
Robotics Design, Repair and Restoration
ERTE
Modular Educational Robot

This project aims to create a modular educational robotics kit that teaches robotics through practice and can be expanded on skill level.
Below is the story of developing the initial prototype, ERTE-0.
This project aims to create a modular educational robotics kit that teaches robotics through practice and can be expanded on skill level.
Below is the story of my work developing the initial prototype, ERTE-0.
Introduction
Robotics is a field that I have always been obsessed with. However, I have found it hard to get into. In my experience, affordable robotics kits, such as of the solder-yourself variety, tend to be fairly simplistic and restrictive.
For example, If you want a line-follow robot, then you make a robot specific to that function, just as you would buy a particular kit if you wanted a robot to follow the light or navigate a room. Considering that these kits tend to be of low-quality build (lack of wheels, sticky tape instead of brackets and screws, etc....), these robots are only suitable for educational / gimmick use only.
The aim of this project is to create an easy-to-follow educational kit, where detailed instructions enable you to start with a basic robot and expand the system with more complicated functionality as you learn more advanced concepts. To start, i believe it be essential to produce a suitable p[latofrm, with wheels, battery case, brackets, and designed to be taken apart many times and expanded. With this suitable platform, a proper foundation for a modular robot will be offered.
Goals
Below are the main goals listed:
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Comprised of generic off-the-shelf components
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Custom PCB's with simple layouts, able to be replicated with prototyping boards
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PCB's to be well labeled, including component vales, with easily distinguishable traces
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Each distinct area (Sensors, Control, Motor Driving...) is to be separate and swappable modules
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Expansion considerations built-in
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Cross module compatibility
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A rigid body designed to be repeatedly taken apart to enable modifications
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Fully detailed instructions with the design well explained
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One robot - various possible functions and module combinations
The Investigation
1 - Overview
To initiate the repair, we first need to strip down the robot to expose the error, as the basic checks show the fault lies within the robot. Below is a picture of the top face of the robot in question.
