelf that slides out to hold the circuit components, and (3) detachable eyes to sit the camera on. This was designed to utilize gears and treads so I designed a small piece to attach the (a)axle to the (b)motor.

One of my limitations was that I did not have access to a 3D printer. To work around this I utilized cardboard, duct tape, and legos to reproduce my design for testing.

With this prototype I can see my circuit in action. I played around with alternating which motor is on and the speed and direction it is spinning resulting in turning, change in speed and direction.

Overall this project was a great opportunity to develop what I already know in design, CAD and programming as well as learn new skills like circuit design and soldering.