RedBot Assembly Guide a learn.sparkfun.com tutorial
Introduction
The RedBot is robotic development platform capable of teaching basic robotics and sensor integration! Based on the SparkFun RedBoard and programmable in the Arduino environment, the RedBot has all the I/O you need to make a small robot in no time at all.
Required Materials
This assembly guide will cover how to assemble all the following parts:
- All the parts in the RedBot Kit
- RedBot Wheel Encoder
- RedBot Buzzer
- RedBot Mechanical Bumper
Suggested Reading
Before you go any further, you should probably make certain that you're familiar with the RedBot:
Preparing the Wheel Encoder
We will be placing screws that will later hold the RedBot Sensor - Wheel Encoder to the bottom chassis. If you do not have a RedBot Sensor - Wheel Encoder, you will want to skip this section and move on to the Motors section on this Assembly Guide.
Locate the following:
- 1x Bottom chassis piece
- 2x 4-40 screws
- 2x Nuts
There are different types of screws in this kit. Make sure you use the 4-40 screws for the RedBot Wheel Encoder.
Locate the two positions on the bottom chassis piece where the 4-40 screws will go.
Place one of the 4-40 screw through the chassis piece in the correct location. This side of the chassis piece will be your bottom side.
Tightly screw down the nut on the top side of the chassis piece to hold the screw down.
Add the second 4-40 screw and nut in the correct position on the chassis piece.
Motors
In this section, you will be placing the two motors on the bottom side of the bottom chassis piece. If you are using the RedBot Sensor - Wheel Encoder, please play close attention to what chassis side you are placing the motors on.
Locate the following:
- 1x Bottom chassis piece
- 4x Motor holders
- 2x Motors
- 2x M3*30 screws
- 2x Nuts
Locate the correct location on the chassis piece.
Place one of the motor holders through the right opening in the chassis. If you are using the RedBot Sensor - Wheel Encoder, make sure you are on the top side of the chassis piece. The top side will have the M3*6 nuts showing.
Push the motor holder all the way down.
Place the first motor on the bottom side of the chassis piece. Make sure that the red wire is on top and away from the chassis piece.
Add the speed board to the motor. Make sure the speed board fits in the chassis opening.
Now you can add the second motor holder on the opposite side.
Place M3*30 screw through the motor holder and the motor.
Add a M3 nut to the M3*30 screw.
Add the second M3*30 screw and nut.
Using the same steps as above, you can now you can add the second motor on the opposite end on the same side of the chassis piece.
Ball Caster
In this section, you will be adding the ball caster to the bottom side of your bottom chassis piece.
Locate the following:
- 4x M3*6 screws
- 2x L25 Metal standoffs
- 1x Ball caster
There are different types of screws in this kit. Make sure you use the M3*6 screws for this section.
Place a M3*6 screw through one of the ball caster's holes. Then screw in one of the L25 standoffs to the ball caster. Please note: the L25 metal standoffs will be longer then the L10 standoffs.
Screw on the second L25 standoff on the other side of the ball caster.
Locate the two positions on the chassis piece where you will be screwing down the ball caster.
Now you can use two M3*6 screws to tighten down the ball baster to the bottom side of the chassis piece.
RedBot Wheel Encoder
If you are not using the RedBot Sensor - Wheel Encoder, you may skip to the next section. If you are using the RedBot Sensor - Wheel Encoder, in this section you will be tightening down the RedBot Sensor - Wheel Encoder to the bottom chassis piece.
Locate the following:
- 1x RedBot Sensor - Wheel Encoder
- 2x Nuts
With the six pin male header side on the RedBot Sensor - Wheel Encoder facing upwards, place down the encoder on the top side of the bottom chassis piece. Pay close attention that the six pin male header side is also closest to the front side of the chassis. Tighten down the RedBot Sensor - Wheel Encoder on the top side of the bottom chassis piece in the same location in the earlier “Preparing the Wheel Encoder” section in this assembly guide.
RedBot Line Followers
In this section, you will be putting standoffs on the RedBot Sensor - Line Followers. Then you will add the sensors on your chassis.
