LOAD3R

Two projects in one month! Normally I don't work this fast XD Anyway, this is a remote-controlled loader, aptly named LOAD3R. It does the expected functions: drive, steer, bucket and arm movements. The difference is that this little machine is that it accomplishes those four functions using only the two EV3 servomotors, with the M-motor switching between two modes: Drive and Load. This ability is inspired by the Power Functions Motorized Excavator set from a few years back. 

In the above picture, the two yellow shafts are movable along a length of 3M to switch between Drive and Load, driven by the red driving shafts at the bottom. Four shaft outputs lead to the drive and steering (blues), and arm and bucket control (greens). 

Drive Mode:

Load Mode:

Shown above are the two modes of operation, where the driving shafts (bright red and green) drive the corresponding functions (dark red and green) depending on the position of the switching gears (yellow).

This time round I didn't have access to Technic transmission components to help reduce the size and complexity of LOAD3R. Hopefully I'll be able to source the pieces for the next time I need to reuse the mode-switch function.

ORANG3

First project of the year is this little guy. Built to make use of some orange threads gifted by my dearly beloved, hence the name ORANG3.

While I was at it, I tested out an idea for simple EV3-to-NXT communication, as a workaround around the fact that the NXT cannot be wirelessly daisy-chained to the EV3. The EV3 controls movement and signals to the NXT, which in turn controls the arms and shooting launcher. A 2x2 checkered square step-rotated at 180 degrees connects to the NXT colour sensor, registering the colour change and performing an action. 

 

With only one communication method, ORANG3 can't do much at once, but actions can be programmed sequentially, each triggered by the colour change. In this incarnation, ORANG3 is programmed to raise its shooting arm, fire the launcher, lower the arm, and raise/lower its other arm, in that order. Movement is IR remote-controlled, though it would be easy to run it autonomously. The non-shooting arm aso has an EV3 colour sensor that's only decorative, but can definitely be programmed to enable more functions. 

As is, ORANG3 is more of a proof of concept about physical EV3-NXT communication. Maybe in another project I'll figure out how to increase the number of signals the EV3 can send to the NXT.