Vid of R2 with new holo eyes...one that lights up!

Here is a video. SOrry the quality is HORRIBLE...stupid camera. ANyways if you crank you speakers you will hear R2 play Leia's message when I ask for it...and the light go on again near the end when I say, "Light beam."

This was hard to do with one hand operating camera..the other moving R2...and the viewfinder on m camera wasn't working cuz the batteries were low so I had to look through the viewfinder.

Anyways..if you listen close you will get the idea. It works very well!!

Just wanted to update..have been working on R2 on my holidays a bit when I can. I just finished painting and installing my new HP's (generously given to me by my Danish friend Holse). They look GREAT!

I also extended the wires and added a quick release coupling (round serial cable) so that I coudl mount the LED from my interactive R2 in the new front holo eye. Now when I am using the interactive R2 for sounds and I say , "Light beam" or play message it will light up and play Leia's message. This will limit my dome rotation a bit (I have a long loose wires so I could probably do a few laps with no problems)...but I'll just be carefull.

I also received my new seed controller so as soon as my dome motor adapter arrives I can mount that and get that head spinning again!

Nice to get some progress in improving my R2!

I'll post a video soon of the HP in action, and R2 moving with his new C6C control system!

New Cheapo control system....SUCCESS!!!!!!

I am just pasting this from my post at the Astromech factory....no point typing it out 2 times...

I hooked up the C6C and adjusted the proper jumpers on the Scorpion. I plugged in the left and right foot motor wires (from scorpion to the C6C) and the picoswitch that plays my r2 sounds..and powered it up. I WAS BLOWN AWAY!

Not only does it work...it works GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Very positive response...LOTS more power..battery life seems longer, range is good...no sign of interference through aluminum body...no lurching. ALL problems solved!!!!!

I didn't even have a single cable backwards or even need to recalibrate my foot motors in the scorpion (although I did to be sure). I NEVER get that lucky!



Ecstatic!!! I am going to LOVE only using ONE switch to power up the 2 12v batteries, and only having to charge ONE set of batteries!!!

Now the bad news...

I spliced my vex motor wire with a vex extension (cutting off both male ends) leaving me with a female end I could connect to the C6C. I conencted it..turned it back on, threw the dome on...and powered it up again.

Dome rotation is not working. The motor responds and the controls all work out (left stick turns dome) but that motor is struggling. It barely moves in one direction and the other it strains and pretty much wont move. My guess is the vex system was delivering more voltage to the motor...now that the C6C is working with 5v only..thats not enough for that Vex motor?

I was toying with replacing the dome motor with something quieter and larger anyways..and I do have a motor I bought for this purpose years ago. I attached a couple pics (see post at AF). I got it from Princess auto...I think its for a windshield wiper.

So...how can I add another small speed controller...with minimal wiring and no extra batteries?

New RC system arrived

I just got my new RC system for R2. My current Vex stsem seems to be interfering with my foot motor's speed controllers (Scorpion XL). This new one works with a wirless PS2 controller. It is very simple and cheap, but I hope it works well for me! To power it from my Scorpion XL speed controller (which can deliver the exact 5v it needs I had to remove the voltage regulator and solder a short in that line. I think I was successfull...I HOPE!

This means I wont need a set of batteries to power this new board..it will run off of my existing foot motors.