Description

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Components

• 1 × Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+
• 1 × MATRIX Labs MATRIX Creator
• 1 × Alexa Echo Dot (3rd Gen)
• 1 × ESP32-WROOM-32
• 1 × Arduino Nano 33 BLE Sense

View all 13 components

Project Logs Collapse

• Step 11. Robot Arm Second Version - Test

  Guillermo Perez Guillen • 07/30/2021 at 20:30 • 0 comments

  TESTS

  In the video below I show you the tests with a water bottle.

  Now in the video below, the robot arm helps me unsolder a breadboard´s wire.

  Finally, and as in the first version, I order the robot arm to move a box containing a lamp.

  CONCLUSION 

  This was a good experience as I used a free tool to control my robot arm with the Alexa Echo Dot device. Also increase the functions without problems. The results were satisfactory and you can see them in the videos above.

• Step 10. Robot Arm Second Version - HW & SW

  Guillermo Perez Guillen • 07/29/2021 at 19:40 • 0 comments

  As part of the continuous improvements, in this prototype I experimented with different hardware and software and using free open source tools as shown below.

  HARDWARE

  The schematic diagram below shows the electrical connections of the electronic components.

  How does it work?

  1. We use voice commands to perform three functions: 1) controlling a bottle; 2) controlling a plate; and 3) controlling a box.
  2. The voice commands are activated through Alexa Echo Dot, and they reach the ESP32-WROOM-32 board via WiFi.
  3. Finally, these voice commands are transmitted to the Arduino Nano 33 BLE Sense board, which controls the robot arm.

  SOFTWARE

  The FauxmoESP

  To control the ESP32 with Alexa Echo Dot, you need to install the FauxmoESP library. This library emulates a Belkin Wemo device, allowing you to control your ESP32 using this protocol. This way, the Echo Dot instantly recognizes the device, after uploading the code, without any extra skills or third party services. You can read more about FauxmoESP here.

  Installing the ESP32 Board in Arduino IDE

  In order to upload code to your ESP32 using Arduino IDE, you should install an add-on for the Arduino IDE that allows you to program the ESP32 using the Arduino IDE and its programming language. You can read more about Installing the ESP32 Board in Arduino IDE here.

  Installing the AsyncTCP Library

  You also need to install the AsyncTCP Library. You can read more about Installing the AsyncTCP Library here.

  Codes

  You can get the codes on my Github repository: guillengap-robot-arm

• Step 9. Test and Conclusion

  Guillermo Perez Guillen • 06/28/2021 at 02:33 • 0 comments

  Before we start to do tests, we need to do next actions:

  On your Raspberry Pi type node assistant.js

  On your computer's terminal type sam status and sam watch

  Congrats! now you can test your robotic arm

  CONCLUSION

  The prototype worked very well, and is very useful to develop more complex actions with the robotic arm. however, I also had some difficulties such as:

  • The board worked very well with 5 servos and when I used 6 servos the system was collapsed and the robotic arm made strange movements. Also in the servomotor configuration I changed to the value of: min_pulse_ms: 0.2 and the robotic arm worked much better.
  • As I explained at the beginning of this tutorial, I had problems configuring the audio board, but this was successfully solved and now the MATRIX Creator board is very efficient even when it receives keywords at half a meter.

  It's easy to say that in the future this prototype can serve as a model in every home, and may be, we will have a robotic arm at our tables to help us in multiple tasks.

View all 11 project logs

Build Instructions Collapse

• Steps

  Follow below steps to repeat the experience of this project

  • Step 1. Let's Get Started
  • Step 2. Connect Sam to Your Raspberry Pi
  • Step 3. Creating a Snips Assistant and App
  • Step 4. Adding an Intent
  • Step 5. Deploy your Assistant
  • Step 6. Creating assistant.js
  • Step 7. Wiring the Robotic Arm
  • Step 8. Printing and Assembling the Panel
  • Step 9. Test and Conclusion
  • Step 10. Robot Arm Second Version - HW & SW
  • Step 11. Robot Arm Second Version - Test

  NOTE: All these steps are detailed in the Logs of this project

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