The KRZ01 robot is a robot prototype in the mini weight class.

Description#

It will use a Raspberry Pi Zero W (with Wifi) as its computer and a PiconZero as its robot controller. Considering that the microcontroller and robot controller for the KC01 together costs about NZ$82, this robot (at about NZ$52) has about a $30 price advantage, and it has wifi.

But it'd not be as friendly to work with, as it's got a Raspberry Pi rather than a Circuit Playground Express — that also depending on how you define "friendly", since this one runs on Linux, the other runs a single Python program. RobotShop sell a No InterWiki reference defined in properties for Wiki called "[https"! that includes two motors, wheels and an encoder pair for US$36.

It has yet to be designed.

Requirements#

Features#

The Raspberry Pi Zero W has all the features of the Zero plus Wifi and Bluetooth:

  • BCM 2835 SOC @ 1GHz
  • 1GHz
  • 512MB of RAM
  • On-board Wireless LAN - 2.4 GHz 802.11 b/g/n (BCM43438)
  • On-board Bluetooth 4.1 + HS Low-energy (BLE) (BCM43438)
  • micro-SD
  • mini-HDMI
  • micro-B USB for data
  • micro-B USB for power
  • CSI camera connector (needs adaptor cable)
  • Unpopulated 40-pin GPIO connector (requires soldering)
  • Compatible with existing pHAT/HAT add-ons
  • Dimensions: 65mm x 30mm x 5mm

The PiconZero board has the following features:

  • I2C interface, leaving all GPIO pins free for your own use*
  • 2 full H-Bridge motor drivers with full forward/reverse and speed control. Up to 1.5A continuous per channel (2A peak)
  • 6 general purpose output channels (5V) that can be set as: Digital, PWM, Servo, WS2812( aka "Smart RGB" LEDs)
  • 4 general purpose inputs (5V) that can be Digital, Analog, DS18B20 (digital temperature sensor)
  • All inputs and outputs use 3-pin GVS connectors (Ground, Volts, Signal) - allowing 3-pin sensors, servos, etc. to plug straight in
  • Dedicated socket for HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensor. Plug it straight in, or use jumper wires to mount it further away
  • 5 GPIO signals, 5V, 3V and Ground brought out to a header
  • Power for outputs can be from Raspberry Pi's 5V or from an external USB input line
  • Power for motors can be from internal/external 5V, or from a separate power source (3V to 11V)
  • Both motor terminals have 2-pin screw connectors AND 2-pin male headers to allow maximum flexibility in connecting
  • Python library module making it super-easy to use any of the features

The controller board is supplied fully assembled. No soldering is required.

Bill of Materials#

Count Item Each Total Price* Vendor
1x Raspberry Pi Zero W w/headers US$14 NZ$21 AdaFruit
1x Picon Zero £15.90 NZ$31 Pimoroni
Total NZ$52
* total price shown is total in New Zealand dollars for row

Options#

If you only want motor control, there's a cut-rate version of the Picon Zero people called the PicoCon which sells for £5.

Upgrades#

Notes, Known Questions and/or Issues#