Originally Created: 2023-08-31
"Neumann" Redesign Completed: 2025-07-25
A robot with two independently controlled wheels, light up eyes, a piezo beeper, and an IR remote. The frame, shell, and wheels are 3d-printed. The clear dome is a found object. The remote allows programming in the same fashion as the classic Big Trak.
I was never entirely happy with the original shell design of this robot. After making the Raygun, I had a lot more metallic red filament left. So I decided to redesign the robot's shell, making it more elaborate, humanoid, and retro.
I modeled the head on
Garco , a life-sized robot that famously appeared on TV with Walt Disney! The
body is loosely inspired by skirted toy robots from the 60s. The
interior of the clear dome is a much simplified take on the
Lost in Space Robot's "brain".
The dome itself is half of a capsule from a vending machine at a local
comics and games store.
The new design is named "Neumann" for the influential paper on programmable computers written by John Von Neumann.[1] Read on to find out why!
In addition to the new shell, I overhauled the firmware. I had always considered adding Big Trak-style programming to this robot, and I finally committed to it. The Big Trak used different units for different functions, but to simplify things, each of the commands here is given a duration in tenths of second. (Except for Repeat.)
Vol- | Play/Pause | Vol+ |
---|---|---|
Nothing | Run Program / Abort | Repeat # Commands |
Setup | Up Arrow | Stop/Mode |
Delete All | Go Forward | Pause |
Left Arrow | Enter/Save | Right Arrow |
Turn Left | Test Last Command | Turn Right |
0 / 10+ | Down Arrow | Looping Arrow |
(See below) | Go Backward | Delete Last |
(Remaining buttons are numerals for entering the duration of the command) |
The video from above again. You can see a candid programming session.
(mp4)
A robot with two independently controlled wheels, light up eyes, a piezo beeper, and an IR remote. The frame, shell, and wheels are 3d-printed. Functions on the remote are: forward, backward, turn right, turn left, stop, and beep.
Most of the electronics are mounted to a 3d-printed frame. The body shell fits over it, and the LED eyes and IR receiver plug into the main board. The robot is powered by two removable NiMh D Cells. A MakerDrive board provides power and motor control. An Adafruit ItsyBitsy AtMega32U4 microcontroller board controls it.
[1] I am aware most of the actual work was done by other people, but the name "Von Neumann Architecture" has stuck. He was a genius in his own right, and worth honoring anyway.
© 2025 Kyle Delaney | Site Map