Return to the BUILD

“The parts provided this time are a test board and cable, which are used together with the sensor control board from the previous issue. Although you are not ready to fit the control board permanently yet, you can use it to test the sensors in the first leg you assembled, as well as the lightsaber ejection mechanism from [Issue 37].”

Contents

Parts

Materials: All parts in this issue are electrical.

Magazine

• Building The Galaxy – Inside the Lair of the Emperor
• Droid Directory – Cyborgs Part 2
• Understanding Robotics – Robotic Exoskeletons
• Build R2-D2: Model Instructions

Build

Connecting the Circuit Boards

Step 1

We will need the Battery Box, the Sensor Control Board from the previous issue, and these items from this issue:

Steps 2-3

Unwrap the Test Cable 1 and connect the smaller plug into the central socket of the Test Board:

Steps 4-5

Unwrap the Test Cable 2 and connect the smaller plug into the Test Board socket shown below:

Step 6

Plug the free end of Test Cable 1 into this socket of the Sensor Control Board, as shown:

Step 7

Plug the free end of Test Cable 2 into this socket of the Sensor Control Board, as shown:

Steps 8-9

Plug the Battery Box into this socket of the Test Board, as shown.

Make sure the Battery Box switch is OFF when making power connections like this:

Testing the Lightsaber Ejector Mechanism

Steps 1-2

Retrieve the Lightsaber Ejector assembly we built back in Issue 37 and connect the yellow/black leads to this socket of the Sensor Control Board, as shown:

Step 3

Connect the red/black lead from the tube to the next socket over, as shown:

Step 4

Turn the Battery Box switch ON.

If the connection is good and the Test Board is now powered, this small red LED should light up:

Steps 5-6

Press the S1 button on the Test Board. The white ejector rack should move up the tube and stop:

Step 7

Press the S2 button on the Test Board. The white ejector rack should move back down the tube and stop:

Step 8

If these tests fail, check all connections and that you have good batteries. If the tests pass, turn the Battery Box switch to OFF and disconnect the lightsaber tube plugs from the Sensor Control Board.

You can put the lightsaber tube assembly safely back into storage as we will not install until Issue 77.

Testing the Right Leg Sensors

Steps 1-2

Retrieve the right leg assembly we last worked on in the previous issue. Plug the black lead into this socket on the Sensor Control Board and turn the Battery Box switch to ON:

Steps 3-4

Ensure nothing is within 2m of the round ultrasonic shoulder sensor, then move a solid object towards the sensor. When the object is within 0.5m, this blue LED on the Test Board should light indicating the sensor is detecting the object:

Step 5

Plug the red/orange/yellow lead from the wheel motor into this socket on the Test Board:

Steps 6-9

The Infrared Sensor is under the front of the Foot Base. Move the base of the foot towards and away from your work surface. When the foot is in contact with a solid surface, this green LED on the Test Board should light. When the foot is moved away from the surface, this LED should turn off.

If this does not work, check all your connections. If satisfied, turn the Battery Box switch to OFF and disconnect the leg cables from the boards. Keep the leg nearby as it will be used in the next issue.

Thoughts

I really appreciate that DeAgostini provides these extra circuit boards to allow us to test the electronics as we build. It gives us the opportunity to correct problems before we get too far in.

Next Up

 Issue 54 – Dome Panels, Outer Wheel Mounting Plate, Bearing