Beginnings:

After running a makerspace for over 5 years, I came to one conclusion, you never have enough space.  Event after event we would set up and quickly run out of table space.  Almost every project we put together involved a project planning sheet that I had come up with years ago in order to help our makers plan out their projects.  The planning sheet is printed on a standard 8.5″ by 11″ piece of paper.  I was sitting there one day after an event looking at the robot we had just assembled and its associated project sheet thinking to myself, “Wouldn’t it be great if we could fit the whole project on the sheet it was designed on.”.

Why a Robot:

We’ve used robots a great deal at the makerspace for STEM classes, because the field of robotics touches on a wide range of disciplines.  With one robot you can cover electronics, mechanical design, and creative coding.

Why a Mustard Seed:

Great things have small beginnings.  The challenge for me here was simple.  Create a robot that is small and functional, but still big enough to handle reasonably and stay within the budget.  From this small seed of a robot kit, a learning system will grow that will allow us to maximize our resources in terms of space and expense.

The Development Process:

• Determining the size – I experimented with several shapes and sizes of robot.  I used the same approximate weight while varying the size and shape.  Feedback from a pool of makers over a wide age group led me to a 2″ cube as the final form.
• Minimum assembly effort emphasized in order to shorten “time to coding”.  You can set it up quickly and get to the fun of learning in a short time frame.
• Make it adaptable so it can continue to be a useful tool for learning for more than just a few sessions.
• Use as many off-the-shelf parts as possible in order to shorten development time and costs.  I created a mounting plate to secure the inexpensive sensor modules that have become so popular with Arduino enthusiasts online.
• Make the design super simple and durable.
• The cost per unit should be low enough to put this learning robot with the reach of as many hands as possible.

Project Scope:

The first phase of the project will take us from prototype to production model.  The initial production model will feature IR sensor capabilities and come pre-loaded with a collision avoidance example script to get you started.  Depending on funding level I will go on to develop other add-on sensors and locomotive stages.

Mustard Seed Robot System Overview:

The robot consists of different “stages” comprised of a mounting plate and modules attached via 4-40 screws and stand-offs or 90 degree brackets.

How Will the Funds be Used:

The funds will be used to cover development costs such as ordering parts for the prototype as well as any associated tooling required for assembly and manufacturing.  The funding also allows for the ordering of bulk components in order to lower manufacturing costs of the production model.  Additional funding will go into developing add-on kits in order to add functionality and further the teaching potential of this robot.

What About the Community:

I’m in the process of setting up a forum which will include a repository for mechanical files, example Arduino sketches, and project sheets.  The project sheets will include tutorials and ideas for incorporating the robot into STEM curriculum.  The forum will be a place where the Mustard Seed Robot community can share ideas and grow this little project into a productive learning tool.

Features:

• Arduino Nano microcontroller (use any Arduino compatible IDE to program)
• 170 point breadboard
• Rechargeable via included USB programming cable
• COmes pre-assembled and pre-loaded with example software to get you going right away

Specifications:

• Measures just 2″ x 2″ x 2″

Q & A:

Q – Why is there so little space left on the breadboard after I plug in the microcontroller?

A- The system is made up of modules so you will at most only need 1 to 2 connections to each microcontroller pin.  In addition to the connections to each microcontroller pin there is enough space for a 5v and GND bus to provide power for the modules.

Q – Can I add more stages to the robot for added functionality?

A – Yes,  The acrylic mounting plates are interchangeable and you can add as many as you want.  Keep in mind that this will raise your robot’s center of gravity and going beyond 2 to 3 extra stages may cause instability.

Q – Are you planning on having more types of modules available to add different types of sensors, or maybe some actuators?

A – Yes, the plan is to put together add-on kits that will take advantage of the open positions on the mounting plate to add things like tactile sensors and line following arrays.

Risks and challenges

Most of the development for this project has already been accomplished. That leaves order fulfillment for any contributors selecting a physical reward. I’ve worked to minimize delays in fulfillment by making sure that I have local sources for all the parts used in this robot and also checking to make sure that the required quantity of parts will also be available in a timely fashion. These combined factors mean that the risks and challenges to making this project successful are minimal.