Mini LEGO Technic Tank Patrols Your Desk Under ESP32 Control
We probably don't need to tell Hackaday readers that LEGO isn't just for kids; we've seen many projects live in a colored brick enclosure and don't even begin to adopt the Mindstorms constructs we've seen over the years. But while LEGOs (and especially the Technic product line) are useful for prototyping and building quick projects, the basic electronics aren't the best of the line. That's why [Jason Kirsons] is trying to bridge the gap between LEGO pieces and the "real thing".
His LEGO Technic tank is a perfect example of this principle. Although the tank design itself is standard LEGO, it has removed all the electronics. With an Adafruit Feather ESP32, a custom motor control board, and a NEMA 8 opener with 3D-printed Adapter Tech, there's more to this little tank than you might think. While this project is more of a proof of concept than anything else, the techniques shown by [Jason] might be something to consider the next time you build with Billund's finest.
[Jason] chose the Feather ESP32 because of its small size, but if you don't want to fit everything into such a small footprint, you can get away with a generic board. Of course, if you choose any other board, you won't be able to use the circuit board he designed, which is connected to the Feather and has four Pololu DRV8835 motor drivers.
Perhaps the most important element of this project is the work [Jason] did to design adapter plates that allow NEMA 8 motors to be used with LEGO Technic parts. He posted the adapters on Thingiverse for anyone looking for a quick fix to add a little more punch to their Technicolor (technical term) creativity.
LEGO has a long history with hackers and creators. We've covered some absolutely amazing projects made with the popular building kit, and we don't see any signs of slowing down in the future.
[Thanks to Adam for the tip.]
