Yano The Storyteller Main Circuit Board PCB

The components:

The traces:

The svg reverse engineering file for download

The next frontier in robotic probing, hacking and modding

What has an IR control, a 6 pin cartridge port and advanced animatronics? Goes for really cheap on eBay? I've got two on the way and my screwdrivers are pleading for some sweet dis-assembly. The bit-scope is ready to go.

Welcome to 1990's techonology

Yano, the stoner storyteller!

Final results from Robie Jr Mod

Goals met

• Patch in Arduino to control H-Bridges
• Interpret remote control commands
• Use on-board audio amplifier
• Patch into switches to detect switch activity

Goals not met

• Understand ultrasonic protocol
• Toggle audio amplification circuit on and off
• Patch into circuit with out altering circuit board

Interpreting the switches

I used the analog inputs to detect voltage from the switches. Voltage is high on open switch and brought low when the switch contact is made. I suppose with appropriate resistors you could use the digital pins on your micro controller.

Patching into Movement

Very easy to mod. Just sever traces at the specified location and solder the eight wires onto the board and control with digital pins and read with analog pins

Final thoughts

CAUTION: USE A 5V REGULATOR when hooking up to an Arduino. The robot has excellent interior space for additional components. Sensors are interesting but limited; robot can detect users location via the ultrasonic remote. It would be easy to scab in additional sensors into the robot and possibly use a servo on the head part of the robot. Wheels could accommodate encoders. Great platform for getting started with robotics and a micro controller.

EZ Robot Plug In

I took a break from my circuit patching, and decided to write a winforms C# bar chart plugin using the newly developed EZ Robot plug in framework...which is AWESOME! The framework that is, not my plug in. Head on over to: The plug in!

Inline Arduino Nano

The traces have been cut. Wires soldered to IC pins. The Arduino now sits between the remote control and Robie Jr's movement functionality. M6411B - 24 has yielded some of its black box logic.

Below is a simple schematic indicating where to break the traces. The red dashed line is the break point.

This is what the break in the traces looks like. I used an Exacto knife.

Finally I'm starting to get some traction.

Here is the pin logic for M6411B

Don't forget to run the circuit at 5v when using the Arduino Nano. Use a voltage regulator.