WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:05.760 Ever notice, how robots and factories can pick up heavy objects and place them with precision? 00:05.760 --> 00:11.200 Or, how robotic arms and industry perform tasks humans can't do quickly? 00:11.200 --> 00:15.600 That's all possible, thanks to Mechanical Arms Technology. 00:15.600 --> 00:16.800 Welcome! 00:16.800 --> 00:24.800 In this video, we'll build our own DIY Mechanical Arm using an Arduino and four servo motors. 00:24.880 --> 00:29.440 The first and most important component of our project is the Arduino Uno. 00:30.080 --> 00:32.000 It is the brain of our Mechanical Arm. 00:32.640 --> 00:38.000 The Arduino is a microcontroller board that allows us to connect and control different 00:38.000 --> 00:40.720 electronic components, all through programming. 00:42.880 --> 00:49.040 Next, we have four servo motors. Each motor controls a different part of the arm, the base, 00:49.680 --> 00:55.680 the joints, and the gripper. We also use a mini breadboard to neatly connect 00:55.680 --> 01:00.960 jumper wires and distribute power between the Arduino Uno and the servo motors. 01:03.440 --> 01:07.680 Then comes the Mechanical Arms structure, which includes the bottom chassis plate, 01:08.320 --> 01:14.320 the top chassis plate, the arm base with servo, the metal grippers with servo, 01:14.320 --> 01:18.080 the arm links, the base links, and the side plate. 01:18.960 --> 01:24.960 These parts are assembled together to form the full arm and they provide mounting support 01:24.960 --> 01:27.120 for the servo motors at different joints. 01:28.960 --> 01:32.480 We'll also use a battery pack with a switch to power the servos. 01:33.680 --> 01:37.360 And finally, jumper wires to connect everything together. 01:38.080 --> 01:43.520 With all these components, along with some essentials, we're going to build a Mechanical Arm 01:43.520 --> 01:44.880 using the Arduino Uno. 01:47.360 --> 01:52.320 Let's understand the principles and real-world applications of a Mechanical Arm. 01:53.760 --> 02:00.160 Like a real arm, the Mechanical Arm has joints and links that move with the help of servo 02:00.160 --> 02:07.280 motors. One motor rotates the base, another bends the joint, and the gripper opens or closes to 02:07.280 --> 02:14.160 pick up objects. By combining these movements, the Mechanical Arm can lift, turn, and place things. 02:14.880 --> 02:19.120 Exactly where we want. Each movement is controlled by simple commands, 02:19.680 --> 02:22.640 making the Mechanical Arm precise and repeatable. 02:23.520 --> 02:30.160 That's how the Mechanical Arm performs the same task, again and again. Mechanical Arms save time, 02:30.160 --> 02:36.400 improve accuracy, and take on jobs that are too dangerous or too tiring for humans. 02:37.440 --> 02:45.680 Mechanical Arms play a vital role everywhere. They cut and shape materials using advanced tools 02:45.680 --> 02:52.000 like laser cutters. In factories, they handle welding and assembly, with speed and precision. 02:52.720 --> 02:57.920 And in farming and greenhouses, they plant, trim, and carefully move crops, 02:58.640 --> 03:01.600 making agriculture smarter and more efficient. 03:01.600 --> 03:08.640 Let's explore the core components of a Mechanical Arm and understand the science behind them. 03:10.080 --> 03:16.000 The Arduino Uno is the brain of our Mechanical Arm. It sends signals to the servo motors, 03:16.560 --> 03:23.520 and controls how each joint of the arm moves. We upload Arduino code to make the arm perform tasks 03:23.520 --> 03:31.520 step-by-step. Technically, the Arduino Uno is a development board based on the AT-Mega-3-2-8P 03:31.520 --> 03:39.040 microcontroller. It includes digital and analog eye opens, a USB port for programming, 03:39.040 --> 03:44.240 a voltage regulator for stable 5 voltage power, a crystal oscillator for timing, 03:45.040 --> 03:52.240 and a reset button. It runs C and C++ code and controls sensors and motors in real time. 03:54.080 --> 03:59.200 The servo motor is a special type of motor that can rotate to a specific angle, 03:59.200 --> 04:04.640 like zero degrees, 90 degrees, or 180 degrees, and hold that position. 04:05.520 --> 04:11.360 We use the servo to rotate different joints of the Mechanical Arm. This way, it makes precise 04:11.360 --> 04:18.080 movements to pick up or place an object. Now, let's build our Mechanical Arm, 04:18.880 --> 04:21.440 begin by assembling all the required components. 04:21.680 --> 04:29.200 4 base links are also attached, giving the structure extra strength and stability. 04:29.760 --> 04:34.960 The servo then rotates the entire arm, clockwise or anti-clockwise, 04:34.960 --> 04:38.720 allowing it to cover a wide working area, with accurate positioning. 04:40.640 --> 04:46.160 Next comes the gripper assembly. The servo is carefully attached to the claw mount 04:46.160 --> 04:50.480 using small screws, making sure it sits perfectly in place. 04:51.680 --> 04:55.600 The metal grippers are joined to the mount with brackets and screws, 04:56.320 --> 05:02.720 aligned so both sides move together. When the servo rotates, the claw opens to release an 05:02.720 --> 05:10.720 object or closes to grip it firmly. Tiny adjustments can be made if needed to ensure both sides move 05:10.720 --> 05:20.480 evenly, and smoothly. Now, we move on to the shoulder joint. This joint is assembled to allow 05:20.480 --> 05:26.160 the arm to move up and down, giving it that essential vertical range. The elbow joint is then 05:26.160 --> 05:32.560 attached, enabling forward and backward motion, so the arm can reach objects at different distances. 