[Solved] Arduino Robot does not work when not connected to anything

Other Hardware Robotics
1

My Arduino Robot (https://docs.arduino.cc/retired/getting-started-guides/Robot) has been gathering dust for years and now I'm trying to get it to work again. I have done the following:

  • Connected the robot control board to a computer and uploaded some of the examples, like "Beep" or "Melody". That works fine when the robot is still connected to the computer, it beeps or plays the melody.
  • Connected the robot motor board to the computer and uploaded the Robot_Motor_Core. Don't know how to test it, but the port was recognized and Arduino IDE says the upload completed successfuly.
  • Changed to new batteries (AA, rechargeable, NiMH 1.2V 2600 mAh, precharged)

The problem is, when I turn the power switch on (and there are no cables connected to the robot), nothing happens. Or almost nothing - sometimes I see the IR sensor lights flash or glow red, but not every time. The batteries came precharged, but even so I've tried letting the robot charge for hours but it does not help. I have tried with several examples: Beep, Melody, Motor Test, Turn Test. It does not move, it does not make any sounds.

When I first got the robot almost 10 years ago, it was able to move and play music - I remember trying out the disco bot sketch and that worked fine then. I know this is an old and retired robot, but if anyone has any advice on how to troubleshoot it I would greatly appreciate it.

2

Batteries probably don't hold a charge anymore.

3

As I said, I just changed to new batteries. So that's probably not it.

4

Still sounds like a power issue.
Connected to a power/data cable and it works, disconnected and it doesn't work.

5

Maybe it is. But how do I find out what the issue is exactly? What would you do to troubleshoot it?

6

If it is 10 years old, then I would look for a coin cell that was used to keep memory alive.

7

You're saying there might be an extra battery hidden somewhere? What would that look like? I don't see anything I recognize as a battery but I really don't know much about hardware. I'm including a picture, maybe you can see where it is?

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8

No, nothing in the picture looks like a battery.

9

Are there wires coming from the battery box and going to the power switch, or does the power go by traces on the board?

10

It would not hurt to give those cells another charge, just to make sure. Better, put in new alkaline AA cells. Check all the battery connections and nearby wiring for corrosion.

11

There are no wires, so I guess it goes by traces. But it's not obvious to me where the traces go, there are a lot of lines between a lot of things. I'm including a picture of the bottom of the motor board.

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12

Pull the batteries, is the box clean and are the connectors free of corrosion?

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13

Good idea! There does seem to be some corrosion on the connectors, I'll try to clean that (will google how to) and see if it fixes it. I see nothing else on the robot that looks like corrosion.

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14

White vinegar and an old toothbrush.
Doesn't look too bad.

15

That was it!!! With the corrosion gone, the power works and the robot lives again! It can now finally start to fulfill its true purpose as a cat entertainer. Thank you so much @er_name_not_found, and thanks to everyone who came here to help. <3

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1 Like
16


That's awesome!!

I knew it was a power problem.
Please select one of the answers as a solution to keep others from trying to help a problem that's already fixed.

Cute cat, btw :smile_cat:

17

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