Robot Arm Sequence¶
The robot arm sequence connects Python code to physical hardware. The full course uses the arm to play Tic-Tac-Toe, but teachers can also use these modules as a standalone robotics lab.
Modules¶
| Module | Student task | Main concept |
|---|---|---|
| 3D printing and building | Assemble the arm from printed and mechanical parts | Mechanical structure |
| Wiring | Connect motors and controller safely | Power and communication |
| Dynamixel setup | Assign motor IDs and confirm communication | Actuator configuration |
| Position control | Move individual joints and record poses | Calibration |
| Vision | Identify the camera and read board state | Sensing |
| Machine learning object sorting | Train an image classifier and map predictions to actions | Perception and safety-gated action |
| Game integration | Connect game logic, camera state, and robot motion | Closed-loop robotics |
Hardware Files¶
The repository includes printable and design files:
- Arm parts: https://github.com/ripl/hs-robotic-manipulation-course/tree/main/robotics/hardware/arm
- Leader arm parts: https://github.com/ripl/hs-robotic-manipulation-course/tree/main/robotics/hardware/leader_arm
- Camera mount: https://github.com/ripl/hs-robotic-manipulation-course/tree/main/robotics/hardware/camera
- Game board and pieces: https://github.com/ripl/hs-robotic-manipulation-course/tree/main/robotics/hardware/game
Safety¶
Students should begin with small motions and keep clear of the arm while it is powered. If the arm moves unexpectedly, disconnect power before debugging code.
Source Code¶
- Robot interface: https://github.com/ripl/hs-robotic-manipulation-course/tree/main/robotics/robot
- Position control: https://github.com/ripl/hs-robotic-manipulation-course/blob/main/robotics/position_control.py
- Position recording: https://github.com/ripl/hs-robotic-manipulation-course/blob/main/robotics/record_positions.py
- Game integration: https://github.com/ripl/hs-robotic-manipulation-course/tree/main/robotics/game