preface

With the rapid development of science and technology, intelligent robots have begun to appear more and more frequently in our lives. This makes the children who are new to the world very curious, and very much hope to personally and deeply understand the operation principle of the robot and uncover the mystery behind it. Smart businesses have also seized this great opportunity to launch various kinds of intelligent robot toys, and social school institutions have also launched intelligent robot training courses, setting off a spectacular robot boom!

This time, I was lucky to apply for the trial opportunity of IronBot Chap DIY educational robot on the computer trial platform. This chap intelligent robot was developed by Xiamen Jiangke Information Technology Co., Ltd. It uses the assembly method to let children understand the structure and composition of the robot step by step and the simple DIY process, and let the robot move through visual graphical programming. Through the learning of assembly and programming, let children understand the relevant knowledge of robots, cultivate their practical ability and imagination, and feel for themselves The power of science and technology and the charm of innovation.

Unpacking suntan

The packaging box of IronBot Chap robot is gift box style, wrapped with plastic sealing film, which can effectively resist moisture and moisture. In the rainy season, there is no need to worry about the carton becoming damp and moldy. The packing case is mainly blue and white, and color printing is adopted, with coordinated color matching and strong stereoscopic sense.

On the front of the packing box is the high-definition large picture of Chap (little guy) intelligent robot finished product, which can intuitively understand its appearance after successful assembly. It is a very rewarding thing to assemble the scattered components into the final product through your own efforts! At the top of the picture is the product name, which is an enlightenment robot developed by Craftsman for children around 6 years old. On the top left corner of the package is the logo of RoboSpace, where you can learn about the products and use tutorials of Carpenter.

The packing box is opened by the way of heaven and earth cover, and different patterns and text descriptions are printed around the box. The top side lists the product parameters and 6 major design advantages respectively. We can quickly understand the product features, but the most important thing I want to know is the product color. This Chap intelligent robot has three colors: Charm Blue, Steel Red and Bat Black.

On the right side is a brief introduction to the robot's ability. Children can understand the structure and assembly process of the robot through self assembly; Control the robot movement through APP, and let it obey the master's instructions; The robot can also be displayed according to preset instructions through simple programming to learn knowledge in the game.

The main purpose of this DIY robot kit is to enable children to create a robot by hand Learn STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, mathematics) knowledge and robot knowledge in the process of hands-on.

The package box also provides the website and WeChat QR code of Carpenter, through which you can download and install the APP to get the robot assembly graphics tutorial!

The packing box is very easy to open and can be lifted up. After opening, there is a simple product instruction at the top.

The manual is a foldout design, with blue and white colors and front and back printing. In addition to listing the types and quantities of product components in detail, it also briefly explains the use of IronBot products. The content does not include the assembly flow chart and text description. It needs to scan the company's official account, download the supporting APP, and assemble according to the electronic instructions.

The following parts are the product parts. The top layer is a motor and a track, including two speed motors, an angle motor, four wheels, two tracks, and a magnet assembly.

The lower layer is the metal components of the assembly robot, including main parts, motor parts, U-shaped parts, L-shaped parts, flat parts, etc. These components are of universal design and are full of standard screw holes and threading holes, which can be used to assemble different kinds of robots.

The bottom layer is small parts. Including charging cable, controller module, battery module, and various specifications of hexagonal screws, bearings, power cables, screwdrivers and other necessary items. Small and miscellaneous parts are placed in various plastic bags, and their names are marked on them for quick search when using.

The three-layer products in the packaging box are as shown in the above figure. Each part is neatly placed on the plastic bracket, which is firmly fixed and reasonably arranged. There is almost no space waste. Three tier structure, clear division of labor, easy access.

Detail display

The parts of IronBot Chap DIY robot fall into two categories: structural parts and electronic modules. The structural parts also include metal components and connecting tools; The electronic module includes the main control, motor, power supply and wire. Now let's show you the details of each component.

Metal parts are divided into Main parts, electricity The machine parts, U-shaped parts, flat parts, L-shaped parts, etc. are made of 606 high-grade magnesium aluminum alloy, and the surface is anodized, which makes the appearance delicate, durable and durable; And the density is small, the weight is light, convenient for children to operate.

