User:Klosito/ENES-100/TriBot

Week2 Narrative

 * Removed corrosion from bad battery connection on tri-bot. It now tests fine.
 * Making an effort to map out the wires of the head of the tri-bot
 * Removed Head of partially dismantled tri-bot to work with it separately from the base.
 * Neck piece separated to view underside of head where wires enter. A spring is inside the neck which activates a reset switch when the head is depressed.


 * 2 ribbon cables, and another black/orange wire travel to the tri-bot head and connect to a small circuit board there.
 * Ribbon #1 Brown, Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue
 * Ribbon #2 Brown, red, Orane, Yellow, Green, Blue
 * These are marked on the control board with things light R eye, L eye, R ear, etc. Want to test to see if accurately labeled.
 * Trying to power up the head using a power supply in order to test the different wires.
 * The ribbons end in pin connectors we don't want to remove. The holes for pins are very tiny and it's difficult to find a wire small enough to connect inside. A small resistor fits in the ribbon connector, but not the black/orange cable that we believe is power.
 * Found copper wiring tiny enough to make a connection, but the head did not power up at about 6v. The connection was tested but found not to be conducting. Copper wire turned out to be coated.
 * Found new scrap of tiny insulated wire. Stripped the ends of a few sections use in pin connectors.
 * Hooked up to power supply at about 6 volts and the head appeared to receive power.
 * The head lamp on the top was released open, and the ears extended out, but nothing afterwards.
 * Tried applying power to each of the wires of the ribbon cable, with no effect.
 * Tried testing orange/black wires coming off the circuit board with a volt meter, and picked up nothing.
 * Could feel the bottom of the head where wires enter becoming quite warm, and could smell hot plastic.
 * Began trying to form single narrative out of previous documentation.
 * Removed the graffiti words inserted into previous documentation.

Week3 Narrative

 * Started examining the other tribots trying to get one working powered up.
 * Tried one whose wires looked mainly connected.
 * Had batteries but failed to start up
 * Removed batteries and found corrosion blocking connections on 3 different battery connections
 * Worked on removing corrosion from battery contacts.
 * Tested the contacts after battery corrosion scraped away to show current passing through.
 * Tried to start up after corrosion removed but no power showing.
 * Selected alternate tribot. Opened battery compartment to show similar battery corrosion, but only on one contact.
 * Removed corrosion from affected contact, tested to be sure connection could be made.
 * Put batteries back in, and tried powering on, unsuccessfully.
 * Begin to suspect all the batteries are bad. The corrosion could be a clue.
 * Look for battery tester, but can't find where it was moved to in brief search.
 * Choose to just bring in fresh batteries on return.

Week4 Narrative

 * Bots were numbered
 * Examined the battery compartments of all 5 tribots.
 * I cleaned out corrosion in another 2 bots.
 * Stored with batteries removed.
 * I tested each bot to see if they powered up.
 * Bot #1 Fails to power up
 * Bot #2 Powers up now, Runs through programming reliably
 * Bot #3 Powers up, Sometimes. Runs through program when it powers up. Jiggling it can help. Loose wire? (Bot that would orginally power up.)
 * Bot #4 Body assembled in reversed position, needs power switch. Does not power up. Makerbot fabricated piece may work for switch?
 * Bot #5 Arduino not assembled to bot at this time.
 * Watched 2 bots successfully run through their previous programming.
 * Video of bot #2 running through it's program after corrosion cleaned: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ipuxRrRHkY
 * 3 small circles driven by each of the 3 wheels in a clockwise direction
 * Small circle counterclockwise, then another clockwise, by all three wheels in unison
 * Large half circle counterclockwise
 * Moving in a line - Forward, Backward
 * Left, Right
 * Screws are cheap and are being over tightened. This is leading to stripping of screws, particularly re: battery compartments.
 * Users need to be mindful not to over tighten screws on the bots. They aren't going anywhere.
 * Ideally, cheap screws get swapped out for better quality. To accommodate the over-tighteners.