Make the TINIEST Line Follower Robot without a Microcontroller!
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 พ.ค. 2024
- Fuel Your Maker Dreams with Educational STEM Kits (CODE: MAX10) - circuitmess.sjv.io/5gQoGD
Learn more on my blog post about the Line Follower: www.elektormagazine.com/labs/...
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In this step-by-step guide, I’ll demonstrate how to build an incredibly small yet efficient line-following robot using basic electronics. No microcontroller or programming skills required! 🤖🔌
What to Expect:
➡️ Tiny Form Factor: Discover how to create a compact robot that fits in the palm of your hand.
➡️ Precise Line Tracking: Watch as our two-wheeled wonder follows electrical tape lines with remarkable accuracy.
➡️ Budget-Friendly Components: Learn which readily available components you’ll need to assemble this mini marvel.
➡️ Logic Circuit Insights: Learn to use Op Amp logic for its operation without relying on a microcontroller.
➡️ IR Sensors and Motors: Dive into the world of infrared and light-sensitive sensors, comparators, and motor drivers.
➡️ Fun and Educational: Whether you’re a beginner or an electronics enthusiast, this project offers valuable insights into robotics.
Get ready to embark on this fascinating journey of building miniaturized robots! Hit that subscribe button and join me as we make the tiniest line follower robot a reality. 🚀🎉
PROJECT RESOURCES:
Wiring and schematic diagrams: drive.google.com/drive/folder...
🔩 Materials and parts required:
🔌 (x1) LM358 Op Amp Comparator - amzn.to/3IgYuoB
🔌 (x1) 8-pin DIP IC base - amzn.to/49BIJ7A
🔌 (x1) SS8550 (PNP) Transistor - amzn.to/3UZL8Vm
🔌 (x2) Photoresistor (LDR) - amzn.to/49tbQdI
🔌 (x4) Round LED (3mm) - amzn.to/49r4mHS
🔌 (x2-6) IN4007 Diode - amzn.to/3OV0F51
🔌 (x8) 1/4W Resistors (10Ω x2, 51Ω x2, 1KΩ x2, 20KΩ x2) - amzn.to/4bK3Rdz
🔌 (x2) 100µF Capacitor - amzn.to/3T8JCPx
🔌 (x1) Micro slide switch (SPDT) - amzn.to/42RXXD3
🔌 (x2) Coreless motor (6x12 mm) - amzn.to/3T8JG1J
🔌 (10cm) 30AWG Silicone electrical wire - amzn.to/3UQwaRt
✂️ (x1) PCB Prototype board - amzn.to/42RY6GB
✂️ (x2) Mini zip-ties - amzn.to/3ULktf3
✂️ (x2 sizes) Heat-shrink wrap tube - amzn.to/42O0wWM
✂️ (x1) Ball point piece from pen - amzn.to/49FE0S8
🧵 (x2) Sewing buttons - amzn.to/48nX5qZ
🔋 (x1) LiPo Cell Battery (250mAh 3.7V) - amzn.to/48rJrmM
#linefollower #diyrobot #minirobots
Music from #Uppbeat
uppbeat.io/t/sensho/midnight-...
License code: 9NVIYKB9KKBYAWYY
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
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Keywords:
Line follower robot, Fast Line Follower Robot, DIY, Arduino line follower, No microcontroller, no code, line follower circuit, simple, cheap, No Arduino, DIY robot project, Ultra-compact design, Two-wheeled robot, Electrical tape lines, Precise line tracking, Budget, Basic electronics tutorial, Motor drivers, Miniature robotics, Mini robot, Line-following algorithm, Line-following mechanism, High Precision Line-follower, Line-following experiment, Line-following setup, Line-following components, Line-following calibration, Line-following speed, Line-following accuracy, Line-following tips, Line-following tricks, Line-following techniques, Line-following innovation, STEM robotics, Hobby robotics, Maker community, Electronics, Robotics tutorial, DIY tech projects, Educational robotics, Low-cost robotics, Creative engineering, Fun robotics experiments, Robotics hobbyist, Robotics workshop, Robotics DIY, Hands-on robotics
#linefollower #diyrobot #minirobots #uppbeat
DISCLAIMER: This video and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I will receive a small commission with no additional cost to you. This helps support this channel and allows me to continue to make videos like this. Thank you for your support! - วิทยาศาสตร์และเทคโนโลยี
I like the introduction, you can make this robot very affordable if you have 1 broken computer, 1 remote tv controller, 2 broken mobile phone.
