Project Code and instructions for a reboot of a vintage 1980's Robie robot

Warning: Robbie is not a kids toy. If coarse language / alcohol / adult themes offend you, please move on.

• Mechanical:,
  • Done:
    • Head rotation.
    • Front panel assembly, holding pi / camera and screen.
  • In progress
    • arms
    • drive system.
• Software:
  • Done:
    • Robbie is able to tell jokes (from an internal database); mostly using the correct vocal intonations.
    • Robbie is able to give random (often silly) life advice.
    • Robbie is able to generate dares.
  • In progress:
    • Random (but sensible) cocktail recipe generation.
    • Pervasive mood.
    • Internal dialogue.
    • Others as ideas hit.
• Electrical:
  • Done:
    • 2.2" front display is working.
  • In progress:
    • Internal speaker is being re-investigated after some issues.
    • I have not yet ordered a "matrix voice unit" to fit that, and make robbie more interactive.

Shout outs:

• Brett Downing for hacking on the drive systems and display; as well as floating some awesome ideas.
• ANU Maker-space for letting me use their 3D printers.

I am unhappy with the "little helpers" of this world (Google, Siri, Elexa). They don't feel like the robotic helpers we envisioned in the sci-fi of the 1960's-90's. They are too:

• subservient
• "product like"
• politically correct
• tied to services and apps
• corporate

I want to create something more:

• Emotive
• Self actuated
• Fun to be around
• Character driven
• Independent

The project is created buy opening up an old 'Robie Robot' and gutting it of all the old electronics, motors and lights.

Then their are four major sections that need to be constructed:

1. Head
2. Front assembly
3. Rear assembly
4. Drive system and battery.

A Bill Of Materials (BOM) is provided and most ot the required mechanical components are 3D printable with relevant cad and .stl files provided.

After constructing and fitting the different sections, install the software to the pi and close up the unit.

The head can be upgraded to rotate via a stepper motor (BOM-04). I created a mechanical assembly in OpenSCAD to do this and hold a matrix voice module.

Design

CAD Files

CAD/head_rotary_assembly

Contains .scad and 3D printable .stl files/

Assembly
The ring gear fits on the inside of the robots head. The notch on the outside of the ring gear aligns with a key in the robots plastic.

The brace aligns with the rim under the robots head.

Not the gear only fits one way round.

Result
Video of the motion of the head in action.

The front assembly contains a raspberry pi 3 b+ (BOM-03), a pi-cam and 2.2" TFT Display (BOM-01), facing through the robots front port.

Assembly_ Build Notes:

• This is deliberately a tight fit, rou may need to adjust some bits.

Design

CAD Files

CAD/front_assembly

Contains 3D printable .stl files/