Resurrecting Zurg (IoTron)

So after some bumps along the way, I have the Adafruit Serial Jpeg Camera motion detection program working on the esp32. Espressif fixed a few uart bugs and I mainly had to remove references to Software Serial library as it's not supported yet on the esp32. While I brute force commented out Software Serial support, I am sure there is probably a much more elegant way to fake it out for now.

So my next step is to understand how I might use the Watson SDK to allow for photo analysis.

Picking this project up again. With the esp32 just released this project is getting a bump to use it in this project. I plan to upload all materials in my github account.

I have also been reviewing my camera placement options. I had hoped to avoid any case modifications but I think it's going to be inevitable.

Looking for suggestion for Camera's. When making an order last year from Adafruit I impulsivly purchased one of these

Miniature TTL Serial JPEG Camera with NTSC Video.

This one may have been the better option

TTL Serial JPEG Camera with NTSC Video

I started the system level and schematic drawings on upverter. I received two Adafruit HUZZAH ESP8266 Breakout PRODUCT ID: 2471, one of their cameras Miniature TTL Serial JPEG Camera with NTSC Video PRODUCT ID: 1386.

As a backup I also ordered and received two Particle Photon's in case I need more ummph

Document the current hardware (WIP)

System Components - https://tools.upverter.com/eda/#tool=system,designId=783e38ad1400d2e7

Schematic - https://tools.upverter.com/eda/#tool=schematic,designId=783e38ad1400d2e7

I vacuumed Zurg off and proceeded inspect the base first. Underneath we find

1. Speaker
2. Battery holder for 3 Double AA batteries
3. Base switch to activate Zurg manually
4. A play or try me switch. Base switch is currently working with this switch in either position. (Note: So I ended up looking up the instructions for Zurg and found out that you have to arm him in order to have him monitor the sector).
5. Wire bridge PCB that handles the transition from the main PCB to the sensor, lights and motors in the main body. I expect it there to provide some possible strain relief and or just make assembly easier. See photo for connections.
6. Main PCB is comprised of two parts. One smaller daughter board which just has a resister and one black blob, and the main board which has resistors, caps and transistors. All caps look to be okay (no swelling)

Next I took apart his body (reluctantly to determine which wires were for the sensor) and found

1. Main body motor which turns his upper body and his head.
2. Arm motor
3. Mouth light
4. Eye lights
5. Gun light
6. Sensor led
7. Movement sensor (Looks to be a Photo Resistor). PCB marked RL-346E

I plan to use upverter to document the system and the circuit. Seems to be lots of room in the base to put an esp8266.

So for my project I will want to remote activate the Zurgotronic Patrol System (simulate base button press - twice quickly). Pass the sensor and led circuit via the esp8266 so i can control when the led lights or the Photo resistor is enabled. Optionally control how zrurg moves side to side by controlling his body motor. Add support for a camera to capture the intruder?

Most of these photos are self explanatory but I'll add captions for completeness

Base

Base switch

Speaker

Main PCB - Bottom View

Main PCB - Top View

Lots o hot glue

Main PCB - Blob View

- I am guessing it is some kind of MP3 player chip

Wire bridge PCB

Wire bridge PCB - close up

Wire bridge PCB - pinouts

Main body and arm motors

Wiring

Zone Activation LED and Light Sensor

Clean up Zurg.

Yup he's pretty dam dusty.

Popped the battery cover off the bottom and found that 2 out of 3 double AA batteries were missing and the one left had started spitting battery juice. I can only surmise that Zurg was robbed of his live giving force in order to supply the usurper xbox controller with much needed sustenance.

Cleaned up the battery gunk and popped in a fresh set of batteries.

Zurg was quite happy to respond to the press of the button on his base but alas his motion sensing ability seems fubar'd atm. A thorough cleaning and removal of the bottom plate are next.