The infrared leds, the batteries and the boxes you can get them easily on any electronic shop and are cheap. And there is no need to make it that small. But yeah he is a douchebag, but I can skip that in account of the interesting project he shared.
Can you suggest me how to make a repeated vehicle that on py pressing button and hit with wall and come back with itself to it's original position.
Without any sensor or controlling devices
"Can you tell me how to avoid walking into walls? I have no eyes, no ears, no sense of touch or motion" 😂
2 broken tv remotes
And a shirt
this is actually impressive ngl, nice job
I appreciate that!
ahh!, I thought you were gonna lie about it for a moment!
Wow, I haven't seen one of these since the early 80's. I went to a robotics course as a kid, and we built several robots from the ROBOTIX series. My favorite was the line following robot.
Those kits, along with having a Compaq Portable 286 computer kick started my career as a programmer, network engineer, calibration tech in the Marines and for Lockheed, a turbo test engineer for Rolls-Royce, a control system engineer on the pump stations in New Orleans, and a Senior software engineer creating automation software for Metrology labs.
This is awesome, thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing your experience! Cheers 😊
Origin story better than Batman.
I participated in a Line Follower Competition held at university level among the college students. Got 3rd position there. All the participants who made this type of robot(this technique is called bang-bang) were eliminated in the first round or so. The only participants who could qualify for the semi finals made the pid line follower. Ours was pid too. But for this kind of robot, it requires a lot of precise calibration. It would be really good if you also try making an advance pid line follower that can be a competition winner.
You can also do analog implementations of PID, it's just harder than doing it through a microcontroller
Thanks for sharing that. Really cool!
If I see a good fit for a TH-cam video, I may try making a competitive line follower robot with Arduino. Cheers.
This shows the difference between animals and plants or cells. Animals have brains, so they are like robots with microprocessors, but cells and plants don’t, so they are like this, using complex mechanisms to do somewhat simple tasks without thinking.
Well explained!
Both the minds and the cells of animals and plants use electrons and so dose this videos “line follower”
Nice project! I did a similar design last year, using two high brightness white LEDs for illumination, two yellow LEDs paired with an BC547 amplifying stage for each one for reflection detection (using the yellow LEDs as photocells), two BD135 with 1N4004 flyback diodes for driving the bigger motors and an LM339 for the comparator. I find remarkable that such a simple bang-bang controller can follow lines so well.
But, I have to say that I've got VERY worried in seeing solder being filed. Most probably you are producing a lot of highly lead contaminated dust, because most popular solder alloys generally have 60% tin and 40% lead, or 63% tin and 37% lead. Not only it is very easy to breathe in some of that dust but, as well, this fine dust has quite an ability to stick to the skin of your hands, and stay there even after some washing.
Play safe! Don't fool around with solder dust.
Thanks for your comment! Seems like there are many simple line follower robots of different kinds out there as such, cool!
I see you got a point there with the solder dust, I will try not to touch it next time. Thanks for the tip. I've also already invested in a solder fume extractor to use every time I'm working on a circuit. I highly recommend it.
As a maker new to robotics these tutorials are amazing, I would love to see more! keep on creating banger videos!
Glad you like them! Thanks a lot! 😊
Hey Buddy! Honestly, LOVED IT! please make more of such kinds, would love to see them! go on with the series, all support! All the very best!
🌹
Thank you for your kind and supportive comment! Will think of making more 😁
Brilliant work, Max! It works great! 😃
Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊
Thank you, MC! 😁
Thanks i Will try it❤
Super complex, but GENIUS DESIGN!
Glad you like it! Thanks!
you did a great job on this max! the circuit and soldering was really clean and neat as it so tiny. keep it up 🙌❤
Thank you! Cheers!
Excellent video, Max 👍😁
I appreciate that, James! Have a great week ahead 😎
It would be good to see more robot videos
This guy is so under rated
Great work max!
You are going pro on tiny circuits😎
The sound effects are cool and with extreme editing skills 👏
Really appreciated your efforts,
Waiting for 100k subs 🎉
Thank you so much, Kumar! I appreciate you noticing the details of my video 😊
MINDBLOWING!!!
That is one cute little robot there! Once I get some op-amps i'll definitely build one of my own!
Thank you for your comment. Have fun making it!
Nice video! I am very interested in DIY projects that are very small and can fit in the palm! I would really appreciate more of these types of tiny-sized projects!
I appreciate that! Will work on more as such. Cheers.
Really simplest design .. good for newcomers & beginners.. getting into it..
