Let's Make Robots!

"Puff " - The Magic Fire (Breathing-Fighting) Dragon.

Gareth's picture
Cliff Detection, Tracks Flames, Puts Out Fires, Dragons Breath Effect, Fright or Flight mode, Angry mode
Weight: 
400 grams

"Puff " - The Magic Fire (Breathing-Fighting) Dragon.

UPDATE:- New Skin fitted - Plus RED LED Eyes, New Photos & Fire Video 2 added.

Puff is able to Put out Fires - He Scans his Head to find the Flames - he orientates towards the Flame - and Blows it out.

If he fails to blow out the Fire within 2 sweeps then the "PANIC" mode switches in and he backs away to save himself from frying his "Chips".

Puff is able to Breath Out Fire, however this happens only when you annoy him (Angry Mode).

Puff is an Arduino based tracked autonomus Robotic Vehicle with "Cliff" and "Obstacle" detection.


The Project is still in early Development so i made a "ToDo" list - feel welcome to suggest ToDos.

ToDo :-

(1) Tailor the rest of his body and tail. New Skin finished for rest of body, New Photos added.

(2) Mount the Batteries. Battery fitted nicely inside the top half of Puff Body

(3) Film the "Show Video" - Yes there will be smoke (i only have segments at momment)


( "Puff"  now has Red LED eyes to warn when he is about to fire the Flamming Breath - i installed this as a saftey feature after having a little miss-hap whilst loading the pyro tube "*+"ç*%*% it was live and fired blowing the glass tube out of its mounting  ekkk big bang and big cloud of smoke  :-)


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Puffnew.jpgPuffnew__11_.jpg

 Basic Setup

Custom Dragon Cut and Paste Skin.

Arduino Processor Plus Motor Shield.

2 Motors 224:1 (Track drive)

1 Servo (Head scanning)

1 Motor with Propellor fan

2 Light sensitive Probes

1 Pyro-Tube (Puffs Fire Breath)

 

Puffnew__10_.jpgPuffnew__13_.jpg

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

Puffnew__12_.jpg





Here you can see one of the black-red tipped sensors resting on Puffs whisker.

These are 3cm long tubes with a LDR placed at the bottom of the tube.

The tubes are heat shrink tubes, so this enabled me to shrink the LDRs tight to the tube.

You need to completly mask any light from hitting the back of the LDRs or you will get serious measurment errors (the back of the LDRs are also Light sensitive).

 The Fan is for "Blowing out Fire" and just clips the underside of his chin - in the Video you can hear it shaving his chin hair.

 

The Glass Tube from his mouth is part of the Pyro System as he "Breaths out Fire".

 

 

 

 

 

Puff4bottomzoomview.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Underside:-

 Set up of the 2 Gear motors

Ratio 224:1.

 

Here you also can see some neat, funtional  PolyMorph axle extensions.

 

"PolyMorph - Rules"

Puffnew__8_.jpg

Puffnew__2_.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 Safety Feature No.1

 Newly Installed are the Bright Red "Angry Mode" LEDs.

 

These are a pre-warning that "Puff " is about to Fire his Pyro-Tube and send out a Flame that will do more than Burn your Toast.

 

At the moment he gets angry when you expose one of his sensors to bright light.

 

When the Red LEDs are off it also means that the Pyro-tube can be reloaded.

 

 

Safety Feature No.2

At the top of the picture is a battery used to fire the Pyro-Tube.

In line with the supply is a Reed-Switch - when a magnet is placed next to it - it switches on and Arms the Pyro-Tube ready for action (my magnet is glued to the underside of the Altoid Mint).

So i know when the Mint is in my pocket the system is safe.

To the left of the Picture you can see a relay that then fires the Pyro-Tube.

The LM340TS 7805 voltage regulator used for powering the motors (does not need heat sink as it runs very cool).

   Puff6headservoandpufffan.jpg

Puff_Dragons_Breath.jpg

 

 

 

 

Head removed to show Scanning  Servo arrangement

Puff can turn his head 60-120 degree.

Any More and his head falls off.

 

 


 

 

 


Here you can see the positioning of the Sharp IR Sensor.

It does Two things 

(1) Cliff Detection - its angled downwards to focus on the floor 100mm away.

So when it sees a "Cliff" or "Drop off" the sharp gives a max. reading.

 

(2) Obstacle detection - amazingly by chance this arrangement above also works in the forward direction to detect objects - Phew .

 

 Puffs Dragon Breath Tests.

The Effect comes from a simple well known Magicians trick - totaly safe and easily controlled.

Puffs Outlook looks "Bright" so he has to Wear "Shades"

Puff8CutandPaste.jpg

 

 

 

For those of you interested in how the Head/Body/Tail is made.

 Cutout can be obtained from Canon.

Its basically a Dragon printed onto Thick Photographic paper.

Then the Long_Long_Long Paperwork - cut-paste-cut-paste etcect.

The inside is therefore hollow so you can hide all the wires and motors etc......