Connectors and tools include: hexagonal screwdriver Bearing Hand wring Nut, track pin, screw M3-5mm Screw M3-8mm Screw M3-16mm Screw M3-26mm Several. The hexagonal screwdriver is wrapped with plastic skin, which is L-shaped structure, providing excellent operation experience; The threads of all kinds of screws are intact, and no defective products are encountered during assembly, which ensures the assembly quality.

The controller module is placed in a transparent plastic box with openings left at the pins and power supply, providing reliable safety protection for the internal electronic chips. The controller provides 10 control interfaces to realize independent control and ensure flexible robot action; It is powered by external power supply, equipped with power socket and power switch to ensure power safety. The controller is equipped with status indicator and Bluetooth connection indicator, which can judge whether the product is running or connected normally according to the light color.

The power module is also covered with a plastic protective shell, with a built-in 2000mAh battery pack, which can provide 3-4 hours of life; It is equipped with an integrated input/output interface, which can supply power to the controller when it is connected; Plug in the power cord for automatic charging. When the battery is exhausted, it takes at least 3-4 hours to fully charge the original 9V0.2A charger.

The motor of Chap intelligent robot consists of two speed motors and an angle motor, which can be used together according to the appearance. During the use of the motor, attention must be paid not to damage its direction, and the arrow on the label must be aligned with the rudder disc dot, otherwise the control of the robot will be affected. The motion of robot is driven by motor, which is its power source.

The power adapter has an output of 9V0.5A. This charging speed is really not fast.

The power cord is used to connect the controller and the power module. In order not to affect the traffic capacity of the robot, the connectors at both ends of the power cord are designed to be L-shaped to reduce space occupation.

The data extension line plays a continuous role when the motor connecting line cannot reach the controller. Its head and tail jacks are solidly made and reliably connected, which is a powerful guarantee for data transmission.

APP Introduction

Scan the QR code on the outside of the packing box and follow the RoboSpace public account, which provides the download address of the supporting APP. Of course, you can also enter the APP name in the App Store to download the software.

The full name of APP is Isaac RoboSpace robot control and programming. Since my mobile phone is an IPHONE 5S, I can only take the IOS version APP as an example to introduce the relevant functions. The software was launched in October 2016. At present, 9 versions have been updated, with a size of 46.3M. IOS 9.0 or above is required for use.

After entering the APP, there is an interface description demonstration. You can follow Isaac step by step to get familiar with the functions of each button on the main interface, so that users can quickly understand the functions of the APP.

The main interface of APP has a strong sense of science fiction. The four control buttons are located on the right side of the interface. Each button has a corresponding text description, which is clear at a glance. The lower left corner of the interface also provides an exploration function, including story telling machine, idiom relay, voice transformer and other innovative play methods, but the content needs to be supplemented and improved!

Since there are many IronBot series products and each robot model is assembled in different ways, it is necessary to download the corresponding assembly tutorial according to the product. The download interface not only provides model assembly tutorials, but also provides matching expressions and music, which is convenient for programming. Let the assembled robots have different appearances and capabilities, and create their own unique robots.

The IronBot Chap DIY robot has three assembly forms, namely, the little guy, the kicking robot and the bat cart. Chap (little guy) intelligent robot is the main model, and the other two are its expanded forms. Of course, you can also assemble the robot according to your own creativity and use your imagination to create the robot you want.

The action interface is the remote control interface of the robot. Robots of various shapes are preset with different actions, so that the mobile phone can be turned into a remote controller to control the Chap robot to display various actions. If you are not satisfied with the preset action, return DIY control can be carried out for the robot, speed motor and angle motor can be adjusted, so that the robot can realize the idea of manipulating people. After the action combination is completed, it can be saved.

The programming interface is to realize the personal customization of the robot through the XLINK graphical programming function of APP, so that the robot can realize the functions of dialogue, playing music, taking photos, etc. Let children master basic programming principles and develop their logical thinking ability. In addition, you can also choose to display expressions for Chap (little guy) intelligent robots.

The running interface is the final execution state of Chap intelligent robot, which can receive voice commands and touch control, and display various actions and capabilities according to preset procedures.