Here are some few points that you may consider in future attempts...
The single led & ldr.., one for each side and the comparator mode of operation.. permits only a TWO LEVEL(binary/2 bit) control.
With 2 per side , and the second pair , placed behind (or front) and slightly left/ (or right) of the first , will give a narrower band( configured like a hysteresis window) for each wheel..
Now you can get a minimum 4 bit logic resolution..
With additional combinational & sequential logic.. more permutation/ combinations properly worked out , can make it a more robust controller..
bear in mind this is just a " look down" decision controller.., and not a " look ahead" one..
In both cases.. the detect sensors & driven wheels are at extreme opposite ends ..
Best would be to have idler wheels (turning L/R) controlled by this and rear wheels drive by some other circuit .
Happy Tracking.. 😅
Hi there. Thanks for your comment and tips!
The intro was actually a very nice use of AI, that was a cool animation.
Glad you liked it! Thanks 😊
Great job! Please have more videos about pcb robots!
Thank you! Will do!
Thank you very much, I am just studying Operational Amplifiers, I will do it and understand more about the component.
you're great!!
Glad to hear that! Happy making!
Nice bro
Amazing as usual
Thanks again!
Great work🎉🎉
I will DO this project now❤❤❤
Thanks! Have fun!
Good one 🎉
Reminded me of our university days, 18 years ago.
SMOOTH, no BS and easy to understand. Wow, this is soo cool
Glad you enjoyed the video! Cheers.
Wonderful Project Max!! 😃
I just made a Line follower to get me snacks from kitchen 😁😜
Thank you, Sahil!
Haha, our robots should have a race! 😉
The same robot without regard to size would be interesting. A version like more common toy motors and perhaps using batteries.
I love it. Please make more videos on how to recycle use old junk to make simple robots.
Will keep that in mind!
Wow its so good. I might also make one
Glad you like it! Cheers.
Great project!! The bot detects the difference between light and dark and correspondingly activates the motors but if both ldr are on white / black how does the opamp compare and subsequently send the logic to run both motors?
Thanks! If both sensors receive the same amount of light, the opamp makes the robot veer at random until it rolls over a contrasting color surface to continue differentiating.
Yoo max, I love you're work, and you know what, you gave me a idea to make many of them and make a racing track so that following robot is going to follows the track and do something race, *sorry for my grammar*
Hey! I appreciate your comment! That would be so cool 👍
Nice video! A line follower is a fun starter project. 👍
Adding a couple of flyback diodes to protect the transistor might be good for the long-term operation of the circuit. While the motors are small, it's always good to take precautions to prevent any potential damage to the transistors.
Thanks for watching! Good point. Well, I have updated the circuit diagram with the flyback diodes and other changes. Cheers.
The video quality has improved a lot.
Honestly, I haven’t seen this channel for years 🥹
This is some impressive soldering...
You can lower the gear ratio by using smaller rounded tires, you just may have to angle to motors to get them to touch the ground.
Furthermore, you can adjust the steering effectiveness by making the front caster farther forward or backwards, and/or by bringing the wheels closer together or spreading them farther apart.
To get max voltage drop to the motors, don't use Schottky diodes, but rather normal silicon diodes. Most Schottky diodes only drop ~0.3 volts. Normal silicon diodes drop ~0.65 V. You can also just use resistors if you observe ohms law. (same thing really.)
Li-Po batteries can catch fire pretty easy. Recommend against their use if possible. At that size, it would be like a few books of matches going all at once. Still enough to burn you, or burn your house down.
CdS photo cells are most sensitive to green light, right around 555nm. Use of a green LED and light absorber that takes green up best for your lines would be ideal.
They make smaller dual comparator IC's. A reasonable substitute would be a dual op-amp IC.
Thanks for your tips, this is really useful to know. Will take note of that!
These type of videos are great👍
I subbed ❤
Awesome, thank you!
Good ol BEAM robots
If your micro supports it you could also use a pwm generator and capacitor to smooth the output to lower the average voltage by changing duty cycle
There is no microcontroller used here...
10:47 YES, PLEASE DO MAKE A SERIES
Will consider it, cheers!
I think that we ca use parts from a mouse to make the same thing with a little modification
Excelente amigo sigue así .... felicito
Gracias!
I like that you reply to every comment!
You're welcome :)
Nice quick & simple basic tracker built & functional.....
Its a simple dual " bang- bang" controller....
IMHO there are some minor improvements / circuit changes that could better its preformance..