 

 

 

 

 

 

puff10fire.jpg

puff11fire.jpg

puff12fire.jpgpuff13fire.jpgpuff14fire.jpgpuff15fire.jpgpuff16fire.jpg

puff17fire.jpg

 

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TotoroYamada's picture
Awesome was a long time ago, now it's just legendary...
Gareth's picture

I have been overwhelmed by the "Press" regarding "Puff " and some super write-ups have been made by various websites around the globe.

Though i am suprised he hasnt burnt his beard yet - though he did blow out the pyrotube on one occasion, whilst i was holding it ekk. I installed 2 safety mechanisms quickly after that .

jklug80's picture
Well you hit both of the things that make a robot popular, cool looking so non techies appreciate it and cool function so the techies appreciate it. When you do both it will get lots of press.
OddBot's picture

And up in a wall of flames goes his creator :D

You can never have too many safety devices. 

rik's picture
This is now officially beyond awesome.
Gareth's picture

 My goodness its only just strike-ing me that "Puff " is not only flashpaper/metal&polymorph he has a very warm heart that has touched many people out there..........(emotional)....wow

"Puff " has been a super platform for me both in the material build but also in my work to bring  some form of "Human/Animal" response programming - maybe this is why people can identify with him....

CaptainTuna's picture
From the video it looks amazing! Very innovative!

Nice one, My 12 month project is going to start after I recieve everything I need.

I wonder How will I ninja that dragon?

Gareth's picture

Puff is developing his Fire Breathing skills at the moment - so any ninja-ring will help with his training.

I just posted his latest "Puff Breath Fire 2" video - i had to install some safety features so he doesnt catch me out though.

- if his eyes light up then i know to back off (pyro-tube fires after 2 seconds of his eyes lighting up)

 

I'll get my 3 wheel holonmic project and upgrade it into a holonomic triped.

Useful for small to medium ledges.

 Now how do I stop my bot from burning?

Hmm...

I know I'll get a water bomb launcher.

 You burn the rubber, it explodes and ruins your creamed puff

robologist's picture

Duuude! 

 

Cool new fire video! Fire! fire! FIre! Fire! heh-heh heh-heh

Totally agree... :P
fritsl's picture
Mean stuff, Gareth :D
BiohazardRoboIndustries's picture

I've looked for an English to Italian translate of Glo-Plug, but I haven't found it. Can someone explain me what is it?

I'm still thinking that this bot is great, of course!!!

OddBot's picture

A glow plug is used in model motors instead of a splarkplug. It is a heating element that gets hot when you connect it to a battery.

glowplug-generic.jpg

Gareth's picture

If i used a glo-plug this size i recon it would not only vapourise the flash paper but also poor "Puff " as well  LöL :-)

I used them on model "Control-line" aeroplane engines - they vapourise the fuel and are used in kickstarting the engine.

OddBot's picture

I grew up with control line planes because my dad use to make them. One Christmas my dad and his brother bought control line balsawood planes for every kid. We went out and flew for 2 or 3 hours until all the planes had crashed. Went home and glued them together again. Next day we went out and crashed them again :D

After 2 weeks of crashes, the planes were as much glue as balsa wood. 

Gareth's picture

Where we where flying the Control lines planes - the Custom for badly crashed planes was to throw a lighted match to them and whoommpppffffff the nice mixture of Methanol_oil fuel-balsa-and-Doped tissue paper gave it a good trip to its next lifetime LöL.

...... and a bright Flash..........Puff would have been in his Fire-Element............

BiohazardRoboIndustries's picture

Thx!

Edgee's picture
That thing is awesome, the flash looks amazing.
Gareth's picture

Thanks again for the Weekend Project Link - very early on in Puffs development

The design for "Puffs" flame tube is very similar - just that i used a glass tube.

I have a bigger Glass tube 6mm but i am afraid the 3mm he has now is more than enough . LöL

Edgee's picture
Its a great project man, its captured the attention of a load of people. 
Gareth's picture

Went to local "Glass Blower" in the town and he made me a custom tube that fits inside "Puff ".

The first  Test was spectacular (still have spots before my eyes:-).
I primed him with a sixth of the original "charge" and results look very nice i must say.

..... thanks again for the "impulse"

 Puff_Dragons_Breath.jpg

TotoroYamada's picture

You just won the award of the most dangerous robot on this website!

That's just great :D

Gareth's picture

Puff is making his way around the Worlds Press.

"Chinese Whispers" from various sources :-


 So you are a 2-pack a day smoker and it's your birthday. Congrats, you lived another year. Unfortunately you lack the lung capacity to blow out your candles. Puff the arduino dragon can help.


Puff had an incident with kids and some Chinese firecrackers a few years back and now he suffers from post-traumatic stress.

Also in the works is some kind of pyro system, so that Puff will be able to start fires as well as put them out.

The sticker job does a great job in making the robot look like something out of a toy box.

Dragons have an altered task - yes the world’s transformed and so have the mythological characters, and this rail-mounted dragon’s a case.

