Full Size R2-D2 Remote Control System (Raspberry Pi & Arduino)
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 22 янв 2025
- Support this Channel on Patreon:
/ thegeekpub
I've had many of you ask me how I went about building the full size R2-D2 remote control system.
I will walk you through what I have built so far and how I expect to expand on it in the future. Most of the R2-D2 remote control systems are based on model airplane controls and those are fine, but they're unintelligent systems. Meaning they just send a command to servo in analog format and nothing else.
I wanted an intelligent system that I could interface with through many different methods. So I've based my control system on the Raspberry Pi and Arduino platforms using the I2C bus to control everything.
Read more at my website:
www.thegeekpub...
Parts list for building my R2-D2:
www.thegeekpub...
Find us on Social Media:
/ thegeekpub
/ thegeekpub
/ thegeekpub
Looks great! A charging dock, or an inductive charging mat (if efficiency was better) would be cool. Keep up the good work!
I never really got into Star Wars but I always appreciated the dedication and attention to detail all the fans have for their creations and I'm glad I clicked on this video. I really like the choice you made to control him and not use the RC model devices (I flew model planes long ago when Spread Spectrum just started making a presence). I share your idea for the bigger picture and future integration. Great work so far and I look forward to following the progress.
Thanks Nick. It's going to be a looooooong process to get this done.
Glad you are back, great video as usual 👍
Love the old intro theme way better than the new one. Love the new videos.
LOL. So many people complained about that intro and said they hated the music. I can't win!
Awesome cant wait to see it finished also nice truck
Wauu, what a project. Keep up the good work. Funny about Your brother, saw him visiting You in his video. The 8-Bit Guy
Excellent! I'm glad this video was in my recommended list! Subbed - can't wait to see how this project progresses!
Hello
Very good work, well explained. Where are you on this project today? Have you shared any resources regarding the implementation of your system? Thanks in advance
ohhhhhh my good heavens. Your R2 is so adorable.
Nice man! Loving seeing the progress on this! Are you going to be wondering around at Bay Area Maker Faire next weekend? BB-8 Builders Club booth perhaps? :D
I wish! :-)
This is much of what I’m looking for.
Is there a followup video?
Very cool.. I like your thinking on the programing and control setups for your build.
This is awesome! Looking forward to seeing how this works out.
Awesome idea... I was already thinking about doing something simmilar.
That is brilliant!
You have caught my interest!
Boost it with a LattePanda...as the Core!!...for autonomy...Awesome Work!!...
I have a LattePanda. But again, I need to keep energy use very low.
Very nice work! Motivating me to get more done with mine. I am planning on using an UDOO X86 running ROS to control mine. I want mine to be autonomous also and use the new Intel D435i for SLAM.
That's awesome! Maybe email me some pics!
Keeping my eye on this project, really hope there will be an update on this. Not sure if you posted it on the forums already, I'm a bit inactive over there haha.
any updates on R2
Is there a restriction on how far the dome can turn due to the wires connecting to the body?
Nope. Google slip ring. It's infinite.
Wow. Just wow.
I am in the early build stages of my droid and I am looking for a control system. I am excited by what your developing. Looking to try it when you release.
Fantastic!
i would love to see you build BB-8
This is amazing. Do you have a step by step guide on your electronic install?
Did you release the code as yet?
Love it, and thx for all the work you do!
Ive put mine on the backburner just becuse of the software side of it and im not that good on it.. i build stuff and works with CNC so thats my nisch 😊
I’m going to print myself an r2d2 on my 550*550*650 printer, I would love to follow along with your build
looks great
how's it coming along? would love to see an update!
It's mostly finished. I decided not to do a video series about it since the views were so low on this video.
Hello that is a very nice R2-D2 build I was wondering where you found your dome if you would have a website I would appreciate it thank you very much
There's a complete list of every part I bought and where to get it on my website.
Great vid and killer project. How did you learn all this and where should I start if I wanted to learn what you know?
I'd start by joining Astromech.net. It's the R2-D2 builders forum.
@@TheGeekPub Thanks!!
Wondering if you completed the r2 electronics?
If so when will you release the coding and other information.
Thanks
Any idea when the code will be released? I'm trying to decide between i2c and serial for my project but I can't figure out how to send strings instead of bytes over i2c.
It will probably be fall before I get back to this project.
@@TheGeekPub Any update on the code release?
@@dog2bert It probably won't every happen. I don't have time to finish it.
Looks great. I've started an R2 build and am getting to the point of wiring and programming. Wondering if you have any of the code available? It's a fantastic and brilliant system, even in this beta. I'd be interested in seeing where you're at. Thanks!
Hello Mike ! I have a question for you....I see in the video you have green and yellow cable from SDA(green cable) going to the dome. Can you confirm this to me pls ?
Do you have an update on the complete build
Yes. I finished it, but didn't make videos about it since no one seemed interested.
@@TheGeekPub we are interested, please make a video
I appreciate it, but I'd need tens of thousands of people interested to make it.
Did you release your software code to control the r2d2 using rpi?
So have you finished your R2D2 yet?
Can we get a rough sense of what this all total weighs so-far ?...
I assume when it is finished, you want to be able to lift it into your truck bed to transport to shows.
When finished I am expecting to weigh just a little over 200 lbs.
I am using RPi & Arduino as well. Running JavaScript framework Johnny-Five. Very interested in the route you are going as well!
What is your plan to have a failsafe for the drive motors when Linux inevitably hangs on the PI while the droid is in motion?