1) The single cable tie (clamper) on each motor cannot prevent motor pivoting during bang on / bang off....atleast use two ties..spaced further apart...
2) The LDR's should be moved closer to center of axis....it will reduce the off tracking error correction span.
3) Each LDR/& respective led must be gated/pulsed alternately to avoid each others light interfering on other sensor.....this means more electronics/ logic ckt.additions....😢
4) LDR axis & motors shaft axis..must be parallel to each other.....
5) try to obtain/make really well centered wheels....
6) Wheels must be equidistant from pcb longitudinal axis centre..
7) Wheels fitted with slightly tapered width..,with the smaller diameter on the outside ..will allow for natural correction to move in a straightline without " drifting " left or right on its own.......
These are some mech. insghts I could offer..😅..wish you for best next attempt.
Thanks for your tips! I will take note of that for potential future upgrades to this robot. Cheers.
Its a clear and well made video, the only criticism I have is that you say "PCB board" instead of perf board.
Thanks for your feedback. Will improve on that verbal mistake next time I talk about perf boards.
I know most simple circuits use two photo sensors, but since you are just following an "edge" (blacl/white edge,) you don't need two photo detectors.
I see how you may be right, but with 2 sensors, it's more likely to stay on the line and not veer off.
Woahwy that's crazy cool ^^
Thanks for watching!
Nice bro...i have some of these components and iwant to try too...
Great, I'm sure you can make it too. Best of luck! 👍🏻
very good
The Cutest mini Bot! 🤏
Thank you, buddy!
This is fun 🙃 I like this
Glad you think so! Thanks for watching
Grandma's sewing kit? You mean my mothers cookie box
Yep, that too!
more mini stuff like this🙏
Will do!
Perfect electronic work ❤👏👏👏
Glad you like it! Thanks
His Soldering skills are good
I appreciate that!
yeaa 100k,congralutions
Thanks for your support!
@@MaxImagination will there be any special
Man vs wild ❌
Man vs electronics ✅
How to connect all the components and solter it…like which component is connected to which …!!
Follow the diagram and real-life wiring reference image.
Masterful explanation 🇲🇺🇲🇺
I appreciate that!
Can you make a detailed video explaining the schematic you shared ? basically the circuit design procedure.
No. However you may check the updated diagram in the video description that is accurate to the circuit my robot works with.
This was really awesome tiny robot ( tiny 🐜 )
Thanks, Jonu!
Subscribing to your channel is the best decision of my life
Your comment made my day. Thank you! 🤩
Yay!!
Saw a kit for this on AliExpress for $1.60 so was wondering how well it would work looks like they took your design
I actually took inspiration from one of those robots back in time, but made mine a lot smaller and more agile.
loved this video but would’ve appreciated a bit of explaining for what the components are doing
Sure, you can learn about how they function to make the robot work here: www.elektormagazine.com/labs/make-the-tiniest-line-follower-robot-without-a-microcontroller-1
1 90 degree turn and it oes of track. wonder if i can add more of those sensor thingies.
Perhaps adding multiple photoresistors in a parallel array outwards like most of those competitive line followers would do the trick.
That was really impressive! And using zipties with a perfboard like that was pretty clever. But gosh the editing of the intro felt weird
Thanks for your feedback. What part about the intro was it you found unusual?
That's pretty cool!! 😁🙌🏽🏎️
Thanks, Joshua! Have a nice week ahead!
@@MaxImagination no problem!! Same too you as well!! 🙌🏽
Simple question : Is it possible to make an invisible line with like some special pen and a special led ? Currently working on a huge racing circuit and i want so hard to add trafic without killing my budget.
Unless you're willing to change the photoresistors for magnetic reed switches, no. This isn't possible with the current robot setup due to the fact it needs to detect dark/light contrasting edges.
@@MaxImagination So let's say i use invisible magnetic paint and hall sensors on the device, it's possible ?
Because a simple HO autonomous car is arround 150$ and it's pretty expensive.
I reckon you can simplify it down even further to just a single Op-Amp if you have it continuously running and have the op-amp push down a pin into the ground that allows the robot to turn around it to the left. Then when the pin is up, the robot will naturally swerve to the right. That way, the single op amp can be used as a switch.
May work, but not with higher current devices like the motors.
Awesome!!!! Apply for world record
Thank you! Would be fun to try 😁
I couldn’t understand the li po battery connections can you show them? , also can we use 3mm red led instead of IR led?