Robot assembly

The whole assembly process of Chap (little guy) intelligent robot is completed by the baby at home independently. As there are very detailed graphic tutorials, the author only acts as a hand tool, find parts and send screws.

The tutorials in APP are very detailed. On the left is a large high-definition drawing. The placement and orientation of parts are clearly marked, and there are text descriptions in the drawing; On the right is the list of required parts and precautions during assembly. Operate according to the diagram, and there is basically no error.

Take the installation of speed motor as an example: the assembly method of motor parts and speed motor, as well as the appearance after integration, are very specific and detailed in the figure. The figure even prompts the installation direction, which is more intuitive than the physical instructions. With the part drawing on the right side, the required items can be quickly found from the part stack for assembly; Precautions are marked with yellow text, which is very eye-catching and can kill installation errors from the source.

The hexagonal socket screw is suitable for children to operate, and the assembly is very smooth with the attached double end wrench.

According to the tutorial, the two speed motors were quickly assembled. Xiao Gongju carefully tightened the four screws, and carefully checked the orientation of the two motors, which is consistent with that in the tutorial. Through the installation of the motor, it was found that as long as the assembly process was careful and meticulous, there was no difficulty at all, but some patience was required when screwing the screws.

Next, assemble the two speed motors onto the main part. When assembling the metal parts, it is necessary to align the mounting holes and adjust the sequence of the screws reasonably to facilitate the rapid fixation of the two components. After 8 screws were tightened, the two speed motors were installed quickly. They are the source of rear wheel drive.

The next step is to install two front wheels. The front wheel belongs to the driven wheel, and only the wheel rod and bearing need to be installed. The left and right wheels are installed symmetrically, and the operation can be carried out according to the steps. The fixing method of this step depends on four hand nuts, instead of using hexagon screws, the assembly can be completed by both hands.

After the front wheel is installed, start to install the rear wheel. After installing the bearing, use four hexagonal socket screws to fix the wheel on the rudder plate. At this time, it is necessary to pay attention to the orientation of the wheels, and do not get the wrong direction, so as to affect the beauty of the finished product.

After the wheels are installed, they can be mounted on the track. When leaving the factory, the track has been adjusted to an appropriate length, and only two ends need to be connected. At this time, it is necessary to use a clip to insert the track pin into the track hole. The author is tired because he is worried that the small male lift will hurt him.

After the track is installed, it is also necessary to install a baffle in the middle of the track, which is mainly used for safety protection to avoid the tragedy of twisting fingers into the track wheel. Chap DIY educates robots with strong safety awareness, especially for such electric toys, all possible dangers must be eliminated.

After installing the track, start the upper controller. The controller is equipped with a status indicator light, which is installed vertically. It is necessary to align the indicator light with the position of the main light hole. During installation, both hands must cooperate. Due to small space, it is slightly more difficult than the previous assembly, but after the tempering of the previous steps, the assembly process is also very smooth.

Next, you need to install the power module. This is the last large module in the cabin, and the space left for it is already very small, but it has not been difficult for a small expert to assemble, and the power module was successfully assembled on the main part.

The base of the robot is basically completed, leaving the angle motor at the top. With the previous installation experience of the speed motor, the angle motor was installed with ease, but when it was placed on the U-shaped part of the base, a small obstacle was encountered. The gap between the two is small, which is a snap structure. It needs a little force to snap it in. With the help of the author, it can be easily completed!

Finally, after fixing the magnetic chuck, the assembly of the entire IronBot Chap DIY educational robot was completed. Tip: When installing the magnetic chuck, you need to remove the 5mm screw first and install it with the 8mm screw instead.

Although the assembly work is over, the data cable and power cable must be connected to make the robot move. Since the space is small and the installation direction is involved, the author will take this step personally. Insert the motor data line into the corresponding pin of the controller according to the direction indicated in the instruction manual, and finally arrange the cable along the gap of the metal parts to ensure that the robot will not be entangled during operation.

At the end of the day, plugging in the power cord did a lot of work. The plugs at both ends of the power cord are consistent and can be inserted and pulled arbitrarily. Plug the redundant cable into the gap between the controller and the power module, and all the assembly work is completed.

