Rana: an Arduino Inspired Biological Robot

Rana (Italian for frog) is a biological inspired robot. It is the outcome of months of research and development. One of the principals applied comes from another intractable I made called "arduino biped robot". This robot uses the combined walking methods of an ant and a frog. This ensure that the robot strides and walks more realistically than most hexapods. This form of locomotion has never been used before and is completely original. It was developed by Stephane Hatgis-Kessell. Note that this robot was only built for research purposes but its principals will be used on other future robots.

The robot walks just like a ant and a frog. The four two legs are just like an ants. The first pare of legs are used for turning the robot. This legs have 2 degrees of freedom each. The second pare of legs are only used to ensure balance. These legs have one degree of freedom each. The last two pares of legs are similar two a frogs. They are slightly bent. They move in a breast stroke like movement.

Materials:

4 Servos

4 pieces of plywood rods

Super Glue

Saw

Steps:

Step 1: Use super Glue to glue the two servos together, one facing outward and one facing up.

Step 2: Cut two pieces of plywood 3/4 of an inch long.

Step 3: Cut two pieces of plywood 1 3/4 of an inch long.

Step 4: Glue one of the 3/4 of an inch long pieces of a wood to the 1 3/4 of an inch pieces of plywood.

Step 5: Repeat step 4.

Step 6: Repeat step 1

Step 7: Glue each of the legs to the servo.

Materials:

2 servos

4 pieces of plywood rods

Super Glue

Saw

Steps:

Step 1: Follow the same procedure as in the last page except cut the legs 1/2 an inch longer.

The back legs is the most important part of the robot.

Materials:

4 servos

4 pieces of plywood rods

Super Glue

Saw

Steps:

Step 1: Cut 2 pieces of the plywood rod 2 inches long.

Step 2: Cut another pare of plywood 2 1/2 inches long. Make sure that their is a slight slant when you cut it.

Step 3: Glue one of each piece of plywood to each other.

Sep 4: Use super Glue to glue the two servos together, one facing outward and one facing up. Do this step twice

Materials:

One piece of balsa wood (It doesn't matter the dimensions of the wood, as long as it can fit the servos)

Super Glue

Saw

Servo horns

Steps:

Step 1: Glue one servo horn to each side of the wooden block. Connect the servos with the legs attached to the right horns (look in the picture above).

Step 2: Cut another 2 servo horns in half. Attach these to the middle leg servos

Step 3: Finally attach the middle legs to the side of the robot, not underneath.

The wiring is pretty basic. Just follow the diagram above except repeat it 10 times. You also have to connect the information pins of the middle leg to the opposite front leg. Do the same with the other middle leg.

I will release the code soon.

Programming is one of the hardest steps. We have to program the robot to move just like and insect wood. Above are some of the movements that the robot will make.