Hi there. Please check with the updated circuit diagram and real-life wiring photos linked in the video description. The battery's minus terminal goes to the front right of the circuit to GND and the plus terminal to one or 2 terminals of the switch at the rear.
With sponsorship from PCBway, can you make a smaller version of this or the same size using only SMD parts?
Might try!
Vape pen battery and USB mini charge port. 3.7 Volts Insanity!
Amazing vid
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks!
Nice job smart.
Thanks!
Хорошая работа друг 😊
Thanks!
thats about 1 dollar
Awesome!
Thank you! Cheers!
PCB robots series!
Will think of more then! Cheers.
I would like to add here....
With line detectors placed in the same axis as the front steering wheels (an additional pair here) {just as steering wheels are in present day multi- wheel system's} ,is really ideal...
Also if the steering control is tweaked to output a behaviour as in "ACKERMANN STEERING SYSTEM's" or improvements in that..,then you have really nailed it.
F.Y.I. ..ACKERMANN STEERING is the basis for all multi- axle vehicles..where the circle insribed by the turn of inner & outer wheels have the same center of their radaii & is always the midpont of the of the rear axis rear wheel dive pair.
Thanks for your tip. Ackermann Steering could work well if this robot were made into a robot car and had further technical adjustments made to improve its tracking abilities. Cheers!
Can you make a tiny maze solver like this if yes what sensors you will use
Possibly, but I do not promise anything. Another viewer recently mentioned that adding more LRD sensors out to the sides in parallel would allow this robot to continue following lines and staying on track at a high speed.
Can i make with bigger motors without changing the driver circuit
Sure, you can!
@@MaxImagination thank you so much
Hey, this is great. My 11 year old is in the works of making something like this. One note or question though. You say 51ohm resistor but it looks like you are using 47ohm instead...how important is it for it to be 51ohm? Just curious. Thanks.
following the schematic is difficult lol. It has things that you do not mention but we think we got it working...using a little trial and error. The big trick is to dial in the speed of these little drone motors...we could not get the weight off the cell phone motors with out breaking the shaft.
If we create this thing we will probably create a little more detailed schematic, if we do we will either send it your way via your elktor links or tag you in a post with it attached.
Thanks man, this is a great little project!
@@Kai-Madeboth motors are independently switched "full on" or "full off" by their respective LDR/comparator ckt. the ldr placements& comparator thresholds decide the on/off for motor (L or R side) to do correction when it veers off track/line..
When energised they are always at max.speed...
therefore it tends to
"runaway" sometimes....
Hey! 47 and 51 ohm resistors are just about the same. It makes no difference in the circuit.
Also, please check the updated circuit diagram in the video description. Cheers.
nice.
Yes we want pcb robots
love it
Sorry for being late! Great project
Late? Thanks for your comment.
I don't have the money, but I want to see it going 100mph on a straight line but, when almost at the end make a sharp left turn.
this is like Mo from Wall-E
I designed and built one of these (similar though larger) 60+ years ago using a total of FIVE (5) parts! 2 x CdS photoresistors, 2 X small DC motors, 1 X battery. Called it a robot Rat. It would turn to and run toward a flashlight. adding 2 X light sources and 2 lenses would make it a line follower!
Mike L. "First MIKE on the internet - ca. 1975"
So simple yet super cool! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks! This was when I was about 12 or 15 years old. I put it in a darkened "haunted House" and went exploring with a few kids with flashlights. It scared the c--p out of them!
It ran towards the first kid to turn a flashlight on it, then turned to the next one to shine one to see what was happening. Mike L.@@MaxImagination
"Hey hon, look at this cool robot I built!"
- "Oh neat! By the way, how come the computer doesn't turn on, and the TV remote doesn't work? Wth? I'm missing two buttons on my shirt, and the tip of my favorite pen is gone too?! No more projects for you!"
Harsh realities of living with a "maker" 🤣
hey max please make an am radio pleaseee.....
Hey! I'll keep that in mind for a potential future video!
es ist wunderschön !
Danke!
Super ❤ bro
Thanks 🤗
Bro you haven't added where too add diodes in circute diagram please mention where to add diode in circute diagram
Hi. My apologies! I must've missed that... Please check the updated diagram I added to the google drive folder linked in the video description. Cheers.
u
Can use a 555 IC to convert DC motor control voltage to 100 Hz pulse width modulated full battery potential for low rpm with high torque (instead of geared motor option).
Hi, yes it is possible and probably smarter to do if you cannot find a similar-sized geared motor.
How does one co-relate the line sensor/s position feedback to the pwm control ?