Exclusive robot tank driven by Android and aided by IOIO board

The Android platform is certainly making a transition from being just a software stack to an all out robot controlling mechanism, by the heartfelt efforts of the thriving DIY community. This time the DIY project is based on a RC tank, which is controlled by an Android phone and a IOIO board which connects the running 'military' contraption with the phone. Contrived by one Tamlyn, it does all the basic functions determined by the manageable input devices.

Android-powered robot tank

The creator chose an IOIO broad over the more conventional Arduino, because of its simplistic mechanism (no additional language required), comparative cheapness and an in-built USB port which relates intrinsically to the functioning of the tank. The IOIO board can have a practical problem of connecting with any Android phone, but the modder successfully used a Nexus One and HTC Desire.Coming to the hardware, the toy tank was stripped of its original RC circuits along with the conspicuous turret. Then the modder employed a TB6612FNG motor driver for connecting the default tank motors to the output of the IOIO broad. This had an advantage of directly linking to the battery for provision of 1A current to each individual motor. Finally, the whole setup was fixed to a breadboard for easy re-configuration.

Finally, coming to the software, the robot was made controllable through the internet, with a basic HTTP server on the phone. This in itself acted as the basic interface for responding to commands. The end result comes with a somewhat unpolished state, but considering it is Tamlyn's first project, more power to him. Moreover, the modder also wants induct some appealing features in the future like a voice protocol and behavior-based robotics API, to imbibe that ultimate automaton vibe.

Via: Tamlyn