DIY Robotics: How to Build an RC Robot
By 2030 8.5% of the workforce will be run by robots, but of course, you may want to build one for personal reasons.
Are you considering building your very own robot? If so, you may be wondering how to build an RC robot the right way. There’s no need to worry because we’re going to provide you with all of the answers that you’ve been looking for right here in our guide.
Below you’ll find step by step instructions that are going to help you build the best robot that you can. Each step will provide detailed instructions to help you get the robot that you’ve been imagining.
Without further ado, let’s go ahead and get into this robot building manual.
Develop a Plan
Before you do any kind of project, the first thing that you need to do is create a plan. Your plan will help you stay on track and ensure that no part of the robot is forgotten.
Since robots can be complex to build, you’ll be thankful that you’ve got your plans with you if something has slipped your mind. When coming up with the design of your robot, you want to keep in mind that this is the first one that you’re building.
With that being said, select a design that helps you practice your building skills without being overly complex. Depending on what works best for you, the next step will be to either use computer software to generate a sketched version of your robot design.
Or you could do it the old fashioned way and grab a pencil, paper, and a ruler and sketch your design out that way. Before you’ve ordered any supplies, you’ll want to have your design finished so that you know exactly what you need to order.
Research the Parts You Need
Before placing your final order for parts, you’ll want to double-check that what you’re about to order will work with the design that you have in mind. Before placing an order when looking for the parts that you need, try to get all of the parts from the same site.
That way, you’ll know when your parts arrive instead of having to wait for multiple companies to ship what you need, which can delay your project. There are some specific parts that you need to purchase to make your DIY robot work properly.
The first thing you’ll think about is choosing mechanical cables. These cables will have your robot move with more fluidity than if you used any other types of cables. The next thing you’ll want to look into is the battery that will provide the power to your entire robot.
Choose your battery wisely because you don’t want your robot dying because it’s battery life isn’t as powerful as you thought it would be. Next, select the material that you want to use for your DIY robotics.
The average RC robot is made out of aluminum or plastic material. The next product you’ll want to purchase is the wheels; that is if you intend on using wheels.
Wheels come in a variety of shapes and sizes, depending on your robot’s needs. There are a few other items that you may want to consider purchasing, but again it all depends on what your initial design plan was before you began searching for the materials that you would need to build your robot.
Place the Order
Now that you’ve gotten a chance to research and locate all of the parts that you’re going to need, it’s time to place the order. We recommend price checking parts between websites before you place your final order so that you can get the best deal possible.
And there are times when ordering all of your parts from one place means that you can get a discount whether that’s free shipping or a 10% off code.
As stated before, you’ll want to try to order all of your parts from one place to ensure that you have an exact idea of when all the parts will be delivered to you – instead of purchasing from various sites and having everything delivered at different times.
Cut the Base
After all of your materials have arrived, it’s time to start assembling your robot. The first thing you’re going to want to do is carefully measure your robot’s base and cut it out.
Having a solid base will be the first step you need to accomplish before constructing the rest of the robot.
Start Building
Now that you’ve got the base cut out, it’s time to start assembling your robot. First, you’ll want to attach the motor that you purchased and be careful to leave enough room to place your motors onto the base.
Once you’ve secured the motors, it’s now time to take your wheels, if you’re using them and attach them. As you continue assembling each piece one by one, take time to glance back at your design leaving no part of your plan out.
By the time that you’re done assembling your robot, it should resemble your design. Now, all that’s left for you to do is power the robot up and watch it work.
When you turn it on, you’ll be able to see if there are any areas that you need to go back and tweak to ensure that it’s working correctly. And if you’re using a battery pack, you should’ve had the pack charging while you were assembling the robot.
How to Build an RC Robot Correctly
When it comes to how to build an RC robot, you must follow the guide above for the best results. Not completing a design idea could leave you with a mess of parts, not knowing where to begin.
If you found this guide to be helpful, we encourage you to continue scrolling through our blog section. We publish articles frequently that cover a variety of topics and provide information to readers like you.