Jackson Reid
Building a golf robot with a LEGO Mindstorms EV3 kit is a fun project that can teach you about robotics and engineering. The key challenge is programming the robot to swing the golf club in a left-right motion. This requires understanding how the motor and gears work together to translate the rotation of the motor into the desired swing motion. With some creativity and experimentation, it's possible to build a golf-playing robot that demonstrates the fundamental concepts of robotics and motion.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Model | Volkswagen e-Golf |
| Years | 2017-2021 |
| Predecessor | Available from May 2014 to June 2016 |
| Charging | Possible via regular wall plug, charging station, or public charging station |
| Charging rate | Depends on the charging station and the maximum charging capacity of the EV |
| Charging power | Decreases significantly after 80% state-of-charge is reached |
| Range | Official range of 186 miles, realistic figure of 124 miles per charge |
| Design | e-Golf-specific wheels, front lighting, blue interior detailing, and a limited color palette |
| Operation | Keyless, with a start button and no gears or clutch |
| Performance | Powerful and quick, especially at lower speeds |
| Quietness | Extremely quiet, even compared to the regular Golf |
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What You'll Learn
Building a golf robot with a LEGO Mindstorms EV3 kit
Planning and Preparation:
Before you begin constructing your golf robot, it's essential to have a clear understanding of the project's scope and requirements. Familiarize yourself with the LEGO Mindstorms EV3 kit, which includes over 550 Lego Technic advanced building parts, servo motors, and colour, touch, and infrared sensors. These sensors will enable your robot to move and interact with its environment.
Designing the Robot:
Start by designing the structure of your golf robot. Consider the specific functions you want it to perform and how you can incorporate the available LEGO pieces to achieve those functions. You can find inspiration from online resources, such as the annual LEGO Remix Challenge, which features unique robot creations, like the DOODLEBOT, a remix of EV3 and the LEGO Technic Extreme Adventure.
Building the Robot:
Once you have a design in mind, it's time to start assembling the pieces. Follow your design plan and use the building instructions provided with the LEGO Mindstorms EV3 kit. This kit offers step-by-step guidance to create five starter robot models, which you can use as a foundation for your golf robot. Adapt and customize the models to suit your specific needs and desired functions.
Programming the Robot:
After constructing the physical structure, it's time to bring your golf robot to life through programming. The LEGO Mindstorms EV3 kit includes a programmable power brick, which serves as the brain of your robot. Using the provided software, you can write programs to control the robot's movements, sensor interactions, and any other desired behaviours.
Testing and Refinement:
Now, it's time to test your golf robot. Observe how it performs and make necessary adjustments to optimize its functionality. Encourage a peer-review process by seeking feedback from others who have built similar projects. This iterative process of testing, analyzing, and refining will help improve your robot's performance and ensure it meets your design goals.
Building a golf robot with the LEGO Mindstorms EV3 kit offers a great opportunity to explore robotics and develop your creativity and problem-solving skills. Remember to have patience, stay organized, and enjoy the process of bringing your golf robot to life!
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Programming the robot to swing in a left-right motion
To program the robot to swing in a left-right motion, you can use either the 'move steering' or 'move tank' blocks, depending on your preference.
Using the 'move steering' block, you can set a 'steering' value and a 'power' value. Setting the steering value to zero will make the robot move in a straight line without turning. Negative values will make the robot turn left, and positive values will make it turn right. To make the robot perform a left-right swing motion, you can alternate between negative and positive steering values. For example, you can set the steering value to -50 for the left swing and then change it to +50 for the right swing. This will cause only one wheel to turn at a time, resulting in a medium steering angle.
Alternatively, you can use the 'move tank' block, which allows you to control the power of each motor individually. To swing the robot left, set the power of the left motor to a positive value and the right motor to zero. For the right swing, set the right motor to a positive value and the left motor to zero.
Another method to achieve a left-right swing motion is by using the 'turnLeft' and 'turnRight' command blocks. These blocks will make the robot turn in place to the left or right, respectively. You can experiment with the number of rotations or degrees to fine-tune the swing motion.
