Arduino Alvik remote control

Arduino Alvik

Arduino Lab for MicroPython

Breadboard 100x70

Generic push button

Arduino USB Type-C® Cable 2-in1

Arduino MicroPyhton Installer

Arduino USB 2.0 CABLE TYPE A/MICRO 1M

USB Power Bank (Generic)

Arduino Nano RP2040 Connect with headers

<html><body><h3><strong>A simple motion-based remote controller for the Arduino Alvik robot.</strong></h3><p><em>See also this git repository for details instructions: </em><a href="https://github.com/csarnataro/alvik_remote_controller">https://github.com/csarnataro/alvik_remote_controller </a><em> </em></p><h3>Description</h3><p>Unlike traditional remote controllers which are using buttons or joysticks, this one is using the Arduino Nano RP2040 Connect built-in IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) to drive Alvik. </p><p>Based on how you tilt the controller, Alvik will move accordingly. For example, if you tilt the controller forward, Alvik will move forward, when you tilt the controller on the right, Alvik will turn right. </p><h3>How to build it</h3><h3>1. Install MicroPython</h3><p>Both the Arduino boards used in this project - the Arduino Nano ESP32 on Alvik, and the Arduino Nano RP2040 Connect on the controller - are programmed with MicroPython. This means that you have to install the MicroPython interpreter on them. </p><p>The easier and recommended way to do it is to use the Arduino MicroPython Installer available at <a href="https://labs.arduino.cc/en/labs/micropython-installer">https://labs.arduino.cc/en/labs/micropython-installer </a></p><p>1. Download and install on your computer the MicroPython installer from the page above </p><p>2. Connect the Arduino Nano ESP32 with a USB-C cable </p><p>3. Open the MicroPython Installer and wait until the Arduino Nano ESP32 is detected, then click on the "Install MicroPython" button and wait until the process completes </p><p>4. Repeat steps 1-3 for the Arduino Nano RP2040 Connect </p><p>Now you should be ready to start programming your boards </p><p>Alternative ways to install MicroPython on these two boards are avalable on the <a href="https://micropython.org/">MicroPython site </a>, specifically the <a href="https://micropython.org/download/ARDUINO_NANO_ESP32/">Arduino Nano ESP32 page </a>and the <a href="https://micropython.org/download/ARDUINO_NANO_RP2040_CONNECT/">Arduino Nano RP2040 Connect </a>page. </p><h3>2. Start programming in MicroPython</h3><p>1. Download and install the Arduino Lab for MicroPython from <a href="https://labs.arduino.cc/en/labs/micropython">https://labs.arduino.cc/en/labs/micropython </a>. The Arduino Lab for MicroPython is an IDE (Integrated Development Environment) you can use to easily program your Arduino boards. </p><p>2. Clone the git repository <a href="https://github.com/csarnataro/alvik_remote_controller">https://github.com/csarnataro/alvik_remote_controller </a><em> </em>on your machine with the command: </p><pre><p>git clone https://github.com/csarnataro/alvik_remote_controller  <br/></p></pre><p>3. Choose the <code class="code">alvik_remote_controller </code>folder from the right panel of the Arduino Lab for MicroPython. We will start programming the remote controller, so change directory into <code class="code">remote_controller </code>folder. There should be a couple of files there, namely <code class="code">main.py </code>and <code class="code">imu_controller_ble.py </code></p><p>4. Click on the Connect button on the top left corner of the IDE and select your boards. You will be presented a list of USB ports (usually only one): select the USB port you want to connect to. </p><p>5. Once the board is connected, copy all files from your computer (panel on the right) to the Arduino Nano RP2040 (panel on the left). </p><p>6. Reset your board using the small white button near the USB port. A new automatically generated file named <code class="code">ble_secrets.json </code>has been created by aioble module. This is expected, it's a how <code class="code">aioble </code>stores and manages BLE related secret keys. </p><p>7. Repeat steps 3-5 for the Arduino Nano ESP32 board, only choose the <code class="code">alvik </code>folder this time. </p><h3>3. Have fun</h3><p>If everything is working as expected, you should be able to turn you Alvik on and make it run and control it via the BLE remote controller. The Arduino Alvik robot is powered by its own internal battery. For the remote controller you can use a USB Power Bank connected to the Arduino Nano RP2040 Connect's Micro USB port.</p><h3>Technical details</h3><p>The controller is built with an Arduino Nano RP2040 Connect, and it's leveraging the built-in IMU and the BlueTooth module (BLE) available on it. </p><p>Both Alvik and the controller are programmed in MicroPython. </p><p>A buzzer will play a melody each time the red button is pushed. </p><h3>Features:</h3><p>- control Alvik just by tilting the controller back/forward and left/right </p><p>- a buzzer will play a melody each time the red button is pushed. </p><p><strong>Next steps (optional): </strong></p><p>- implement automatic reconnection to bluetooth </p><p>- implement obstacle detection </p><p>- make the LEDs blink when the yellow button is pushed </p><p> </p></body></html>

Alvik Remote Controller git repository

Documentation for this project

Arduino Alvik remote control

A simple BlueTooth (BLE) remote controller for the Arduino Alvik robot, implemented in MicroPyhton