Bioloid

Overview:

The Bioloid Robot System from Robotis is based around inteligent servos called Dynamixel, graphical or C programming and reconfigurable brackets. It is one of the most popular Robot Systems for High Schools, Universities and Research.

Those Dynamixel can be used in a daisy-chained fashion to construct robots of various configurations, such as wheeled, legged, or humanoid robots. The smart actuators are capable of switching between angular positioning and full continuous rotation and provide real time feedback to the user or the robot.

The Behavior Control Programmer and the Three-Dimensional Motion Editor programs are included with the Bioloid robot construction kits to be used for creating various robot behaviors and motions.

A wide range of intelligent machines can be built using the Bioloid System such as: autonomous exploration robots, quadrupted puppy robots, hexapod spider robots, bipedal and humanoid robots etc.

Controller:

The smart controllers from Robotis play the role of the Bioloid Robot Systems brain. There are different controllers based on the usage and specifications of your robot platform. All Bioloid Controllers have a 3 Pin connector, use TTL level communication, have a connectable zigbee communication module and are of course compatible with the RoboPlus Software.

While the CM-5 is intended for the Bioloid Beginner and Bioloid Comprehensive Kit, the CM-510 controller is used for the Bioloid Premium Kit. It runs on an ATMega2561 Processor and has a built-in microphone, a temperature sensor, a voltage sensor and is also compatible with OLLO accessories.

The CM-700 consists of an ATMega2561 CPU with a TTL / RS485 communication circuit, a 5 pin I/O Port for OLLO compatible accessories and is a control module type controller with ZIG-110 connector 

CM-2+ supports both RS-485 and TTL enabling to control AX / EX / RX-series dynamixels and    
runs on a Atmega-128 Processor with 128Kbyte Flash memory.

Both, the CM-700 and the CM-2+ are being used, if you want to create more flexible or really powerful robots and need to mix the dynamixel actuators.

Programming:

The RoboPlus Software contains different programs to control, manipulate and program your robotic platform.

One of the programs is called RoboPlus Task, the same program used for the OLLO Robot System.

The Three-Dimensional Motion Editor program is a software to create various robot motions by manipulating the joints of the robot. This is called the ‘Teaching & Playback’ method.

RoboPlus is an icon-type, C language-based, and easy-to-use software for users who do not understand computer program languages. The motions and behaviors of robots can be programmed and managed with the software. Users can learn the structure and the grammar of C language eventually while using RoboPlus. In addition, various C language program examples are provided for experts.

Body:

Robotis offers four standard Bioloid Robot Platforms: Bioloid Beginner, Bioloid Comprehensive, Bioloid Premium and Bioloid GP. Up to 29 default robots can be built, but brackets, electronics and all other parts can also be purchased separately to customize your robot and to tailor it to your needs.

Mobility:

While most common servos used in robotics must be placed in specific locations on the controller board and are driven by PWM signals, Dynamixel servos have a unique ID, are connected in Daisy-chain fashion and are controlled via a proprietary communications protocol. Data that can be retrieved from the servo in real time are: present position, present speed, present load, present voltage and present temperature. Not only can feedback be requested from individual servos but a large number of variable parameters withing the Dynamixel can also be adjusted by the operator, like highest allowable temperature, highest allowable voltage, maximum torque, clockwise and counter-clockwise angle limit and several compliance variables.

Modules:

The Bioloid Robot System offers a variety of modules for their platforms, like wireless control, communication, sensor, motor or interface modules. You simply connect those to your controller and tell the software, that you just added something. OLLO Modules can also be used with the CM-510 and the CM-700 controller to add even more intelligence to your robot.