Hello.
- I used 3 x 18650 batteries for power supply. That’s cca 12V. Speed of the robots went from medium to high.
Used the batteries for a year on four makeblock 2.0 ultimates and didn’t have a single electrical issue.
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Gripper hand. I found that gripper hand can’t reach the floor if assembled like in instructions. I have tilted my gripper 45° towards the ground and fixed it with a long screw so it cant move so it can reach the floor and pick up crazy stuff in the streets.
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Gripper issues: getting stuck. If you squeeze the gripper hand to maximum it gets stuck and want open. The easiest way to unblock it is to push the open button in short intervals large number of times. If that doesnt work (than you sqeezed the empty hand too much) using the same button pushing intervals WITH a clokwise rotation ( FROM THE FRONT SIDE OF THE ROBOT) of the plastic cap (with your hand) on the gripper screw will definitely unjam the gripper.
I believe there are two solutions. Never squeeze an empty hand to the max, and the other i haven’t tried jet: using the code to increase the force of opening the hand.
I have controlers so i will probably assign a code to the button that has higher openning speed to unjam the gripper. And maybe program it to do the tapping like in the hammer drill.
- Protection of the board.
When you rotate the gripper hand 45° to the ground and go all the way down than the hand pushes on electronics board with high force and it will eventually do some damage.
The solution is to install a long beam from one side to the other that limits the downward movement of the hand so it doesnt reach the board.
- Backfall protection.
Ultimate 2.0 falls to the back a lot. If it doesn’t fall all the way you can lower the hand all the way and go backwards and it will 100 percent get you up.
But if you fall all the way there’s no getting up.
Thats why i suggest installing two long beams that will prevent the possibility of flipping on back. They should be connected with a cross beam.
Not tested.
- Add ons. Ultimate 2.0 robot with the gripper is amazing and you can print a lot of add ons.
I 3d printed a ball roller, something like a snowplow that rolls the ball infront of it.
Also, i added a hook for plastic kids dumper truck in the back so i can drag it as storage behind.
I also printed a part where i put a metal shaft in and use it on the top of the hand as a stick.
I have designed it for Craoatian chivalry game : Sinjska alka.
- Advice. Bolt the wheels with nylock nuts. They tend to fall off a lot.
Tighten everything because the screws fall out a lot.
I have more than thousand hours and hundreds of hours teaching kids with ultimate 2.0 robot.
The end: this is an amazing robot and for its price it needs just a little care.
I have found it’s purpose in workshops for kids that collect trash from playgrounds, beaches and where ever.
Also, i plan to design a polygon that will use objects and obstacles and problems to be solved like seesaw with a weight, and you need to put rocks on one side to lift the gate on the other. Like a maze.
If anyone wants pictures how to make some of these improvements or any advice, feel free to reach me at robert.petrusic@proton.me
Also, you guys from makeblock, if you are working on 3.0 i will gladly give detailed instructions on solving these problems in exchange for 25 mm motor main gear that a kid has broken and i cant find replacement for.