Great question. I knew someone would eventually ask this. It's a topic I've given a lot of thought. I have two options and not sure which I am going to use yet.
1) If I route the control through to an Arduino, that's likely not to ever fail being a microcontroller, but it could happen I suppose. In this case I'd have the Arduino stop the droid if no signal has been heard on I2C in the last 1000ms.
2) The motor controllers I am planning to use actually have a fail safe feature. You can design it where in order to work they need a constant signal. I could design the software in such a way that on crash, the signal would not be present.
So did you complete project. Is it available open sourced somewhere?? Interested
It is running on my R2, but it is not ready for others to use by any means.
Do you have it published in GitHub for others to play with?
DOOOOD!
Hi I know your more then likely be extremely busy but could you spare a little bit of time to help me with which Arduino parts will work. I've spent a year looking and asking but with no success. I'm not building a r2d2 project I'm building a different robot that moves talks and lights up so I believe it would be very similar to your r2d2. Thank you
This is interesting. I'm thinking of doing something similar with my Dalek build. Rather than I2C, I was thinking of using a differential bus like CAN or RS485. I would be worried about the slipring and motors introducing noise onto the bus, especially with it being directly driven by the Raspberry Pi's output ports. Likewise I would probably add a checksum to the end of any message strings for the same reasons. Have you had any reliability issues with this setup?
How much would you charge someone to have you make one?
1.2 million
Hi Mike. Glad you made a new video again. I was thinking you had abandoned youtube :) This is a great but BIG project but I can see you've thought a lot about it in advance to make it go more smoothly during the process. Do you know a youtuber called CuriousMarc ? He made an R2D2 a couple of years ago. he makes super interesting videos so if you don't know him go check him out.
I do follow him! Thank you though!
@thegeekpub Man, we need to talk. I have had something just like what your doing rolling in my head for 3 years. I have R2's frame and dome built, now it on to skins and flaps. I have been collecting things like the PS2 wireless controller, arduinos, motors from electric scooters, and lens from desktop projectors. I just don't have experience with the coding for Pi and arduino. Can't wait until you go open source. I've been a member of the Astromech club for a long time. My user name is Wingspread
Fantastic! I need to do a lot of refactoring because I redesigned it half way through (because I realized I could do it better a different way). So once I get that done and then add some basic features that are missing I'll be releasing it.
@TheGeekPub at this point in the build how much would you ball park the running cost of your R2?
Not sure. Well over $1000 for though. I'd guess maybe $3-4K whenever I finish.
That is really cool! But this is how Skynet started.....just saying
That's frickin' hilarious.
Is the code out ?
Unfortunately No. I just have not had time to work on it in the last year.
Please release the control code you just demoed.
I will! But it will be a few months.
@@TheGeekPub why in a few months and not now and lets us the open community deal with any issues ourselves? U done a great job u post it on youtube you wet everyones appetite and then... "wait for a few months" lol
Great job btw
Its just not ready. I've not even completed the design yet. It's in a state of half-baked.
Collab with @jehugarcia for the battery tech?
Send him my way!
Did you ever look at EZRobot controllers. There is a lot of power and interface capabilities. Arduino controls, Raspberry Pi, Latte Panda and other controls will interface easily. The Synthiam robot diy forum really is helpful. Check it out.
LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU FINISH IT ALL AS REGARDS THE SOFTWARE CHEERS .... AS I AM GETTING A BIGGER PRINTER SOON AND HOPE TO BUILD A R2 MYSELF
Why can’t we put a decent size Raspberry Pi Cluster inside of one and tie in some Machine Learning?
I've been thinking along the same lines. RPi as the master with Arduinos as slaves. Question. Why did you choose I2C vs SPI?
SPI was generally designed for on-board communications, though I know some people are getting 5 meters out of it now. I just wanted to go with something I knew I could make work. But SPI might be worth a shot if you prefer it.
In the UK, # has never been £, its always been hash.
C3po coming next, haa ...imagine how much that could cost.
Nah that's a pound £ it's always been #hash for us 😉. Amazing work on the build 👍
Is anyone developing a basic AI for it, to move on its own, basic responses to speech or hand gestures. I've seen one video of an AI for R2 waking up and that's it
Not that I am aware of.
I want one of these with a PlayStation inside!!!!
If I ship you my Hasbro r2d2 could you put the raspberry pie in it for me? Lol
ezrobot.com?
Apparently R2 can drive 55.
Perhaps I'm missing something. But my desire - and it hasn't changed for 30 yes- is to have ANY bot/Droid in my household be Autonomous.
After all. If we control it, its really just a remote controlled shell.
The toy that is the most 'realistic' is the r2d2 I own as a toy.
However, I haven't see this from a DIY.
Why is that?
octothorpe
I can tell you two things i know for sure. [1] R2-D2 was made from whatever crap Lucas Arts had on their shelf. [2] Their android didn't even work.🤣 It's the Star Wars that's killing your piggy. I'm sure you could build one better, -and at 1/3 the price.
Having built one, I can assure you that statement is not correct. Many of the components were 100% custom made. Very few of the parts were anything standard or borrowed.
@@TheGeekPub Have you had a chance to examine one they used? Custom parts or not, it didn't function. They'd drag it on wires, and dub sounds in later (Movie Magic). What you're doing is harder.
@@TheGeekPub I'm going out on a limb here, but you're probably also not stuffing a midget inside.🤣
First
Wow! Yall get a job!
Amazing! Thankyou for this.