"How To Build A Geared Up/Down LEGO Mindstorms EV3 Robot"

LEGORobotics Mr. Hino

18 Apr 201815:18

Summary

TLDRIn this video, Mr. Hino from 'Mr. Hino's LEGO Robotics' demonstrates how to build a geared-up or geared-down LEGO robot. He walks through the process step-by-step, explaining the parts needed and the assembly instructions, including large motors, connectors, beams, and gears. Throughout the video, he provides tips for proper assembly, ensuring stability and correct gear alignment for desired speed or torque. Mr. Hino also showcases the difference in performance between a geared-up and geared-down robot and offers practical advice for modifying the build for different speeds and strengths. Despite some interruptions, he maintains a clear, engaging instructional style.

Takeaways

😀 The video is a tutorial on building a Lego robotics project that can either gear down or gear up.
🔧 The project requires two large motors, a ladder frame, and four red connectors to start.
🏗️ The construction process involves assembling a frame and adding connectors in a specific order for stability.
🔩 Additional components like an 11-beam, black connectors, and a gray frame are used to reinforce the structure.
🔄 The tutorial demonstrates how to correctly position J beams to gear up the robot by aligning them with the motors.
🔩 The use of gears is crucial; smaller gray gears interlock with larger ones to transfer motion.
🚗 The robot's speed and torque can be adjusted by gearing up (faster speed but less torque) or gearing down (slower speed but more torque).
🔧 The presenter makes a mistake with the J beam placement but corrects it, showing the importance of attention to detail.
🔌 Cable management is addressed, with a tip on how to route cables under the robot for neatness and functionality.
🎥 The video ends with a test drive of the geared-up robot, showcasing its speed and the effectiveness of the build.

Q & A

What is the purpose of the video?
-The video aims to teach viewers how to build and gear up or gear down a LEGO robot, step-by-step, using specific pieces.
What are the first pieces needed to start building the robot?
-The first pieces needed are two large motors, a ladder frame, and four red connectors.
Why does the presenter describe part of the assembly process as 'unorthodox'?
-The assembly is described as 'unorthodox' because the presenter is positioning the parts in a way that is unconventional but improves the fit for the build.
What is the purpose of the 11 beam in the robot build?
-The 11 beam is used to add stability to the robot by connecting it with black connectors.
Why does the presenter leave two spaces blank when attaching the J beams?
-The two spaces are left blank to allow the J beams to fit directly into the motor, which is necessary for the gear system to function properly.
How does the presenter correct a mistake in the build?
-The presenter realizes that a part was placed on the wrong side and corrects it by moving the part to the correct position, highlighting the importance of checking the orientation of pieces.
What is the main function of the gear system in this robot?
-The gear system is used to either gear up or gear down the robot, which affects its speed and torque.
What happens when the robot is geared up?
-When the robot is geared up, it moves faster but with less torque, making it less powerful but quicker.
How does gearing down affect the robot's performance?
-Gearing down makes the robot move slower but increases its pulling power and torque, making it more powerful for heavy tasks.
What adjustments are necessary when connecting the gears and tires?
-The presenter adjusts the gear and tire alignment to ensure the gears interlock correctly and the tires are properly positioned, using bushings to prevent parts from coming loose.

Outlines

00:00

🤖 Introduction to the Gear Up/Down Robot Project

The video host, Mr. Hino, from 'Lego Robotics,' introduces the project of building a gear up or gear down robot. He briefly explains the goal: to walk viewers through the step-by-step process of constructing the robot, detailing the pieces needed and how they fit together. The process will be slow to ensure clarity for all viewers. The first step involves gathering two large motors, a ladder frame, and four red connectors. The initial assembly is described as somewhat tricky, requiring patience due to small components.

05:01

🛠️ Preparing the J Beams for Gearing Up

Mr. Hino discusses setting up the J beams necessary for gearing up the robot. The beams are positioned strategically to interact with the motors. He encounters minor setbacks, such as placing components on the wrong side, but quickly corrects them. Once the J beams are properly aligned, Mr. Hino expresses surprise at how quickly the assembly is progressing. He then starts attaching the gear system, noting that the larger gears will give the robot its speed. Some light humor is included, mentioning external distractions like lawnmowers.

10:03

⚙️ Installing and Adjusting the Gear Mechanism

Mr. Hino focuses on the more technical aspect of the project: ensuring the gears interlock correctly. He carefully adjusts the gray and white gears so that they mesh perfectly. The proper alignment is crucial for the robot's movement. After some fine-tuning and adding bushings for stability, Mr. Hino shares tips on getting the tires into the right position. He acknowledges that viewers may need to experiment with the gears but emphasizes the importance of ensuring everything stays securely in place.