05:32.560 --> 05:38.960 Each joint is carefully aligned, screws tighten just enough to allow smooth movement without any wobble. 05:40.880 --> 05:44.320 Next, the gripper is physically attached to the elbow joint. 05:45.040 --> 05:49.280 First, the mounting bracket of the gripper is carefully aligned with the end of the elbow 05:49.280 --> 05:55.440 link, making sure the holes line up perfectly. Small screws are then inserted through the bracket 05:55.440 --> 06:01.440 holes, and tightened into the threaded holes of the elbow link. Not too tight, just enough to hold 06:01.440 --> 06:07.760 it firmly, without restricting movement. Washers or spacers can be added if needed, to keep the 06:07.760 --> 06:13.760 gripper straight and prevent it from tilting. Once the screws are in place, the connection is 06:13.760 --> 06:19.440 double checked by gently moving the elbow, ensuring the gripper stays secure and doesn't wobble. 06:20.560 --> 06:24.720 The wires from the gripper servo are routed neatly along the side of the elbow link, 06:25.280 --> 06:30.720 held in place with zip ties or clips, so they don't tangle as the arm moves. 06:31.840 --> 06:37.120 With this connection complete, the arm's mechanical assembly is now ready to be placed on the main 06:37.120 --> 06:45.600 base. Place the arm assembly on the base, then tighten the central screw right at the center, 06:45.600 --> 06:52.160 securing the connection and allowing the arm to rotate smoothly, clockwise and anti-clockwise. 06:53.120 --> 06:57.680 The structure is now stable, aligned, and ready for final checks before wiring. 06:59.760 --> 07:04.720 First, place the Arduino on the base. Extend the power rails on the breadboard, 07:05.280 --> 07:09.120 using small jumper wires, just like the ones shown in the demonstration. 07:09.760 --> 07:14.800 Connect them across the center gap, so both sides of the breadboard share the same V, 07:14.800 --> 07:20.560 CC, and GND lines, making it easier to power all the servos of the mechanical arm. 07:21.840 --> 07:26.640 Next, connect the Arduino's GND pin to the ground rail on the breadboard. 07:27.600 --> 07:35.520 Then, connect the 5V pin to the VCC rail. Together, these rails will supply power to all the servos 07:35.520 --> 07:41.600 of the mechanical arm. Then, position the robotic arm close by for easy wiring. 07:42.640 --> 07:48.320 Collect all the wires from the servo motors, used in the mechanical arm, arrange them neatly 07:48.320 --> 07:54.320 just as shown in the demonstration. At the ends of these wires, attach jumper wires to extend 07:54.320 --> 08:02.080 the reach for easier connection. Now, take each servo's GND wire and connect it to the GND 08:02.080 --> 08:09.920 rail on the breadboard. Then, take each servo's VCC wire and connect it to the VCC rail on the 08:09.920 --> 08:18.080 breadboard. This way, every servo stays separate, but all share the same power rails for VCC and GND. 08:18.480 --> 08:25.440 Now, take the yellow signal wires from each servo and connect them to the Arduino pins. 08:26.160 --> 08:37.200 The base servo goes to D3, the shoulder servo to D5, the elbow servo to D6, and the gripper servo 08:37.200 --> 08:44.400 to D9. Make sure each wire is connected to the correct pin so the Arduino can control the 08:44.400 --> 08:52.720 movement of every servo motor properly. Now, all the components are connected. Our mechanical 08:52.720 --> 08:58.880 arm is ready for programming and testing. Let us program and test our mechanical arm. 09:00.640 --> 09:07.280 First, connect the Arduino Uno to your laptop, using a USB cable. This connection not only 09:07.280 --> 09:12.240 allows you to upload the program to the board, but also provides power for testing the robotic arm. 09:12.640 --> 09:20.640 Now, open the Arduino IDE on your computer. In the editor, open the program code. 09:22.080 --> 09:30.640 Then, go to the Tools menu, select Board and choose Arduino Uno. After that, go to Tools, 09:30.640 --> 09:37.120 then Port, and pick the correct COM port that matches your device. Once everything is set, 09:37.120 --> 09:42.640 click the Verify button to compile the code and check for any errors. If no errors are found, 09:42.640 --> 09:47.840 click the Upload button to send the code to the Arduino. After a few seconds, you'll see the 09:47.840 --> 09:53.360 message done uploading at the bottom of the screen. This confirms that the program has been 09:53.360 --> 10:00.160 successfully uploaded. At this point, the Arduino is ready to run your code, and you can begin 10:00.160 --> 10:07.680 testing the movements of your mechanical arm. Now, let's see the mechanical arm in action. 10:08.720 --> 10:14.480 The robotic arm, powered by Arduino and servomotors, performs a simple pick and place task 10:14.480 --> 10:20.720 automatically. First, the base rotates toward the object. The shoulder lowers the arm while 10:20.720 --> 10:27.280 the gripper opens. Then, the elbow moves forward to reach the object. The gripper closes, picking it 10:27.280 --> 10:35.440 up securely. Next, the elbow pulls back, and the shoulder lifts the arm. The base rotates back 10:35.440 --> 10:41.920 to its original position. Once aligned, the shoulder lowers again, and the elbow moves forward. 10:43.040 --> 10:49.440 Finally, the gripper opens to release the object. The elbow retracts, the gripper closes, 10:49.440 --> 10:54.480 and the shoulder lifts the arm, completing the cycle, which then repeats automatically.