Spectacle is a low-cost, low-power local network controlled robot that uses sensor data and the camera from a user’s cellphone.
This robot was an exploratory project meant to investigate whether a small mobile robot could power itself entirely from the battery of the phone. To accomplish this, an OTC cable connects the phone to an Arduino Nano, which subsequently connects to two micro servos (continuous rotation) that move the device. The phone’s sensor data for positioning as well as the camera feed is sent back to another computer running on the same local network.
The phone runs an Android app that connects the Arduino through USB sockets, and also takes video from the front camera as well as positional data and posts it using HTTP to a local IP.
The hardware required to make this robot was only around $50 not including the phone. The materials list includes sheet metal, micro servos and wheels to fit, an Arduino Nano, metal L-channel, ball caster wheel, and stick-on mirror for the camera.
Spectacle is controlled with an Xbox controller connected to a PC, which also has the video display as well as some directional and input information.