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 MiniQ Motor Wheel Set w/ Encoder that includes two motors, wheels and an encoder pair for US$36. They use the 50:1 ratio rather than 298:1 (perhaps that's better?).

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#

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#