About This Project

In this project, we will learn how to create hand gesture controlled robot using flex sensor.

Project Info

  • Programming Platform: Arduino IDE
  • Difficulty: Intermediate
  • Estimated Time: 2 Hr
  • Category: Arduino
  • Tags: Flex sensor, Arduino, Servo motor, Breadboard, and Resistor

Watch the video for hand gesture controlled robot flex sensor here.

Introduction

Hand Gesture Controlled Robot is one of the most exciting creations of all time. It is a type of mechanical arm usually programmable. It functions the same as a human arm. The electronically created robotic hand is connected by joints allowing rotational motion. Robotic arms can be used to perform intense mechanical work like welding, painting, drilling, and likewise.

We will be using Flex Sensor for hand gesture controlled robot project. Flex Sensor is a two terminals analog sensor that senses when we bend or curve from the normal condition. It is a resistance-based sensor plated with a copper layer upon the flexible substrate. This sensor is available in two sizes i.e. 2.2 inch and 4.5 inches. These may vary in size but the basic function is the same. Besides, the flex sensors can be categorized on the basis of medium, low or high resistance and one may pick one depending on the requirement.

Flex sensors do not have polarized terminals like diodes which is why there is no positive and negative. A flex sensor can be used if we want to check if the surface of the device or component is leveled or not. It can also be used to measure the flex/bent/angle change of any device. The internal resistance of the flex sensor changes linearly with its flex angle. This sensor can be used in applications where accurate measurement of motion or angle of device needs to be measured. This sensor can be used in robotics, automotive, medical instruments, motion control, musical instruments, fitness devices, computer peripherals, and more.

In this project, we will learn how a Flex Sensor can be used to create a hand gesture controlled robot by following a few simple steps.

Components Required

IMAGE COMPONENT QUANTITY

servo-motor

Servo Motor

1

flex-sensor

Flex Sensor

1

jumper-wire

Jumper Wires

As Per Requirement

resistor

Resistor

1

arduino

Arduino

1

cable-a-to-b

USB cable A to B

1

battery

Battery

1

Breadboard

Breadboard

1

Building Guide

Step 1: Assembly

  • Start by assembling all the components.

wireless-hand-gesture-controlled-robot-flex-sensor

  • Connect the servo motor with Arduino or power up the servo motor.

  • Now connect the flex sensor with the Arduino using a breadboard.

Step 1: Circuitry of the Robot

  • Powering the components
  • Powering the Servo motor
  • Brown to the negative supply
  • Red to positive Supply
  • Orange to signal (PWM pin)
  • Connecting the Flex sensor
  • Flat part to 5V
  • Stripped part to Analog input A0 pin.
  • Stripped part to the ground using a resistor.

flex-sensor

Step 3: Logic

  • When the user wears the gloves that have flex sensors attached to them and moves the hand, there is a change in the voltage due to the change in the resistance caused to the particles in the flex sensor.
  • These voltage values are read as analog values from analog pins and given as input to the Arduino.
  • These analog values must be converted to angles, which the servo motor will take as input. A function called ‘map’ is used for this.
  • Once the values are in angles, they are given as the input to the servo motors. The value indicates the amount (angle) by which the servo motor must rotate.
  • The flex values are converted in such a way that the amount of bend of the flex sensor in the glove is the same as the amount by which the servo turns.

Step 5: Code

  • Start by only moving the servo motor.
  • Include the servo library and create a servo object.

hand-gesture-controlled-code

  • For moving the servo motor give it the angle at which it has to move.

hand-gesture-controlled-code-2

  • Define the flex input pin.

flex-input-pin

  • Fetching the flex sensor value when it is bent.

Fetching-the-flex-sensor-value-when-it-is-bent

  • Use the map function to map the flex bent degree to the servo motor angle.

The following code will help you to make wireless hand gesture controlled robot with flex sensor.

Code

DESCRIPTION

DOWNLOAD CODE

Wireless Hand Gesture Controlled Robot With Flex Sensor Code

 

Upload the code and wear the hand glove to make the robotic hand move with ease.