A Motorized Camera Dolly

[Andy D]

So just why did I build this thing?

A few weeks ago I finally bought a GoPro (Hero 4 Silver)... Great little camera (very little). I was looking on the Internet and YouTube to see all the interesting things people are doing with their GoPros. Many people who use GoPros are as enthusiastic about the many uses for their GoPro as we are about our LEGO.

Anyway, after looking at many of the interesting ways people were using their GoPros I decided I wanted to combine GoPro with LEGO. What to do? What to do? What to do?

That’s it, I’ll build a camera dolly.

Capabilities, what do I want it to do?

1. Must be remote controlled.
   
2. Must be as small as possible.
   
3. Must be very agile.
   
4. Must be able to turn on itself.
   

I started looking to see what other’s had done... Very interesting, but not exactly what I wanted. I finally decided that a good platform would be a skid steer platform. I started looking at small skid-steer devices and found small skid steer loader by “imurvai” back in 2013.

http://www.eurobrick...showtopic=87099

I thought that the platform he used for his loader would make a good skid steer platform for my camera dolly. I downloaded his .lxf.

I started looking in my inventory for parts and found that I did not heave enough of the studless open frames (needed four (4), I only have one (1)) So I started looking for alternatives. I have plenty of the open frames with studs so I started to build.

I built the frame with gears, wheels, battery box and IR remote. I worked well, but it was a little faster than I wanted and the skid steer turning was a much rougher than I wanted so I started looking for alternatives. I remembered the three wheeled robots used with NXT (the TaskBot). I thought about using NXT, but just not in the mood for programming and I could not find a suitable bluetooth remote. I gave up on NXT and implemented my design with studded and non-studded Technic and power functions. In order to reduce the speed (that thing was fast) I implemented a gear train. This works pretty good, but I still need more control.

Well, here it is, My “Camera Dolly MK I“...

I wanted it to look very utilitarian, so nothing fancy, just function.

First I built the dolly

Here is a Right side view

https://flic.kr/p/wU1cvG]Right side[/url] by https://www.flickr.c...MyPlasticBricks[/url], on Flickr

A rear view

https://flic.kr/p/xcb52e]back[/url] by https://www.flickr.c...MyPlasticBricks[/url], on Flickr

A head on front view

https://flic.kr/p/xcb5BH]HFV[/url] by https://www.flickr.c...MyPlasticBricks[/url], on Flickr

And a bottom view.

https://flic.kr/p/wU8qnv]BV[/url] by https://www.flickr.c...MyPlasticBricks[/url], on Flickr

I used the GoPro mount by Kyle Martin, you can see it on YouTube, just search Kyle Martin LEGO GoPro Mount.

Here a re a few photos of the dolly with the GoPRo mounted

First a front-side view

https://flic.kr/p/xaRcPd]Front[/url] by https://www.flickr.c...MyPlasticBricks[/url], on Flickr

A head-on view

https://flic.kr/p/xaRnQ5]HVH4[/url] by https://www.flickr.c...MyPlasticBricks[/url], on Flickr

And a couple of rear views.

https://flic.kr/p/xcbcXe]BQvH4[/url] by https://www.flickr.c...MyPlasticBricks[/url], on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/weATQ1]BVH4[/url] by https://www.flickr.c...MyPlasticBricks[/url], on Flickr

Finally a link to the Flickr album for more photos

https://www.flickr.c...157657004407316

The biggest challenge was editing the video to go along with this post, so here it is...

Oh yeah, while the camera dolly is agile, not quite as agile as I had hoped for and it is still a little too fast, I need to gear it down a little more to gain more precise control. I hope to make the next version much more agile and able to achieve more precise control.

I hope you enjoyed this, and C&C are welcome.

Andy D

Edited September 21, 2015 by Andy D

[Darkdragon]

That's really great. I love the tight turning ability.

[dr_spock]

Good work. Are you using the IR Train/Speed Controller or IR remote to control it?

[SevenStuds]

Nice little cam bot! It will good to see how this evolves.

What are you planning on filming with this? LEGO or other scenes?

One of this things that makes the gopro so great is that you can easily get it close to the ground to get a minifig eye view. It makes even the smallest MOC look life size.

