^2. Bot

Setup your computer

If you’ve not installed the Arduino IDE and required libraries, complete Setup your computer from the first challenge. Please double check that your board works and can run the Blink code before continuing.

At DigiMakers events, this has already been done for you.

Build the body

Follow the video below. Ask a helper if you’re stuck or a body part is hard to click in to another part.

Wiring the screen

Plug 4 wires from the WeMos into the back of the screen. The screen should still be mounted on the body. You don’t need to use the exact wire colours.

If using the WeMos D1 WiFi, SCL and SDA are on the opposite side and are labelled SCL/D3 and SDA/D4. If you’re not sure which board you’re using, ask – but only the D1 WiFi has D1 WiFi written on it.

Wiring the left motor

Plug 6 wires from the WeMos into the left motor driver. If you look at the bot with the screen facing you, the driver is on the left side of the body. You don’t need to use the exact wire colours.

If using the WeMos D1 WiFi, you instead need to wire the 5V pin on the WeMos to + on the motor, GND→-, MISO/D6→IN1, SCK/D5→IN2, D2→IN3 and D0→IN4.

Wiring the right motor

Plug 6 wires from the WeMos into the right motor driver. If you look at the bot with the screen facing you, the driver is on the right side of the body. You don’t need to use the exact wire colours.

If using the WeMos D1 WiFi, you instead need to wire the second 5V pin on the WeMos to + on the motor, GND→-, D12/MISO→IN1, TX1/D9→IN2, D8→IN3 and MOSI/D7→IN4.

Plugging things in

Plug the motor cables into the drivers. The white connector should click in to the white socket on the driver. Do this for both motors.

Code

Now you’ve built your bot, it’s time to test the screen and motors.

If you’re using the WeMos D1 WiFi and Visual Studio Code, you’ll first need to open platformio.ini and replace board = d1_mini with board = d1.

Have a look at the code below. This code will:

1. draw a smile face on the robot screen
2. turn the robot motors right for a second
3. stop the motors for a second
4. repeat over and over!

#include "drawFace.h"
#include "espDualStepper.h"

void setup() {
    Draw.start(); // set up screen
    Motor.start(D5, D6, D7, D8, D4, D3, D0, RX); // set up motors
}

void loop() {
    Draw.smile(); // this draws a smile face on the Hedgehog's screen
    delay(1000);
    Motor.right(); // this makes the motors to turn right
    delay(1000);
    Motor.stop(); // this tells the motors to stop
    delay(1000);
} 

1. Copy the code above and paste into the IDE.

   If you’re using the WeMos D1 WiFi, you’ll need to replace Motor.start(D5, D6, D7, D8, D4, D3, D0, RX); with Motor.start(D7, D8, D9, D12, D0, D2, D5, D6);.

2. Press the upload button . You’ll see the code compiling and uploading in the black box at the bottom. When it’s done you should see ‘Done Uploading’ just above the black box.

If the screen isn’t displaying or the motors aren’t moving ask a helper to check your wiring. Wiring the motors incorrectly is also the №1 cause of espcomm_sync_failed errors. If it’s not clear why you’re getting this error, sometimes plugging in another board and uploading to that - or restarting your computer - then retrying with your hedgehog works.

Dance!

Now you’ve built your bot it’s time to make it dance!

Use the following commands inside the loop to make the bot dance. Don’t forget delays!

Motor.forward();
Motor.reverse();
Motor.left();
Motor.right();
Motor.stop();

Draw.smile();
Draw.frown();
Draw.wink();

delay();