This site is a mixture of progress reports and robotics when building R2-D2 and the Lost in Space robot. I have no real plans at the moment to break this website down into two separate sections because besides sharing different parts and electronics, the point of this web site is the experience you gain while building one will help you build the other..
The FOURTH edition of Flint Mitchell's "You Can Build the Lost in Space Robot" Book is out and you can order copies here. Click on the picture.
WOWWEE's new RC Dragonfly is my new favorite toy. No other robot exists that flaps it's wings. It is the Christmas toy that you want today!
What else do they share? Music. John Williams composed the music for both of these Sci-Fi stories..
"How to make a robot." Probably the best inexpensive learning tool is the Lego system.
The Robot Builders Sourcebook (above) is a fun read and lists
many great sites including some Lost In Space Robot Builders and R2 Builder
sites.. (But not this
site.) Click on any book to order it through Amazon. Below: Love the 15" voice activated interactive R2D2.
My neon...took a pattern to a local neon sign maker.
Above TOM A. shows off his robot with the neon I sell. His camera caught
the neon in a yellow moment but reports that it is "a nice bright orange."
R2 at the MOS
Here is my aluminum tread section with the aluminum side panel clamped in place. I have to drill the holes and thread them next. (Everything I know about tap and die I learned off the web)
A good tap and die kit will allow you to fasten just about anything together.
Actor Jonathan Harris (Dr Smith)
Born in Manhattan, New York
November 6, 1914 -Nov 3, 2002
3/30/2002 Pepsi-R2 and the nefarious Smith messing around. Get the most out of your gadgets.
BELOW 4/3/2002
Ok. An aluminum waist plate I may change this and use a plate without a hole in it.
Then four more aluminum plates for the endoskeleton, and a smaller steel plate
for the radar. There is also the machined lazy susan. Tonight I was practicing
threading holes and countersinking holes before I start drilling on the tread
section.
4/7/2002 Instead of working I started rewiring this salvaged
Harris Environmental Chamber panel. I'm removing the 120 volt lights and adding
blinking LEDS. Also I'm trying to make a nice display of the date and time.
Click on the photo and see a close up.
4/17/2002 Something had to give...Above left Dana used large hex bolt's for axles in her design for the tread section. The exposed heads might have worked with the hollow vacu-formed panels but the aluminum panels are SOLID. So on a lathe the bolts went, now they are custom flat head bolts that I can counter sink into place. Mike Joyce did the same thing but for the inner bolts and just so the hex heads weren't visible. For the record....my neighbor is a machinist and he did the work for me.
Above right, my work on the brain cup. I have learned a lot on this project...first don't drill a single hole without matching up the brain onto the cup. I'm still trying to bring it all together. I know that I'll regret this later...but there are no sockets for the bulbs in the finger lights. Space, socket and solder competed and I was getting too many shorts and little success. I simply soldered the positive to the bulb, insulated the wire with electrical tape and wrapped the negative in with the bunch. This made a tight package but will be hell to replace bulbs.
"If you will not be turned … then …you will be … destroyed."
7/24/2002 I better get on the ball... Ok a picture of Smith
"hands" upgraded with an endoskeleton. : ) and another picture on
the endoskeleton of the robot's arms.
I have to clean it up by removing lots of pieces I won't need. I stole the idea from Gwen's G-bot project. I bought this item...of course off e-bay.
Click here to download blueprints and plans for DR Who's K9. If you have better plans please share them with me.
Sept 22, Working on my tread section, and installing my rubber leg supports.
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The Robot DNA series of books are excellent, check them out. Building Drive Trains and these other two
Dialight Chest lights. I have 2 sets of lenses for sale these are special
order items and take months to get. Email Sales.
What bulbs to use with the dialights? Tom A is using two standard auto bulbs 1004/bps2.
Other bulbs you can use GE-46 used in pinball machines ( Suggestion from Darrell)
Bi-pin bayonet lamps LED lights I found on this site...<-untested: if you try these send me a picture please.
Mike Lynch writes with another suggestion.
I
used automotive lights, dome courtesy, #90. Then while at the store I got 2 CARQUEST FSH552 SIGNAL FLASHERS. They work great and the sounds are similar to
the background sound of the robot! This was just a quickie idea. I colored
them with green and red markers. I will try to send a video of how they blink.