Do you think it's worth coming up with a way to reduce vibrations with a suspended solution?

[Andy D]

That's really great. I love the tight turning ability.

That's really great. I love the tight turning ability.

Thanks, that was one of my primary goals.

Good work. Are you using the IR Train/Speed Controller or IR remote to control it?

Just using a standard IR remote, I don't have a speed control one.

Nice little cam bot! It will good to see how this evolves.

What are you planning on filming with this? LEGO or other scenes?

One of this things that makes the gopro so great is that you can easily get it close to the ground to get a minifig eye view. It makes even the smallest MOC look life size.

Do you think it's worth coming up with a way to reduce vibrations with a suspended solution?

Thanks..

I wanted it for multi filming, just anything in the house. We decorate extensively for Christmas, so I wanted a room to room filming capability.

Still liking into a suspension solution, I think I may just let the GoPro take care of that by filming at a higher frame rate, that seem to reduce vibrations to some degree. The vibrations are not quite as bad on carpet. It seems that any imperfection in the tile floor is picked up by the GoPro.

I plan to start working on MK II in mid-October

Andy D

Edited September 21, 2015 by Andy D

[dr_spock]

The speed controller could give better speed control on the unit but it is not too good for steering.

[Andy D]

The speed controller could give better speed control on the unit but it is not too good for steering.

The system uses two motors. My steering is accomplished by using one motor or the other or reversing one forward the other. Like a skid steer but only two driven wheels instead of 4.

I don't know how a speed controller would work here.

Can I set a speed then just control forward an reverse?

Thanks,

Andy D

Edited September 22, 2015 by Andy D

[TheItalianBrick]

Sorry but: why don't you create a stabilizer also? There is so much shaking in your GoPro video!! A stabilizer would be very simple and compact to add....,...

[Andy D]

Sorry but: why don't you create a stabilizer also? There is so much shaking in your GoPro video!! A stabilizer would be very simple and compact to add....,...

This is a prototype vehicle, just to see what is possible, I am looking for ideas for my next version.

What would such a stabilizer look like?

Any help much appreciated.

Thanks,

Andy D

[dr_spock]

The system uses two motors. My steering is accomplished by using one motor or the other or reversing one forward the other. Like a skid steer but only two driven wheels instead of 4.

I don't know how a speed controller would work here.

Can I set a speed then just control forward an reverse?

Thanks,

Andy D

Maybe an adder-substractor module can be used for skid steering with the speed controler. One knob would control the speed of the motor going forward and reverse. The other knob would control the speed of the motor making the turns. To stop turning hit the red stop button on the controler.

[SevenStuds]

What would such a stabilizer look like?

If you don't have soft suspension on the wheels reducing the vibration from the floor, you could look at a LEGO version of one of these dampening solutions:

http://thingiverse-production-new.s3.amazonaws.com/renders/64/bb/03/00/24/625x465_3406703_10271330_1430901796_preview_featured.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ufmvbW7C_ow/USowyzaAQkI/AAAAAAAABFk/O9WozhFFIpc/s1600/IMGP4579.JPG

Shouldn't be too difficult using soft axles or the 45590 rubber axle connector.

[JohnBS]

Thanks, that was one of my primary goals.

Just using a standard IR remote, I don't have a speed control one.

Thanks..

I wanted it for multi filming, just anything in the house. We decorate extensively for Christmas, so I wanted a room to room filming capability.

Still liking into a suspension solution, I think I may just let the GoPro take care of that by filming at a higher frame rate, that seem to reduce vibrations to some degree. The vibrations are not quite as bad on carpet. It seems that any imperfection in the tile floor is picked up by the GoPro.

I plan to start working on MK II in mid-October

Andy D

Andy,

Nice, I like the steering method and think that some form of suspension and the ability to mount the camera lower down would be advantageous.

Moderator, could this post be combined with the LEGO Technic GoPro studio post?

JohnBS

[Andy D]

Andy,

Nice, I like the steering method and think that some form of suspension and the ability to mount the camera lower down would be advantageous.

Moderator, could this post be combined with the LEGO Technic GoPro studio post?

