Lesson Plan and Activity

This robot had to be developed—from the chassis design and control code to the Bluetooth remote control and driving program—in record time after the end of the academic year in late June. We also lacked financial resources, so we used some BQ robotics kits to create this small car and try to pass the competition's tests.

For this reason, we opted to use an existing design from BQ's educational printbots. Specifically, the BQ Tadpole robot (https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:210098).

Since we needed a four-wheeled vehicle, we modified the chassis of this printbot to transform it into a car. We also slightly modified its structure and the battery holder.

Once the design was complete, the parts were printed and assembled following the printbot's instructions.

Finally, we adapted the Arduino code for this robot, as it was designed as a line follower. The robot's programming was changed so that it could be controlled remotely, and an application was programmed in AppInventor to control the robot via Bluetooth.

You have to upload the Arduino code form the file list (RobotCodema.ino) to the Arduino Uno board. Later you have to import the "Robot_Codema.aia" file into AppInventor and then build and app. Then you must install this app in your smartphone to control the Trasgu robot.

Materials Needed

1/4 Kg. PLA
1 Arduino Uno (BQ Zum board)
4 x Continuous rotation servos
1 x Buzzer

Printed parts:
1 x chassis
1 x battery holder
4 x wheel

Hardware:
4 x M3x10 screw
4 x M3x40 screw
4 x M3 nut
4 x 3x50mm O-ring
8 x AAA batteries
1 x Battery holder

References

https://youtu.be/0dWR9ooOQc4?si=I-dhaRf-A-46FQsI

Car competition of the II Industrial Engineering Olympic Games, held in Cartagena in mid-July 2023.

Trasgu (miniquad project)