Mike Lynch b9-0181Other chest lights info
here
03-Oct-2002 Waist now turns a picture can't show this but...Note:
I got Smith some vintage safety
glasses...They sort of remind me of the show Junk Yard Wars.
The plates will move up and down providing an area for mounting the laptop, arm motors...speakers etc etc.
These motors are going to drive the treadsection, after all it's not a high speed race and quiet, strong and affordable motors are the goal. These are also excellent for turning the waist, a slumping device, a bubble lifter, etc etc
The shaft is 10mm and you really do need a 10mm drill bit though...I picked up one from McMaster Part Number 30565A327 1-4 Each $4.90
How the Arms will go up and down so far all my tests were pleasing. Plans here.
The robotic arms I have turn and I have very little room to make the motor fit. So in the above diagram the motor was mounted counter intuitively.
I have the new linear devices to sell that should also work. These don't turn so the motors can be mounted more conventionally. This method means the motor doesn't have to add its own weight to the lift and won't have to work as hard.
Today two hubs and wheels came in from teamdelta.com. I'm going to use the rubber wheels to drive the tread belts...well hopefully.
I made the wrist inserts out of acrylic and used acrylic weld to glue them together. The cost 1.00 but alot of time was spent sanding and filing.
Above: Dr Smith is always so serious! Maybe something was missing on the ship.
ASIMO was in New England July 27, 2003...Click on pictures to see videos. This is Honda's 5th generation of walking robots or "ASIMO V". They have a great site here.
Confused about which part is which on your B9...Here is a chart.
Current B9 part runs and status of pending orders here.
Want to make a 3d paper model or scale up in cardboard?
A great article on speed controllers here.
8/2/2004 Useful items at retail sources here.
Like a cool bubble lifter boot 
8/2/2004 Useful templates to build the B9 from the waist down are here at Mark Thompson's web site.
8/25/2004 Ordered a Fog Machine for the B9 treadsection.
(Since then I think canned smoke is better idea. Look at tutorials)
9/3/2004 R2 aluminum frame arrived. : ) !
3/10 Yesterday a friend finished lightening my aluminum donut. It started off weighing 30 pounds. Now it's about 11 lbs. It weighs about as much as the aluminum waist plate.
This is a top view. This is the bottom side.
5/27/2005 Pictures of robot's arm, extended and retracted. Elbow bends fine...working on turning issue.
5/28/2005 Ready to test this motor.
6/14/2005 Dressed robot shows of his robotic arms and claws.
Arm out and about 26" to end of claw. 
Arm out and raised at elbow. 
Arm out, raised at elbow and turned in 
Arm In -
Great videos of these arms on this page.
6/23/2005 I have Iron Giant figures for sale 4.25" tall PVC $8.99 includes shipping Worldwide.
7/6/2005 I picked up two salvaged slip rings. Clearly useful for R2 but the wires might be too thin for B9. It also has an encoder, a position sensor and two limit switches.
9/27/2005 Laser cut dome for R2 arrived.
9/30/2005 Installed neon mounts and found a substitute for a lazy susan in the arms.
10/06/2005 Update. Waist down is complete.
10/8/2005 Looking for Blueprints or Plans for building R2? Then you want to join the R2 Builders Club
10/8/2005 Looking for Blueprints or plans for the building Lost in Space Robot? Then you want to join the B9 Builders club
Looking for Dalek plans or blueprints? You probably should check this Guild
I like this picture...it shows the difference between the new and old daleks
No plans yet...but this group is for Johnny Five Assemblers.
10/9/2005 Brought the bottom section upstairs in preparation for Halloween.
10/12/2005 Finished radar turning...now working on bubble lifter. Both use spare motors from the arm actuator.
. 
11/1/2005 My son made the paper mache owl and it kept some children away from the house...glowing eyes...scary...
10/28/2006 RC and motor controllers work perfectly...next is sound.
Paul has managed to make his own B9 Robot Bubbles. Which he sells!
Picture from his Builders meet in the UK. 6/2007
Halloween 2007 always a busy time.
Media Files Mystery Island Con Photos Robot Parts Tutorials Robots in The News
