Table of Contents

Convert A Cheap (AU $9) & Cheerful Toy Into An RC IOT Robot

NOTE: This is ONLY a brief summary of a more detailed WPS classroom STEAM project

How to take a cheap toy and turn it into a STEAM powered, remote controlled, dancing, musical robot connected to the IOT for less than AU $20.

The procedure is designed to provide a context to promote student understanding of digital technologies, especially: circuits, binary logic and The Internet of Things. This example is based on a AU$9 toy available from KMart Australia (2016-2017). You can apply variations of this method to just about any cheap radio control toy…

Getting Organised:

Purchase a cheap toy that is operated by one or more easily accessible push-buttons.

In this project we will modify the push button switches to convert the toy to a remote controlled device that can optionally be controlled and monitored bythe Internet of Things (IOT)

For the example below, the school purchased a Dar-Ci robot (October 2016) from Kmart for a cost of AU $9.00.

This toy has lots of features but is operated by a single push button (referred to below as the 'switch') on the front of the toy, and a three position power switch at the rear.

For this example project, student are only required to modify the front, push-button switch.

Video 1: Take a cheap toy. Add STEAM to turn TV Ad. illusion into an IOT classroom reality:

Getting Started - Tools, Circuits & Switches:

TOOLS & MATERIALS:

  1. Screwdriver
  2. Two jumper leads with crocodile clips (per student)

OPTIONAL EXTRAS:

  1. Additional jumper lead(s) and/or 1 - 2m hookup wire
  2. Aluminium foil
  3. Assorteds cardboard and trash
  4. Cheap (example) wireless doorbell
  5. Cheap 4CH 2262/2272 4CH unit from Adafruit or similar (example) wireless keyfob transmitter/receiver or similar
  6. Detailed PT2272 M4 specifications:http://www.princeton.com.tw/Portals/0/Product/PT2272.pdf
  7. Soldering iron and solder (if replacing jumpers with permanent wiring)

Open toy to access & modify the push-button switch:

  1. Unscrew the four phillips head screws on the rear of the body.
  2. Unscrew the battery cover and remove all batteries
  3. Unscrew the two rear screws holding the bush-button switch in place

Make & connect you own simple switch:

  1. Replace batteries into battery compartment
  2. Turn the rear power switch (on rear of robot head) to the 'try me' position .
  3. Connect two leads to make a simple switch.
  4. Remove robot legs and place to one side (no additional unscrewing required)
  5. Tap the ends of the leads together to make robot dance and play music

EXAMPLES of some other switches made quickly and easily from trash:

  1. DIY Disability Switch
  2. How would you make a burglar alarm from a peg?
  3. Halloween doormat switch

Adding Remote Control Robot function(s) to the toy:

Wireless Doorbell

OPTION 1:

  1. Purchase any (example video) cheap wireless doorbell set (AU $4.00) from e-bay, a two dollar shop or supermarket
  2. Use masking tape, blue-tak or similar to fix the bell to the robot
  3. Stand some distance away from the robot and hold (but do not yet press) the doorbell button
  4. Make sure all students remain quiet with no loud sound in the room
  5. Switch the slider switch on back of robot head to the 'ON' position.
  6. Press the doorbell switch to sound the bell - this should make robot dance and play music.

Wireless 4CH keyfob

OPTION 2:

  1. Purchase any cheap wireless transmitter/receiver set from e-bay (AU $3.00), a two dollar shop or supermarket
  2. Use masking tape, blue-tak or similar to fix the receiver to the robot
  3. Connect positive and ground wires from the battery contacts to the + & GND receiver pins
  4. Connect a wire from any of the receiver data pins to the active side of the robot switch
  5. Stand some distance away from the robot and press the relevant keyfob button
  6. Switch the slider switch on back of robot head to the 'Try Me' position.
  7. Press the relevant key-fob button (A,B,C or D) - this should make robot dance and play music.

OPTION 3:

  1. Use a Raspberry Pi, Arduino or similar to record the keyfob code (for example, as configured in Item 2 above) and then play back (thus making keyfob redundant)
  2. Create a web page and/or code to control robot via the Internet

OPTION 4:

If you are looking for a more detailed example howto using an RC car kit, this page contains all you need to know, including links to resources to find out more about how it all works: https://pi-cars.com/2013/01/24/pi-cars-factory-beginners-tool-kit/

Here is a detailed example of a project write-up for a student designed 27Mhz + 40Mhz RC Cars project

SUMMARY:

All of the above are designed to help students develop a scientific understanding about switches, circuits, design, binary logic, engineering, coding and the Internet of things (STEAM). Make sure you document your work (for example, make a about your project video and learn how 'green screen' works) - But mostly:

DON'T FORGET TO HAVE FUN WHILE YOU TEACH AND LEARN:

Avoid scoring a C(raft). Think deeper about getting an authentic 'A' in STEAM: