Concept
I decided to settle with creating a simple robot for the final project. My idea was inspired by a robot waiter in one of the restaurants I visited back home. I found it cool how one can come up with such a thing and it pushed me to try and emulate it. I will be creating a simple robot that moves around on command of the user. The robot will be able to do a simple dance, spin around with the hands moving up and down, when the user commands it to. I would also like to have the robot to be able to do simple writing and also measure distance and give feedback to the user.
Arduino
The Arduino will be the basis of the project as it will be getting input from p5 to move the robot. The robot is powered by four Arduino controlled DC motors which respond to inputs from p5 to move the robot. Additionally, there are two servo motors to control hand movements of the robot. I will also include a distance sensor that will allow the robot to read distance from objects and send the value to p5 for the user. I will also have LED lights which will represent the eye of the robot.
P5
I was conflicting on what my p5 would do but I settled on using the ML5.js Handpose to enable the user control the robot using their hands. Since I will also have two modes, one for moving the robot and one for drawing using the robot, I intend to have it that on the draw mode the robot can write on a white board and p5 can give a visual representation of what the robot is drawing. On the moving mode the p5 will be taking input from the user and sending it to Arduino to control the robot.
Progress
So far I have been able to make the base which is the wheels controlling the movement of the robot. I have also added the servo motors that will control the hands. I want to create a solid base that will hold the components and make the robot aesthetic. I also want to 3D print a body for the robot but I am yet to do that.
