K-9 the Robot Dog
K-9 is based on the robot dog in the sci-fi show, Doctor Who. However,
my K-9 is a real, programmable, electronic robot (no radio control
here, unless you count a wi-fi link to a laptop).
He is made of metal (see photo of his skeleton for details), is
powered by a 12 volt lawn tractor battery, has an Intel Celeron
processor for a brain (basically a stripped-down laptop), and is
propelled by two windshield wiper motors connected to lawn mower
wheels.
In the original design, he used an optical mouse interfaced with the
floor via a spring-loaded tension system. The mouse sent detailed x/y
position data to the computer. However, this waxed floor posed a
problem for K-9, as the optics reflected at the wrong angles. I'm now
moving to a traditional wheel encoder system.
He uses servos to move his tail and head. His tail can go up and down,
left and right. His head can do the same. Eventually, I'll hook up his
ears to rotate via servo as well.
He is mentioned in Linux Journal and an older version can be seen in action from the following news clip on YouTube.
He's no where near done yet, though the frame and body are mostly
completed. There is MUCH to do in the area of electronics, sensors,
artificial intelligence, etc. I'll probably be tinkering with the old
fellow for years to come!
Comments and faves
Extra Ketchup (62 months ago | reply)
I'll be adding additional photos (as I just did recently) showing various components that make up K-9. I'm hoping to do some redesign eventually, though I have another big summer project - a robot boat. The robot boat allows me to get outside more when the nice weather gets here! K-9 might have to wait until Fall before major progress is made.
gunterhausfrau (60 months ago | reply)
...and the laser in the nose?
oskay added this photo to his favorites. (60 months ago)
rocknrun (60 months ago | reply)
Very cool!
Chopman001 added this photo to their favorites. (59 months ago)
dooogewalah (55 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called K9 Props & Toys (Doctor Who), and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.
scob89 added this photo to his favorites. (47 months ago)
// Denise // (45 months ago | reply)
That is AMAZING! The K9 reference might go over his head (he's only seen a few Who eps), but my son would love the class itself. He loves stuff like this. ;-)
Questa_Durron, Caninest, and animaltourism.com added this photo to their favorites.
alexthoth (36 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Robot Art, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
aquaticmar added this photo to their favorites. (35 months ago)
Monochrome (33 months ago | reply)
well done!
Crypticommonicon, dimanakate, flashbacks.com, and alexbfree added this photo to their favorites.
ph+bb (25 months ago | reply)
aw! k9! hes great!! dont forget to have him be able to say "yes, doctor master"
ph+bb and zjk_solo added this photo to their favorites.
Keith Allso (22 months ago | reply)
Cool.
farTHERfromgrace added this photo to her favorites. (21 months ago)
farTHERfromgrace (21 months ago | reply)
holy crap. you amaze me.
TSStechAngel (18 months ago | reply)
This photo was credited in our blog post, please enjoy:Eco Craft - Recycled Gifts for Pet Owners - trgam.es/cgeTKV
Photo Nut 2011 and richard.hensley1 added this photo to their favorites.