Install the mobile phone and turn on the power switch. Is the final form of IronBot Chap DIY educational robot cool!

Achievement display

The mobile phone is connected to the Chap robot through Bluetooth. The Bluetooth version is V4.0. It needs to be manually connected every time the phone is turned on, and it also needs to be manually reconnected after the Bluetooth is disconnected. In actual use, the Bluetooth experience is not very friendly. First, the remote control distance is limited. If the robot runs a little farther, the Bluetooth connection will be disconnected. Secondly, the Bluetooth connection must be connected to the Internet, which is what the author found during outdoor experience. When using IPAD to control, it is impossible to connect to Bluetooth, and it must be connected to WIFI or 4G network to achieve connection.

Chap robot has a lot of action patterns. In addition to conventional travel such as forward, backward, left turn and right turn, it can also swing left and right, S-shaped route, circle, etc; The angle motor can also control it to raise head, lower head and raise head. Thanks to its bottom crawler, Chap robot has strong traffic capacity and can realize functions such as crossing obstacles and moving on grass.

Of course, it is also possible to add more and more interesting actions to it through the programming interface to achieve functions such as taking photos, speaking, singing, etc. Among them, the Chap robot has strong speech recognition ability. It can assign voice commands to it through the microphone, and it will make corresponding actions in the program, which is very obedient.

As the brain of the Chap robot, the mobile phone is fixed on the magnetic chuck and can only be controlled by other digital devices. The IPAD with a large screen can give more precise instructions and control the robot to travel according to the specified commands. Although Xiaogongyu is also the first time to contact this kind of robot, it can be skillfully operated soon.

Let's learn about the capabilities of the Chap robot through a short video! Forward, backward, shake your head, shake your head, dance talent is also good, and finally drove to the lawn (Bluetooth connection disconnected)!

Summary: Although Chap robot is a kind of enlightenment robot, it is small and has all kinds of functions, such as assembly, remote control, programming, voice recognition, etc. It can comprehensively cultivate children's practical ability, logical thinking ability and innovation awareness, master elementary mechanical principles and integrated circuit knowledge, and lay a solid foundation for future study of physics and other disciplines.

Metamorphosis: Soccer Robot

Before the transformation, the image text tutorial of soccer robot was downloaded in APP. After preliminary observation, it was found that the angle motor at the top was only moved to the front of the fuselage to kick the ball by controlling the swing angle. Therefore, the difficulty of assembly is one star.

To turn CHAP into a soccer robot, you only need to add an L-shaped piece and a flat piece (not necessary). When disassembling the angle motor, the four screws that fix the U-shaped part to the body can be removed to ensure the integrity of the entire motor, and many steps can be omitted when reassembling.

According to the tutorial, the L-shaped parts can be directly fixed on the car body with four screws. When fixing the angle motor components, the author did not install them from the inside out according to the instructions in the manual, but installed the screws in the reverse direction smoothly.

This flat piece makes the author love and hate it. It can make the magnetic chuck have a larger swing and be closer to the ground; But the extended length is less than 1cm, which greatly limits the traffic capacity of the angle motor. When crossing the metal strip on the floor of the home, it was directly stuck on it and could not pass. Finally, the author weighed again and again and removed the flat piece.

The final form of soccer robot is also cool. The connection method of its motor connection line and power line is the same as that of the CHAP robot, without any change.

The type of action of soccer robot appears to be a little less. It only has basic operations such as forward, backward, left turn, right turn, and so on. Two new actions, kick and challenge, are added in addition. These two actions are mainly controlled by angle motors.

Kicking on the way, a handsome kick. This has high requirements for the operator. Because the magnetic chuck is small, it needs to be aimed very accurately; And the timing should also be grasped. The robot needs a certain response time to make action.

The penalty kick is relatively easy. Put the ball on the spot and give the robot a kick command. As can be seen from the figure, the robot kicks the ball with great force, and the ball can roll far away.

Metamorphosis: Batmobile

The changes of the Batmobile are mainly concentrated on the track. The track vehicle has become a wheeled vehicle, and its body is extended. It has got rid of the short and thick body of the CHAP tank, and its overall shape is more slender and beautiful. In addition, the angle motor on the top was also removed to reduce the height of the car body, which is closer to the concept car of science fiction. Due to the crawler folding, the assembling difficulty is three stars.

