Rubiks Cube Robot Enhancements

thingiverse

The Rubiks Cube Solving Robot, a project from OTVinta, is a fantastic creation that has inspired some exciting enhancements. https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2471044 I decided to make some improvements to the original design, starting with making it standalone. Since the software can run on a Raspberry PI, I began by taking this step. However, I soon realized that having a separate screen and keyboard was still necessary, rendering this change not much of an improvement over using a laptop. To overcome this limitation, I added a 7-inch touch display to the robot. Given that the software is running on IoT, I needed a display certified for this use case, which led me to choose the Element 14 7-Pi Touchscreen LCD Display from Microcenter. https://www.microcenter.com/product/454804 After researching various display options that could work with IoT, I finally settled on using this one. Although there may be other displays that can function in a similar manner, I was unable to verify their compatibility. The mount for the screen attaches to the lower bolts that hold the robot's legs in place. To accommodate this attachment, I created longer bolts, which are necessary to secure the display firmly. The PI holder and lid, available for download at https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1585924, have not been altered from their original design. Another aspect of the original design that I felt needed improvement was the exposed Pololu board. To address this issue, I designed a case that not only covers the Pololu but also allows for the addition of a power jack. The one I used is available on Amazon and requires some soldering to install. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07C46XMPT/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1