Self-Made-Robot: Review Robots Projects
Tags: robots
Published: 2021-03-22 05:43:10

Building a robot from scratch can be a daunting task. To understand what is possible, and to gain inspiration, I researched various projects from the community. This article presents a list of robots with different actuators, sensors and capabilities. I also detail the hardware and software that is used in these projects.

_This article originally appeared at [my blog](https://admantium.com/blog/robo02_community_projects/)_.

## Two Wheel Self-Balancing Robot

_Source: <https://electricdiylab.com/diy-self-balancing-robot/>_

![](https://admantium.com/images/blog/robo02_two_wheel_self_balancing.png)

### Features

- Self balancing when external force is applied
- Can be controlled via App

### Hardware

- Arduino Nano
- 2 Nema 17 Stepper Motors
- 2 A4988 Motor Control Units
- Bluetooth Module HC-05
- Gyro Sensor MPU6050

### Software

- Custom [balancing firmware](https://github.com/mahowik/BalancingWii) based on firmware for [quad-copter/multi-rotor flying](http://www.multiwii.com/)
- [Android app for Bluetooth connection](http://ez-gui.com/) (not maintained anymore)

## Self-Moving Line Following Robot

_Source: <https://www.electronicshub.org/arduino-line-follower-robot/>_

![](https://admantium.com/images/blog/robo02_line_following_robot.jpg)

### Features

- Follows a printed black line on the ground

### Hardware

- Arduino UNO or Nano
- L293D Motor Driver
- Custom Build IR Sensor Module (IR LED, Photo Diode)
- Geared Motors

### Software

- Custom Arduino code for [Motor controller](https://gist.github.com/elktros/df71b575474f6ae96e3edcc149d30302#file-arduino-line-follower-robot)

## Gesture Controlled Self-Moving Robot

_Source: <https://rootsaid.com/spinelcrux-gesture-controlled-robot-1/>_

![](https://admantium.com/images/blog/robo02_gesture_controlled_robot.png)

### Features

- Gesture Controlled
- Selfmade controlling glove
- Moves by Tracks

### Hardware

- Glove
  - Arduino MKR1000
  - MMA7361 accelerator
  - Flex sensor
  - Breadboard
- Robot
  - DIY tank Kit
  - Raspberry Pi 3
  - Motor controller: Breadboard & L293D driver board
  - Raspberry Pi camera module V2-8 Megapixel

### Software

- Custom Arduino code for [motor controller](https://github.com/rootsaid/gesture_robot/blob/master/arduino_robot_code.ino)
- Custom Arduino code for [glove gestures](https://github.com/rootsaid/gesture_robot/blob/master/gesture_sensor.ino)

## Pickup & Deliver Voice Controlled

_Source: <https://www.instructables.com/Object-Finding-Personal-Assistant-Robot-Ft-Raspber/>_

![](https://admantium.com/images/blog/robo02_pickup_and_deliver_robot.png)

### Features

- Voice controlled
- Object recognition
- Distance measuring with ultra-sonic waves
- Moves by tracks
- Picks objects with shovels

### Hardware

- [Rover 5 platform](https://solarbotics.com/product/50858/)
- Raspberry Pi 3b
- Geared Brush DC
- USB Webcam
- Google Coral USB
- Ultrasonic distance sensor
- Stepdown converter

### Software

- Voice recognition: [Snowboy Hotword Detection](https://github.com/Kitt-AI/snowboy/) - closed 2020-12-31
- Robo claw Controller: Basicmicro Python library.

## Self-Navigating Robot

_Source: <https://github.com/RBinsonB/Nox_robot>_

![](https://admantium.com/images/blog/robo02_self_navigating_robot.jpg)

### Features

- Controlled by shell commands
- Automapping of its environment
- Self-Navigating

### Hardware

- Raspberry Pi 3b
- Arduino MEGA 2560, Adafruit motor shield
- Kinect
- Custom 2-wheel, 2-caster

### Software

- ROS
  - Navigation: [ROS navigation](https://wiki.ros.org/navigation)
  - Surrounding mapping: [Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM)](http://wiki.ros.org/gmapping)
  - Self-Navigation: [TEB local planner](https://wiki.ros.org/teb_local_planner)
  - Camera: [Freenect](http://wiki.ros.org/freenect_launch)

## Self Navigating Image Recognizing Robot

_Source: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0--ZJfmUEM>_

![](https://admantium.com/images/blog/robo02_image_recognizing_robot.png)

### Features

- Controlled by Custom Remote Controller (Touch Screen/Joysticks)
- Automapping of its environment
- Self-Navigating
- Object recognization

### Hardware

- Chassis
  - [robotis Turtle Bot 3](https://emanual.robotis.com/docs/en/platform/turtlebot3/features/#specifications)
  - Raspberry Pi 3B+ microcontroller
  - Raspberry Pi Camera
  - Dynamixel wheels
  - LiDAR Sensor
- Image recognition
  - NVidia Jetson Nano
- Additionally
  - Raspberry Pi4 based custom remote control

### Software

- ROS
  - Navigation: [ROS navigation](https://wiki.ros.org/navigation)
  - Surrounding Mapping: [Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM)](http://wiki.ros.org/gmapping)
  - Laser Sensor

## Conclusion

This article showed various robot projects: Self-navigatin robots that detect objects and humans, which can be controlled with apps, voice or gestures. These projects are a great inspiration, and with the software and hardware that they use, you can build a robot on your own too.