Hello, Everyone!
I will start off with the short version first and then get into the detail. I am wanting to custom build a remote controlled walking AT-AT from Star Wars. I am brand new to the world of microcontrollers but I am a mechanical engineer and have that type of bachelors training and experience with engineering in the appliance industry. So all that to say I understand enough to be dangerous haha. I also am working on this as a hobby and anticipate this will be an ongoing one for at LEAST a year or two. What I could really use guidance on is which hardware I should look into before making any purchases.
Here is a high-level look at what I think is my plan and some of the criteria I am shooting for:
Battery Powered
Individual motors powering each leg
Moveable head
Stability control through PID control via feedback from multidirectional accelerometer/gyroscope (My initial thought is to have the legs react to certain feedback from the sensor and attempt to keep itself stable this way, the AT-AT design itself is going to be inherently unstable in the first place so I don’t envision this to be something that will resist much more than basic tipping it may cause to itself)
Custom designed, wireless remote control
Here are the starting thoughts/questions I have had so far on how to achieve these goals:
In the bot itself I envision I will end up needing a relatively powerful main controller and then possibly slaves from there? In the very least the boards for the motors.
Should I consider any additional/separate hardware (Is it even a thing?) that would be better able to handle the timing of the legs while they are in motion?
Remote control connects via bluetooth? Good or bad idea? Alternatives?
What are some obvious things I should think of that you don’t already see listed here?
Planning on having the main code built in Python and communicate to Arduino compatible hardware
Any good resources and/or video series out there that I should be aware of? I have been heavy into several of Paul McWhorter’s playlists.
Thank you for your input! I will post updates as I slooooooowly work my way through this thing if anyone is interested.
These are awesome, thank you for the links!