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Welcome to Avayan Electronics R2D2 page!

The R2D2 page actually shows some of the efforts invested by me (Jose Ivan Quinones) to design and create a full size R2D2 replica.

Based on a 7 year old, the dream had to wait some years before it began to come true. Join the Dream Section to see how an Engineer transforms a dream into reality. Do recall that any project is based on a dream. Either from the own Engineers mind or from other non Engineering entity that envisioned something at some point in time when he/she could not develop it him/herself.

After almost more than 15 years of growing and learning the arts (as well as becoming an Star Wars avid fan) of Electrical Engineering, the time to finally make that dream come true arrived. But a BS in Electrical Engineering is not enough to create such a complex replica. Come to the History Section where you will see some common mistakes and how ugly can an R2 look through the eyes of a non expert. Also see how after so many steps it almost looks a 100% identical to the actual R2D2 used in films.

More than a few R2D2 toys have been released to the public. If you want to build your own R2D2, you may want to buy some and take ideas as what parts are to be built and how. Go to My Collection Section and see the impressive collection amounted through the years with the sole purpose of becoming R2d2's #1 fan! Could it be me? Also some of my drawings and measures as taken from these toys to build most parts are available for download.

As my father said once: "There is no point for an Electrical Engineering on building a robot if neat electronic stuff is not included!" Quite true I must say, and that is why a bunch of very interesting electronics is included. To make it walk and to add other features such as an opening door, mechanical programming arm and lights, electronics circuits had to be added. Learn about the electronics used to make my R2D2 walk and sound just as the one on the movies.

Since I am a lover of microprocessor and microcomputers I decided to build the control unit based on a famous microcontroller from the Motorola family: the HC11! This microcontroller allowed me to add movement and control to all the specified above features with ease. Just a few lines of code (this is obviously a fake since there are a couple of hundreds lines of code) and walla! Magic! If you want to learn how to program the HC11 to add Pulse Width Modulation and digital control, you may want to step into the Programming Section.

Actually constructing the R2D2 requires knowledge, but most importantly a very good set of tools! You may know how to use them all, but if you don't have them no job can be done. But if you have no idea how to use them, you can still learn! Like me! After a few Machine Shop courses and Fiberglass tutors, I have become quite proficient. Just make sure you have the right tools! You might find interesting the set of tools that gave me good results and those which didn't. Come to the Tools Section where I give a quick set of hints in what you should buy and what you should not. Before you go there, learn the most important rule of tools: Do not lend the expensive ones!

Finally, you can go to the Jedi Hints Section. I found George Lucas teachings through Yoda quite inspiring, but most importantly true! Jedi teachings can be addapted to real life! If you want to build your own R2D2, revise this set of easy to learn but really hard to master guidelines which will prove usefull not only for construction, but for most activities as well!

Before I end this introduction I want to thank all those who were very supportive of my ideas. But most importantly, I want to thank all those who did not believed in me! These were actually the people who helped me the most to never stop the project! Now I can tell all of them "I told you so!". By the way I advise all of them to use the rope that was going to be used to "tie the R2D2 to the car bumper so it could move", to hang their tongue! "You failed your Highnesses! I am an Electrical Engineer as you never thought possible!" My best wishes to all of you,

Avayan

[1997's] [Dream] [History] [Collection] [Electronics] [First Walk] [Tools] [200x's] [Current] [Accidents]
[R2D2] [1997's] [200x's] [Current] [Accidents]