Summary of RC STRANDBEEST IS A HEAD ABOVE THE REST
Jeremy Cook's ClearCrawler is a remote-controlled Strandbeest featuring an expressive head with animated LED eyes. It improves upon Theo Jansen's original design by adding precise motorization and wireless control using Arduino boards and nRF24L01 modules, allowing for forward/backward movement and head articulation via a joystick controller.
Parts used in the ClearCrawler:
- Dual motor driver
- Arduino Nano
- I/O expansion board
- nRF24L01 modules (pair)
- Arduino Uno
- Joystick shield
- Servo pan and tilt mount
- Clear polycarbonate tube
- 3D printed internal frame
- Dual 8×8 LED matrices
Prolific maker [Jeremy Cook] recently put the finishing touches (at least, for now) on his impressive ClearCrawler remote controlled Strandbeest, which includes among other things a surprisingly expressive “head” complete with LED matrix eyes. For anyone in the audience who was only mildly terrified of these multi-legged robotic beasties before, you may want to avert your eyes from the video after the break.
The clever locomotive design of [Theo Jansen] known as Strandbeest is a legged walker. What makes it special is that the legs themselves are not independent, but work together for a gliding action more akin to wheeled bots. [Jeremy’s] work with ClearCrawler has taken this to another level of precision and mechanization.
Before installation of the electronics, the ClearCrawler had to be tethered to a bench power supply, and could only move forward and backward. Once the locomotion was working as expected, [Jeremy] was ready to install some brains into the beast.
The robot is controlled by a dual motor driver and an Arduino Nano socketed in an I/O expansion board. Communication between the Nano onboard the walker and the hand-held remote control is provided by of a pair of nRF24L01 modules. The controller itself is a simple affair, comprised of a joystick shield plugged into an Arduino Uno.
The robot’s head is made up of a chunk of clear polycarbonate tube with a 3D printed internal frame to hold the dual 8×8 LED matrices that serve as its animated eyes. This arrangement is mounted on a servo pan and tilt mount, which is controlled by an analog stick on the controller. While the head doesn’t currently serve any practical function, it does give [Jeremy] a chance to emote a bit with his creation; a popular trick when he shows the ClearCrawler off.
A few years ago we covered this robot’s predecessor, the considerably larger ClearWalker. While that machine was surely a beauty to behold, this smaller and more agile iteration of the concept is quite a bit more practical.
Source: RC STRANDBEEST IS A HEAD ABOVE THE REST
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How does the ClearCrawler move?
The legs work together for a gliding action similar to wheeled bots rather than moving independently. -
What components control the robot?
A dual motor driver and an Arduino Nano socketed in an I/O expansion board handle the locomotion. -
How is communication achieved between the robot and controller?
Communication is provided by a pair of nRF24L01 modules connecting the Nano on the walker to the hand-held remote. -
What makes up the controller unit?
The controller consists of an Arduino Uno with a joystick shield plugged into it. -
How are the robot's eyes constructed?
The eyes are dual 8×8 LED matrices held inside a 3D printed internal frame within a chunk of clear polycarbonate tube. -
Can the head move independently?
Yes, the head is mounted on a servo pan and tilt mount controlled by an analog stick on the controller. -
Does the head serve a practical function?
No, the head currently serves no practical function but allows the creator to emote with the creation. -
What was the predecessor to this robot?
The predecessor was called the ClearWalker, which was considerably larger.
