1/200 RX-78F00 GUNDAM FACTORY YOKOHAMA With "sound", "light" and "movement"

This 1/200 GUNDAM FACTORY YOKOHAMA is a commemorative model presented of the exhibition in early 2023. The production is quite exquisite, but the joint mobility still weak. When Yokohama 1:1 Gundam exhibition has announced will be extended to March 31, 2024, I was decided to make the model before the end of exhibition. This build is combine of "sound", "light" and "movement".

Based on my personal practice, sound effects and lighting effects have already a standard, therefore adding movable effects will the goal of this time.

The build is started with the concept of Wire Automata. However, due to realistic movements is require but the model size is quite limited. Continuous and repeat test is required and was very difficult. The wiring job require to started at the earliest stage together with electronics wiring and building tasks. The wiring tightened job can only to be done on the final stage. During this period, the solve of winding knots require continuously dismantled by control emotions. It is also a great test for myself. This build take 8 months to complete.

Action design

As the design and making of Automata is a professional, I have no experience at all and my build was reference to its approach and theory, so some of the results are indeed a bit far from what I imagined.

Overall design

Starting from the design, the goal is to achieve continuous half-kneeling movements. The head, arms, fingers and feet all move throughout the process.

Fingers

Based on the production of real robots, the tendons are made of strong thin wires, and the tendon wires are tightened to make movements. The effect is as large as the video demonstration.

Arms, feet

The arms and feet basically use the same principle, and the motorized traction part is concentrated on the femoral muscles, and micro pulleys are added to change the position of the force output.

Head, waist

The head and waist mainly move left and right or have fixed activities front and back, so springs are used to achieve an automatic reset effect.

Sound and light design

Sound and light effects are expressed through customization of Arduino build and programming. LEDs are mainly packaged in 0201 and 0402 for single-color parts, and WS2812-2020 for full-color parts. The more complicated one is the head that uses six.
0201 packaged LEDs are mainly used for deck making, WS2812-2020 is used for floor and left lifting displays.
Sound effects are achieved by DFPlayer, startup and shutdown and Vulcan cannon sound are included, and several main theme music is added also.

Integration

To achieve overall automata movement by wire was full of difficulties for me. The fingers and head of both hands are finally unable to move clearly, and the feet could not be completely upright, which was still a pity.
However, maybe due to my personal emotions, the overall effect is still very therapeutic and I am not feel tired even watching for 2 hours.

Supplies

Arduino Nano x 1
ATtiny85 x 2
DC Gear Motor x 1
InfraRed receiver x 1
L293DD x 1 (Motor Driver)
DFPlayer x 1 (MP3 Player)
Transparent Plastic Box x 1
0201 LED x 6 (Head)
0201 LED x 8 (Shoulder)
0201 LED x 4 (BackPack)
0201 LED x 9 (Deck)
0402 LED x 2 (Knee)
0603 LED x 2 (Chest)
41F Hall Sensor x 1
Magnet x 2
Pulley x 4
WS2812-2020 x 4 (Deck)
WS2812-2020 x 1 (Platform)

Step 1:

LEDs location and drill all necessary holes

Step 2: LEDs Setup

LEDs Setup

0201 Package LEDs is mainly in used.
Controlled separately by microcontrollers.

Step 3: Join System, Fingers/Arms/Legs

Join System. Finger/Arms/Legs

The most difficult portal of this build for me.
The movement is driven by wire tension for finger/arms and legs.
Demo Video is shown as attached.

Step 4: Deck Design

Deck Design

The base is build by transparent plastic box and the Deck is made by plastic plate.
0201 package LEDs is used together with WS2812 for Up/Down indicator.
A hall sensor is used for detect stop position of motor which are located at the back side of hanger.
The UP/DOWN movable range is around 1.8 cm.

Step 5: Circuit Diagram

Circuit Diagram

With the use of I2C, the Arduino Nano act as master and the two Attiny85 are slave. The two Attiny85 control Gundam Head LEDs and Deck Hanger LEDs respectively.
An InfraRed receiver is used for remote control.
DFPlayer is used for sound effect and sound track player.
Arduino Nano is the master controller of both Attiny85 and partial LEDs in Gundam body, UP/Down indicator LEDs wall at Deck side and also the InfraRed decoder and DFPlayer.
L293DD is DC motor driver, the driving signal is provided by Arduino Nano, as the DC motor using 3V as power source. A DC-DC converter is used as well.