JohnBS

This is a separate MOC. Why should it be combined with anything.???

In my opinion, combining it with another thread would detract from the viability of that thread/MOC as well as this thread/MOC.

However I can add a link to this great MOC: http://www.eurobrick...howtopic=114707 of the LEGO GoPro Studio.

Edited September 22, 2015 by Andy D

[Andy D]

If you don't have soft suspension on the wheels reducing the vibration from the floor, you could look at a LEGO version of one of these dampening solutions:

http://thingiverse-p...ew_featured.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot...00/IMGP4579.JPG

Shouldn't be too difficult using soft axles or the 45590 rubber axle connector.

Funny you should mention the 45590. I was also thinking of this this morning and ordered some of them to help with suspension and mounting.

For the other two ideas, I need to find a LEGO-like solution like one of these ideas. I do not have the resources to implement as they are shown.

Andy D

Maybe an adder-substractor module can be used for skid steering with the speed controler. One knob would control the speed of the motor going forward and reverse. The other knob would control the speed of the motor making the turns. To stop turning hit the red stop button on the controler.

Not quite sure I understand how this would work, how to implement. Do you know of any examples I could look at?

Thanks,

AndyD

Andy,

Nice, I like the steering method and think that some form of suspension and the ability to mount the camera lower down would be advantageous.

... snip

JohnBS

Yeah, this is one of my goals for the next version, to move the camera lower down. RIght now the camera is mounted right above two M-motors. I plan to redesign the gear train and try to make the whole hing lower to the ground.

Thanks for the suggestion

-- To all who are helping and offering suggestions here--

I really appreciate it as I am just getting back into Technic after a 4 or 5 year spell of mostly modular buildings and such, so I need all the help I can get. I appreciate any help here with ideas and websites to visit. I plan to study Sariel's site for ideas on how to implement some things, but sometimes some of his approaches are still over my head. I just need to study more.

Thanks

Andy D

Edited September 22, 2015 by Andy D

[dr_spock]

Here are some info on adder-subtractor -> http://www.technicbricks.com/2008/09/tbs-techtips-17-adder-substractor.html

Sariel did a video on one too:

[Andy D]

Here are some info on adder-subtractor -> http://www.technicbricks.com/2008/09/tbs-techtips-17-adder-substractor.html

Sariel did a video on one too:

That is a really great idea! I am going to study these ideas an Lenard how to implement. It looks like something like this is just what I need!

Thanks ever so much!

Andy D

[TheItalianBrick]

Basically you will need a pivot point and an arm/bracket that works with a counterweight. Also as normally humans use hands to hold it you should mount it on a suspended frame so to damp the vibrations. Sounds hard but believe me it's easier than it seems!

Google "camera stabilizer" and there is plenty of infos and videos!

[Andy D]

Here are some info on adder-subtractor -> http://www.technicbricks.com/2008/09/tbs-techtips-17-adder-substractor.html

Sariel did a video on one too:

I was doing some more searching and found that Sariel has a great section in his book on adders and subtractors... Ordered the book from Amazon with one-day delivery. Got free one-day by ordering a variable speed remote in the same order.

I have a feeling that my next version of the camera dolly is going to look much different (at least on the inside) than my current one.

Besides the drive, I also need to explore vibration elimination... One step at a time. I hope to have the next version up in a month (or so), depending on what else comes along.

Andy D

Basically you will need a pivot point and an arm/bracket that works with a counterweight. Also as normally humans use hands to hold it you should mount it on a suspended frame so to damp the vibrations. Sounds hard but believe me it's easier than it seems!

Google "camera stabilizer" and there is plenty of infos and videos!

Thanks, I have a feeling that the vibrations elimination is going to be more difficult..

[TheItalianBrick]

Thanks, I have a feeling that the vibrations elimination is going to be more difficult..

Don't worry about it too much because at the end of the day your dolly will drive on plane surfaces mostly! Also you could add suspensions to it in order to improve things!

[grum64]

Great work. Almost makes me want to buy a GoPro.

Edited September 23, 2015 by grum64

[LEGO Train 12 Volts]

Lovely dolly!