Introduction
In this article, I will provide a step-by-step guide on how to build an Arduino based robot that can autonomously navigate to your fridge, grab a beer, and deliver it to you. This is an entertaining robotics project that will allow you to flex your DIY muscles and impress your friends.
Parts Needed
To build this beer delivery bot, you will need:
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Arduino Uno - The microcontroller board that will function as the robot's brain.
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Chassis - The frame or body of the robot. Can be built from wood, acrylic, metal, etc.
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Wheels - Wheels allow the robot to move. Choose wheels suitable for the chassis material.
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DC motors - Provide power to turn the wheels. Gear motors work well.
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Motor driver - Allows the Arduino to control the motors. An L298N dual H-bridge module is a good choice.
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Ultrasonic sensor - To detect obstacles in front of the robot.
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Servo motor - To control the robot arm that will grab the beer.
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Robot arm - Can be built from cardboard, 3D printed parts, etc. Needs to be able to grab a beer can or bottle.
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Jumper wires - To connect all the components to the Arduino board.
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Battery pack - A portable power source like a LiPo battery works well.
Assembly
With all the parts gathered, it's time to assemble the robot. Here are the key steps:
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Build the chassis with wheels attached using your desired material. Make sure wheels align properly.
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Mount the Arduino, motor driver, ultrasonic sensor, and servo motor to the chassis.
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Connect the DC motors to the motor driver.
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Connect the ultrasonic sensor and servo wires to the Arduino board.
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Connect the battery pack to the Arduino and motor driver to power them.
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Program the Arduino with the code (detailed in the next section).
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Attach the robot arm securely to the servo horn so it can grab beers.
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Add finishing touches like decorative covers or paint.
Coding the Arduino
The Arduino code controls all the robot's functions. The key aspects are:
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Importing libraries - Servo, ultrasonic sensor, and motor driver libraries.
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Defining pins - Specify Arduino pin connections.
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Ultrasonic sensing - Detect obstacles and measure distance to fridge.
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Driving motors - Control speed and direction of DC motors.
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Operating servo - Rotate servo to activate robot arm.
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Logic and conditions - Check for obstacles, check fridge distance, grab beer, return home, etc.
I recommend starting with basic motor control and sensor code, then expanding the program from there. Using Arduino example code snippets can help accelerate the process.
Operation
With the build complete and code uploaded, here are the steps to autonomously grab and deliver a beer:
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Place robot in starting location facing towards the fridge.
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Activate the robot and press button to initiate beer retrieval sequence.
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Ultrasonic sensor guides it towards the fridge while avoiding obstacles.
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When in fridge vicinity, servo arm reaches out to grab a beer.
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Robot then navigates back to you and presents the beer!
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For multiple retrievals, add loops to the code or press button again.
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When finished, power down the robot and store safely until the next round of drinks!
Closing Thoughts
Constructing an Arduino based beer delivery robot is a fun mechatronics and programming project. The end result is a great conversation piece that satisfies thirst! With the outline and guidance provided, you should have the foundation to start building your own autonomous barback. Just be sure to drink responsibly!