When the vehicle is transformed into a bat cart, the body frame does not need to move much, just remove the angle motor, front wheel and track on the top, and then add two flat pieces.

Is the modified wheel very similar to Nezha's Fenghuo wheel. The graphic tutorial in APP points out that 18 sections of track can be combined with one wheel, and only a few pairs are needed. The key is to be very careful in the disassembly and assembly of the track pin, and it is recommended that parents handle it on their behalf.

The front wheel is installed in the same way as the front wheel of the CHAP robot, except that the fixed arm needs to be lengthened. First fix the flat piece on the front end of the car body, and then install two front wheels on the inner side of the flat piece. With the previous installation experience, this installation does not need to see the tutorial. Reminder: plane parts are divided into threaded ends and unthreaded ends, which shall be carefully distinguished during installation.

After the four wheels are installed, does it have a sense of technology, leaving no trace of CHAP robots on them.

Next, install the L-shaped parts and U-shaped parts to the designated positions. This step is to tighten the screws. There is no difficulty.

The finished Batmobile is completed, with rear wheel drive. Since the angle motor was removed, the wiring mode at the bottom was changed, and the connecting wires of the two speed motors were connected to the positions of the first and second pillars respectively. This is the difference between Batcart and the other two forms!

The Batmobile has no additional functions, so its control mode is simpler. There are only three steering modes: forward, backward, stop, and left turn and right turn. Since the front wheels are fixed and there is no steering system, the Batmobile turns only by reversing the rotation of two rear wheels, so the turning radius is large and the steering is not flexible.

After the Batmobile is changed from crawler type to wheel type, its carrying capacity also drops a lot. The power cord plug on the bottom battery module becomes a short board for reducing traffic capacity. When the author tests at home, he can hardly cross the metal strip on the floor, let alone the rugged road conditions outdoors.

summary

After nearly two weeks' trial, the IronBot Chap DIY educational robot left a deep impression on the author and his family. The whole family came together to share the joy of success, especially after the commissioning of the finished product was completed, it was really cute. CHAP robot is a high-tech toy combining sound, light and electricity. DIY process can not only exercise children's carefulness and patience, but also improve their concentration and creativity; The simple programming process can also let children contact the concept of program control in advance, learn computer knowledge, and conform to the trend of the times.

Although CHAP robots have many advantages, the author still wants to put forward a few suggestions for modification, hoping that it can be improved continuously!

First, the Bluetooth connection experience is poor. It is not because there are too many metal parts, which leads to poor signal, or because Bluetooth is a 4.0 low-power version, which leads to a connection distance of no more than 5 meters, otherwise the connection must be disconnected. When the APP is connected to the robot Bluetooth, it must be connected to the network (WIFI or mobile network), otherwise it cannot be connected. It does not support the simultaneous connection of two devices. When the mobile phone acts as the robot brain, the remote control function cannot be used.

Secondly, the power terminal on the power module and controller is designed to be high, which leads to the insertion of the power cord, which is basically flush with the bottom edge of the car body. When using the crawler, there will be no traffic problem. Once the crawler is converted to a wheeled vehicle, it can only travel on the flat ground and cannot cross obstacles.

Third, the position of the power switch on the controller is unreasonable. The controller is of universal design and compatible with different products. However, the CHAP robot controller is installed vertically, and the switch is hidden between two components, making it inconvenient to open and close.

Finally, personalization is insufficient. The status indicator is green, the light brightness is not adjustable, and there is no change. It is recommended to add colorful lights, which can be customized to adjust the light display effect. When playing outdoors, it will become the most eye-catching toy.

To sum up, IronBot Chap DIY education robot is a DIY robot that allows children and parents to do their own things at home, and combines DIY and programming learning, teaching in fun, learning in games, making boring knowledge lively and interesting, and improving children's learning enthusiasm and initiative. Chap DIY education robot is not only a toy, but also a good helper for learning.

Get free trials and professional reviews every day, and follow the Woaiqiku official account (woaiqiku)