Locate the following:
- 3x Line followers
- 2x Nuts
- 3x 4-40 1" Phillips screw
- 3x 4-40 ¼" Phillips screw
- 6x Standoff
Screw a 4-40 1" Phillips screw to the plastic standoff through one of the RedBot Sensor - Line Followers. Make sure to hand tighten the standoff on the line follower’s header side. The top of the screw should be on the same side as the RedBot Sensor - Line Follower’s sensor.
You should see part of the 4-40 1" Phillips screw sticking out.
You will screw on another standoff on top of the one already on the screw. The screw's end should now be covered as pictured below.
Do this for all three line followers.
Locate three spots on the chassis where you will be adding the RedBot Sensor - Line Followers.
Using a 4-40 ¼" Phillips screw, tighten down the standoff with a RedBot Sensor - Line Follower into bottom chassis.
Using you other two 4-40 ¼" Phillips screws, hand tighten the other two RedBot Sensor - Line Followers.
Wheels
In this section, you will be putting two wheels on the RedBot motors.
Locate the following:
- 2x Wheels
Place the two tires on the ends of the motors.
Make sure the tires are on all the way.
Standoffs
In order to connect the top chassis piece to the bottom piece, you will need to put stand offs between the two chassis pieces. Follow along to see the best locations to place the metal stand offs.
Locate the following:
- 4x L25 Metal standoffs
- 4x M3*6 Screws
Locate the four L25 metal standoff locations.
Using M3*6 screws, tighten down all four metal standoffs on the top of the bottom chassis piece.
Battery Holder
Before connecting the top chassis piece to the bottom piece, you will want to add the battery holder.
Locate the following:
- 1x Battery holder
- 2x M3 - 10 Flathead screw
- 2x Nuts
- 1x Top chassis piece
Locate the M3 - 10 flathead screw.
Locate two positions on the top chassis piece for the screws.
Screw down the battery holder.
Make sure they are screwed down nice and tight on the top chassis.
RedBot MainBoard Standoffs
Since the battery holder is screwed down, it is now easier to add the metal L10 standoffs in the locations where the RedBot Mainboard will go.
Locate the following:
- 4x M3*6 Flathead screw
- 4x L10 Metal standoffs
Locate the following locations on the top chassis piece where you will add four L10 Metal standoffs.
Add all four standoffs on the top chassis piece with the standoffs located on the same side as the battery holder.
Jumper Wires
It will make it easier to connect the sensors to the RedBot mainboard later if you add the jumper wires to the RedBot Sensor - Line Followers and RedBot Sensor - Wheel Encoder now, before screwing down the top chassis piece.
Locate the following:
- 1x Top chassis piece
- 2x Standoffs
- 13x Jumper wires
The motors already have wires, so you won't have to add more jumper wires. You will need to place the motor jumper wires through the top chassis.
Connect one end of the Jumper wires to the Line Followers' headers. Keep in mind you are able to use any jumper wire colors. However, following along with the jumper wire colors this assembly guide may be helpful if this is your first time assembling the RebBot.
Stick the Line Followers' jumper wires through the top chassis piece.
Add jumper wires to the encoder.
RedBot Mechanical Bumpers
Read on if you are using the RedBot Sensor - Mechanical Bumpers. If not, skip to the Top Chassis section.
You will need to prepare the music wire by bending the wire itself. Then, you will add standoffs and screws to your bumpers.
Locate the following:
- 2x 4-40 Nylon standoffs
- 4x 4-40 Screws
- 2x Nuts
- 2x Wire
It is easy to bend the wire with needle nose pliers. However, there is a trick to bend the wire using the Mechanical Bumper PCB itself. First, stick one of the wires through one of the small side holes. It only needs to stick out a little bit.
Bend the wire 90 degrees.
Bend the wire 90 degrees again.
Now that the wire is bent, take the wire out of the PCB hole. Place a 4-40 screw through the bottom side of one of the bigger holes on the Mechanical Bumper. Then add a 4-40 screw from the bottom and loop the bent wire around the screw. It is very important that you do not let wire touch the other side's nut and 4-40 screw, since that is what triggers the sensor. Leave a little space between the wire and other side's nut.
Twist on a nylon standoff on top of the screw to secure the wire.
Double check that the wire does not touch the other side's nut and 4-40 screw.
Take note of which side your nylon standoff is on for the first Mechanical Bumper. Do the opposite for the other bumper. Double check that there is one Mechanical Bumper that has a nylon standoff on the right side of the “RedBot Bumper” silkscreen and one that has a nylon standoffs on the left side.
Adding the Bumpers
In this section, you will need to screw the Mechanical Bumpers into place on the front end of your RedBot chassis.
Locate the following:
- 2x 4-40 Screws
Locate the two positions on the top chassis piece.
Using two 4-40 screws, tighten down the Mechanical Bumpers, with the two wires pointing in opposite directions, on the bottom side of the top chassis piece.
Add jumper wires to the GND and OUT pins on both of the Mechanical Bumpers. Again, which color jumper wires you choose does not matter, but it might be helpful to follow along with this assembly guide.
Put the other ends of the jumper wires through the top chassis piece.
Make sure the jumper wires are all the way through.
Top Chassis
Now it is time to connect the top chassis piece to the bottom chassis piece.
Locate the following:
- 4x M3*6 Screws
First, push all the jumper wires through top chassis piece.
After all the jumper wires are through the top, you can screw down the top chassis piece to the four L25 metal standoffs already on the bottom chassis piece.
RedBot Mainboard
You are now ready to add the RedBot Mainboard to the four L10 metal standoffs on the top chassis piece.
Locate the following:
- 4x M3*6 Screws
Place the RedBot Mainboard on the top of the L10 metal standoffs. When looking down on your RedBot, the battery pack will be on the top end, the RedBot Mainboard’s power jack will be on the right side, and the USB will be on the left. Using four M3*6 screws, screw down the RedBot Mainboard to the L10 metal standoffs.
RedBot Accelerometer
Time to add the Accelerometer! If you do not have headers on your Accelerometer already. We recommend soldering on female headers to your Accelerometer to fit on top of the RedBot Mainboard’s female headers.
Locate the following:
Locate the position on the RedBot Mainboard to add the Accelerometer. Line up the “A4” pin on the Accelerometer to the “A4” male header pin in the “SENSOR” section on the RedBot Mainboard.
RedBot Buzzer
Adding the RedBot Buzzer is nice and easy!
Locate the following:
Locate the position on the RedBot Mainboard to add the RedBot Buzzer. With the buzzer side and female header PCB side of the RedBot Buzzer facing to the right, place the RedBot Buzzer on top of the “9”, “POW”, and “GND” male header pin row in the “SERVO” section on the RedBot Mainboard.
RedBot Mainboard Hook-up
It is time to hookup all the jumper wires to the RedBot Mainboard!
Play close attention when connecting the jumper wires to the RedBot Mainboard. It is very important that the motors and add-ons are connected to the right pins.
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The only wires left should be for the motors. Connect the left motor’s red wire to the RedBot Mainboard’s “RED” female header pin in the “LEFT MOTOR” section. Connect the left motor’s black wire to the RedBot Mainboard’s “BLACK” female header pin in the “LEFT MOTOR” section. Connect the right motor’s red wire to the RedBot Mainboard’s “RED” female header pin in the “RIGHT MOTOR” section. Connect the left motor’s black wire to the RedBot Mainboard’s “BLACK” female header pin in the “RIGHT MOTOR” section.
Batteries
Just add batteries, and you are done putting together your RedBot!
Locate the following:
- 4x AA batteries
Use the graphics on the Battery Pack Holder to place the batteries in the right orientation. Plug in the Battery Pack Holder’s barrel power plug into the barrel power jack on the RedBot Mainboard.
Resources and Going Further
Ready to start driving your RedBot? Check out the Getting Started with the RedBot!
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