Puff the robotic firefighter is made to blow out fire, unlike those fabled dragons from China though.


 the custom made robot with a dragon like make sure deserves a mention in the upcoming Dragon Festival.


 Puff will be able to start fires as well as put them out. Sounds like fun, but if I were Puff, I’d be a little bit nervous, what with a body made of paper and all.


Gareth's picture

I am so excited - this morning the "The Green and White Flash paper" has arrived.

I did not expect the things to come so quickly.

Now all i have to do is make a tube with a glow plug in one end fired by the Arduino......

 

So the Pyro-Stage "Enters"......................

Edgee's picture
interesting spin on my cat laser, one gets a treat the other gets torched :D 
Edgee's picture
This is gonna be awesome :p 
Gareth's picture

Its just like a second childhood - this project has been so much fun.

I am well impressed with the Green Flash paper -

- did some tests already and i still have the Green Spots before my Eyes - this stuff is pretty bright.......LöL

- If you see a Big Green Flash in the Sky tonight then rest assured i will be doing some more Fireproof "PaperWork" in the morning.

Jimmy_K's picture
Nice project beautifully executed! Congratulations.
mintvelt's picture
This is one beautiful piece of artwork. Nice job on the cliff detection too.
droidbuilder's picture

Congratulations! Puff IS over the moon now!

So far I've noticed it in a few notable blogs myself...

  http://www.botjunkie.com/2009/04/13/puff-the-magic-firefighting-dragon/

  http://www.adafruit.com/blog/2009/04/12/puff-the-magic-motorshield-dragon/

and of course the one on hacked gadgets already mentioned.

Way to go!!

MaltiK's picture
rik's picture
Three entries in five clicks this morning!
Gareth's picture
"Puff " is over the Moon - He is worried that he may need some "Fire Proof" skin now ......LöL
Edgee's picture

for linking me to the cannon website dude, my daughter has 2 weeks off for easter, i have taken time off to look after her and this has given us the perfect activity to do together. She has 4 already printed out and one thats half way done.

 

Cheers fella! 

Gareth's picture

Yes i too was "gobsmacked" by the quality of the models - (my dragon is printed 1/2 size)

(there are some Kinetic designs there too which could be motorized :-)

thank the gods that i refill my printer by bulk - i am even considering sticking a tube direct from the refill bottle - it would be worth it to escape the messy job of topping the ink cartridge.........

Enjoy your Cut and Paste together.........

Myc Holmes's picture

For more "kinetic" paper models, check out the Flying Pig website 

http://www.flying-pig.co.uk/

There are a few free downloadable ones there.

Myc 

Myc Holmes's picture

Nicely done!

I think greeen LEDs for eyes would look cool. 

For anyone interested, you can get a Silhouette digital cutter (think of a light duty CNC for paper) on ebay for $99US. You can then put away the xacto knife.

Myc 

Gareth's picture

Ah Cool -Then there is a light at the end of the tunnel -

- i thought i was tied to my cut and paste job - wow CNC paper cutting and reasonably priced if you consider the time saved when you mass produce - i had no idea these things where on the market.

Thanks for the Tip.....

 Green eyes - yes that would work (i am waiting for some Green "Flash Paper" and "Green smoke bombs to arrive - so the green theme is in i think) - it may be easy to tie it into the LDR flame circuitry - so during scan mode the left or right eye would flash.

Gareth's picture

"Panic" Mode and "Cliff" Mode  Video Posted

Showing how "Puff " deals with a fire he cant put out.

Showing also what happens when he tries to head off a cliff.

Robot Overlord's picture
This is an amazing robot! It's so well designed and built! Great job man!
Gareth's picture

Thanks for the Cross links - much appreciated ;-)

Final programming development is not yet finished as yet (what with the pyro work and all) - as i am not sure what capabilities to include.

Gareth's picture

From the Replies above i have decided to give "Puff " an extra party trick .........

He will be able to Breath Fire.

(thanks for the tip TotoroYamada)

sciguy77's picture
Brilliantly done! Beautiful and cool. :)
BiohazardRoboIndustries's picture

It's an interesting idea! Very nice bot!

 

RobotFreak's picture

Nice work.

Before I saw your robot, I've been thinking "Puff, the magic dragon" have to do something with consuming illegal substances. Now I know, I was wrong. ;)

OddBot's picture

That's a great Bot. I like the dual action of the IR sensor and your tracking is nice and smooth.

I'd tell you how much I like the head and particularly the glasses but everyone else beat me to it :-)

Gareth's picture

The IR "Double act" was by accident - i may have to "Tune" it down a bit to allow closer detection(maybe an adjust screw), its still a mystery to me how it works (i had calculated that the IR beam would bounce off in the wrong direction - but thinking about it at <100mm its a direct detect.....)

"Puff" is a little sensitive to light, so i equiped him with some "Oakley" Polymorph sunglasses.

I have to thank you for your introductory Polymorph walkthrough - i was hooked after watching - its just Magic stuff.