15:04

🚀 Final Adjustments and Test Drive

The final steps involve attaching the remaining parts, including black connectors and adjusting the cables to avoid tangling. Mr. Hino shares a tip on managing the cables to keep them tidy. After completing the assembly, he backs up the camera to show the finished robot. A test drive demonstrates the robot's speed, with a surprise about how quickly it moves due to the gear up configuration. Mr. Hino jokes about confusing the gear up and gear down terms but clarifies that gear down would provide more torque and pulling power, while gear up prioritizes speed.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Gear up

Gearing up refers to a mechanical process where a smaller gear drives a larger gear, resulting in increased speed but reduced torque. In the video, the creator demonstrates how to gear up a robot to make it move faster. For instance, 'this is definitely geared up where this guy's gonna go super fast' indicates how the robot gains speed after this setup.

💡Gear down

Gearing down is the opposite of gearing up, where a larger gear drives a smaller gear, increasing torque but reducing speed. In the video, although the primary focus is on gearing up, the concept of gearing down is mentioned as an alternative to increase the robot's pulling power, as described in, 'if we wanted to gear down, that would give us lots of torque and it would go a lot slower.'

💡Motor

A motor is an essential component that powers the robot by converting electrical energy into mechanical motion. The video explains how two large motors are used to drive the robot's movement, with the creator showing how to assemble the motors into the frame for efficient functionality.

💡Red connectors

Red connectors are small pieces used to join various parts of the LEGO robot together. The creator explains how they are critical for stability and alignment, stating, 'we're gonna put these red connectors right in here,' indicating their role in holding the robot's frame securely.

💡J-beam

The J-beam is a specific LEGO part that is used in the structure of the robot to hold components in place. The video demonstrates the use of the J-beam to position gears correctly within the robot's framework, with the creator explaining, 'we want this J-beam to be like right there in order for it to go right into this motor.'

💡Bushing

A bushing is a small cylindrical piece used to hold gears or axles in place, preventing them from sliding or coming loose during movement. In the video, the creator uses bushings to secure the robot's gears, saying, 'I'm gonna get this gray bushing put on the other side just so things don't come off.'

💡Gray frame

The gray frame is part of the robot’s body that supports various components like the motors and gears. In the video, the creator emphasizes how to assemble it for stability, mentioning, 'what I'm gonna do is I'm going to have this gray frame,' showing its importance in maintaining the structure of the robot.

💡Stability

Stability refers to the robot's ability to maintain its structure without parts moving unnecessarily or falling off during operation. The creator repeatedly emphasizes ensuring stability by using various connectors and beams, such as 'I'm just going to put them in just to give this guy a little bit more stability.'

💡Caster

The caster is a wheel or ball component that helps the robot move smoothly. The video shows the caster being placed on the bottom of the robot to aid its mobility, with the creator stating, 'I'm gonna need this ball and caster... so now that this can go right there.'

💡Torque

Torque is the force that causes the robot's gears to rotate, influencing how much load the robot can pull. In the context of the video, gearing down increases torque, enabling the robot to pull heavier loads, as explained by the creator when discussing how the robot would 'have a lot more pulling power' with higher torque.

Highlights

Introduction to the video about building a gear-down or gear-up robot.

Step-by-step guidance on assembling a robot using large motors and red connectors.

Explanation on why the assembly process might seem unorthodox for a better fit.

Detailed instructions on connecting parts such as the 11-beam and black connectors for stability.

Guide to inserting the gray frame between the large motors and adding more connectors for structure.

Introduction of the J-beam for gearing up the robot and proper placement within the motor.

Mistake correction with the J-beam assembly, encouraging viewers to adjust as necessary.

Preparation of the gears for assembly and the importance of interlocking them correctly.

Detailed guidance on assembling and adjusting gears, including the gray and white gears.

Instructions on adjusting the tire and gears for proper alignment and fit.

Explanation of the function of gears and how gearing up increases speed while gearing down increases torque.

Overview of the robot assembly with an emphasis on stability and alignment.

Tips for managing and organizing cables to prevent tangling during the assembly process.

Final assembly check, ensuring all pieces, including tires and bushings, are in place.

Testing the geared-up robot, demonstrating how fast it moves and the effect of gearing on speed and torque.