Microbit Crawling Robot Activity

Assemble the robot


Table of Contents

  1. Build a 2-legged crawling robot usng a BBC Microbit.
  2. Check your components
  3. Assemble the robot
  4. Coding
  5. Make the kit

Assembling the robot

Now, we need to assemble the robot. You can either follow the video below or follow the instructions below the video.

Insert the batteries into the battery box

Install 3 AA batteries into the battery box.  If your battery box has a cover, use it.  Some battery boxes also have a switch.

Battery

Add the antennae to the Crickit board

The Crickit board will control our motors and sensors. We will use two antennae as sensors.

Crickit antennae

Let's attach them to the Capacitative Touch area of the Crickit. Use an M3 nut and bolt to attach each one.

Antenna1

We will use pins 1 and 4. This is so we keep the connections apart, so they won't accidently touch each other. Antenna2

Add the battery box and Crickit to the robot body

Use a couple of blobs of Blu-tak to hold the battery box in place on the body:

Battery on body

Then place the Crickit board onto the robot body, engaging with the plastic bolts

Crickit on body

You can bend the plastic bolts a bit to help them engage.

Use two plastic nuts to hold the Crickit in place.

Retain crickit

Add the head

We will now add the head of the robot. The head holds the antennae in place.

Press the antennae wires down onto the front of the body.

Head1

Place the head over the wires:

Head1a

Use 2 M6 nuts and bolts to hold the head in place:

Head2

Use some Blu-tak to hold the eyes in place:

Head2a

Add the front thighs

There is a left and right thigh. These are marked L and R. Use the right one on the right side!

Thighs

The thighs will be attached to the grey plastic connectors on the body. Note the position of the screw holding the grey connector to the motor.

Body thigh connectors

Place the left thigh onto the grey connector, covering the screw.

Left thigh1

Make sure the part of the thigh with the motor is pointing downwards. Secure it with an M6 nut and bolt:

Left thigh2

Repeat with the right thigh, ensuring again that you cover the screw. Notice how the wood and grey plastic are reversed on the right side.

Right thigh

Plug in the motors

You should have 4 groups of wires, one coming off each servo motor. Each group of wires is made up of 3 coloured wires.

Servo wires

These need to be attached to the Crickit board.

Locate the Servo section on the Crickit:

Servo crickit

The wires must be connected in the following order, to the correct connector on the Crickit:

Servo numbers

The wires must be connected the right way around. The yellow wire should be on the outside, aligned with the Signal label:

Servo wire alignment

Insert the rest of the wires, remembering to place them in the right order and the right way around:

Servo wire alignmen allt

The wires will be a bit of a mess at this stage. Tidy them up into a bunch:

Tidy wires 1

Then use the elastic band to tie them up:

Tidy wires 2

Insert the Microbit

Now grab the Microbit. Notice that one side has LEDs:

Microbit 1

The other side has the word micro:bit:

Microbit 2

Insert the Microbit into the Crickit, with the LED side facing the left, as indicated by the wording on the Crickit:

Microbit 3

Push it all the way in:

Microbit 4

Attach the feet

There is a left and right foot:

Feet1

Attach the left foot to the servo motor on the left thigh:

Foot1

The foot should extend straight out from the end of the thigh:

Foot2

Don't have the foot bent up or down:

No bends

Rear legs

The rear legs are just decorative and can be attached with some M6 nuts and bolts:

Rear legs

Tail

The tail is also just decorative. Use an M6 nut and bolt to attach it:

Tail1

The spring just rests loosely on the bolt:

Tail2

Attach the wooden bead, using a little Blu-tak if needed to hold it in place:

Tai3

Table of Contents

  1. Build a 2-legged crawling robot usng a BBC Microbit.
  2. Check your components
  3. Assemble the robot
  4. Coding
  5. Make the kit