Additionally, you can attempt a pivot turn, where one wheel turns forward or backward, and the other remains stationary. This will result in a wider turning radius compared to a spin turn.
By combining different blocks and adjusting the steering and power values, you can program the robot to swing in a left-right motion with precision and control.
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Downloading files from the robot to the computer
To download files from the EV3 robot to a computer, you can use the EV3 Lab software. This software is still available on Windows 10, but it can be challenging to find the download link. Here are the steps to download it:
- Go to education.lego.com.
- Scroll to the bottom of the page and click "Download Software" under "Resources."
- Once you're on the "Download Software" page, scroll below the latest software for various LEGO products and click "Retired Products."
- Click the "EV3 Lab Software" button, and your download should start.
Once you have the EV3 Lab software installed on your computer, you can use it to manage files on your EV3 brick more easily than through the brick navigation and buttons.
Additionally, if you're looking to extract a program from your EV3 brick to your computer, you can use the tool at http://ev3treevis.azurewebsites.net/. This tool allows you to create a new .ev3 file from a .rbf file recovered from an EV3 brick, although some information will be lost in the process. Compiled programs on the EV3 brick have an .rbf file extension, but these cannot be converted back to the EV3-G project file format (.ev3p).
For cordless downloading and running of programs, you can also use USB Wi-Fi adapters. These adapters plug into the USB slot on your EV3. However, not all Wi-Fi adapters are compatible with EV3, and they must be removed for FLL Challenge competitions. You will also need about 30 GB of space available on your computer and emulator software, such as Parallels Desktop 16 Standard Edition.
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Making the robot reverse using a proximity sensor
Firstly, ensure you have the necessary hardware, which includes the LEGO Mindstorms EV3 set and a proximity sensor. Familiarize yourself with the basic functionality and programming capabilities of the EV3 system if you haven't already.
Next, you'll want to connect the proximity sensor to the EV3 brick. Follow the instructions in the EV3 user guide to properly attach and secure the sensor. The exact process may vary depending on the specific model and version of EV3 you are using.
Once the proximity sensor is securely connected, you'll need to program the EV3 to respond to the sensor input. This involves using the EV3 programming software to create a program that tells the robot to reverse when the proximity sensor detects an object within a certain range. You can adjust the sensitivity and range of the sensor to suit your needs.
When programming, you'll likely use a block-based programming language provided by LEGO, such as EV3-G or LabVIEW. In your program, you'll want to include a loop that continuously checks the proximity sensor's readings. If the sensor detects an object within the specified range, the program should trigger the robot to reverse by changing the motor's direction and power.
After designing your program, download it to the EV3 brick and test its functionality. Place objects at different distances and observe if the robot reverses as expected. Fine-tune the sensor's settings and your program as needed until you achieve the desired performance.
By following these steps and making adjustments as necessary, you should be able to successfully make a LEGO Mindstorms EV3 robot reverse using a proximity sensor.
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Using an unregulated motor
The EV3 Unregulated Motor can be used to power a 9V train using the NXT to 9V conversion cable. The unregulated motor block can be used to control the PWM duty cycle. To get a PWM signal on pin 2, run the motor in reverse. It is not possible to get a PWM signal on both pin 1 and pin 2 simultaneously using the official LEGO firmware.
When using a positive power setting, pin 1 is powered instead of pin 2, so the EV3 does not detect a motor connection. This is because there is no effect on pin 5 or pin 6. As a workaround, the unregulated motor block can be used in a loop.
When testing the unregulated motor, one user observed that the train moved in the direction that used negative power values in the block, but there was no motion or shaky motion in the direction that used positive power values. The power was only consistent and steady when using negative power.
In terms of building a golf robot, the motor turns an axle on which a gear is attached. The first two gears shift the rotation out in front of the motor, and the next two knob wheel gears turn the rotation 90 degrees, resulting in the golf club motion. The speed of the golf club can be adjusted by combining gears of different sizes.
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