Bubbys retro fit design

Other Functions:

Safety and Ease of Use: The robot will be controlled by a child and will need to make the controls as simple as possible. Saftey is also a number one concern as any control method needs to be safe so the robot does not run out of control.

Wagon Pulling: Teresa would like the robot to be able to pull a wagon that her son could rid in. This means the robot needs to hold a wagon. The current hand design is made of a lighter thickness ABS plastic and is controlled by a standard hobby server. The hand likely could not hold onto a wagon handle without some assistance. A slight modification to the arm will need to be made.

Battery Monitor: I’d like to give the robot a way to monitor the batteries so it is easier to know when it needs a recharge.

Security System: I’d like to give the robot some sort of theft detection so the robot could sound an alarm if someone again tried to steal it.

Collision Avoidance: I’d like to give the robot some simple sensors it could use to help keep it from crashing into objects when under remote control.

People Monitor: I’d like to give the robot some sensors to monitor when there is motion or people near by so the robot could react in some way.

Automated Voice Responses: I’d like to give the robot a voice system so it could speak pre-programmed voice responses with out the need for a wireless voice “walkie-talkie” style system.

CD Player/Stereo: I think it would be neat to give the robot a sound system.

Fancy Lights: Every robot needs some fancy lights. Perhaps some ground FX lights under the feet/base.

Flash Light: It might be possible to give Bubby a flash light system to come on when it’s dark.


Goals:

Obviously the goal is to restore the functionality to the robot. There are many ways to go about this. One is to simply purchase the wireless controls and new batteries and voila, the task is done. However, since the robot was built in 1986 the technology used back then could use some updated. Plus all the controls have been removed and are in an "unknown” functional state. Directly replacing the multi-channel wireless RC system is a costly task and interfacing it to the custom CPU controller board to redirect the RC signals to control the 25 robot functions could be tricky to say the least.

I think a better approach is to find ways get those 25 functions back without a lot of cost while using the parts I can donate to the project, all while trying to reuse some of the control parts when possible.

Goal #1 is to get the robot drivable. This means getting at least one new battery and slowing down the motors and finding an acceptable control method to make the robot drivable by Tareece.

Goal #2 is to re-wire the robot functions into a new control patch panel to make interfacing controls and maintenance much easier.

Goal #3 is to repair any of the robot control motor and hardware system so they are in “interface” ready condition.

Goal #4 is to paint and restore the head and face with a skin tone to match Tareece's

Goal #5 is to restore or replace the hair if possible

Goal #6 is to restore or replace the gloves if possible