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Robotic Ball

An open-source robotic ball platform with custom mechanical design, embedded electronics, firmware, and a mobile control application.

  • Other
  • Open source
  • arduino
  • 3D printable

Suggested by Robotheca, created by @afzalpoursadra (opens in a new tab), from github.com/afzalpoursadra/RoboticBall (opens in a new tab). Pinned to commit 6544efd (opens in a new tab).

Fork on GitHub (opens in a new tab)Download the files at this commit (.zip)
Hardware license
MIT (opens in a new tab)
Software license
MIT (opens in a new tab)
Commercial use
Allowed

Photo and 3D model

Robotic Ball, photo from its repository
Photo:@afzalpoursadra (opens in a new tab)MITsource file (opens in a new tab)

3D preview converted from github.com/afzalpoursadra/RoboticBall at 6544efd, under MIT. View the original files from GitHub (729 KB) (opens in a new tab)

What it can do

Written by Robotheca from the project's documents.

  • Drives as a robotic ball, controlled from a mobile or desktop app built with Tauri (Gyrobit).
  • Accepts joystick control payloads with throttle, steer and speed limit values over UDP.
  • Uses PWM speed control with soft turns and a failsafe, and acknowledges each command.
  • Emergency stop from the app sends a stop command; controls stay locked until the robot acknowledges.

Bill of materials

This repository has no parts list Robotheca can read yet.

Build guide

The creator's steps, each with its instructions.

  1. 1Print the 3D printable parts from mechanical/stl/
  2. 2Glue the cap and motor holder together with adhesive
  3. 3Attach the 2S BMS externally to the main body for charging the batteries
  4. 4Assemble the final robot and flash firmware/main.ino

The guide appears here as you scroll.

Guide by @afzalpoursadra (README.md), under MIT.

More guides

Wiring and electronics

Notes written by Robotheca from the project's documents.

Main parts

  • ESP8266 microcontroller board providing a SoftAP Wi-Fi network for the robot.
  • Motors driven by PWM (left and right channels), part of the robot's drive.
  • 2S BMS (battery management system) attached to the main body for charging the batteries.
  • Custom PCB designed in Altium (hardware/Robot_ball_Pcb.PcbDoc and schematic).

Connections

  • The robot creates its own Wi-Fi access point (SSID botball) that the controller joins; Wi-Fi is user-managed.
  • The 2S BMS is connected externally to the battery pack when charging.