We’re excited to introduce the new Dalek 2.0 robot “Dalek FAX”- complete with AI and interactive speech! This time we’ve followed build plans from Project Dalek, but with a robotic twist. We have a voice changer and speakers so that via remote audio, we can hear what the audience is saying and talk back to them in a Dalek voice. We had circuit boards printed for the leds on the weapon. We have AI, using Computer Vision with a Raspberry Pi, which is used in ‘sentry mode’ when team is taking a break, and the robot eye stalk focuses on a face and tracks them. Nick did most of the electronics, Andrew and Nick the building, and Ralph Gnauck did the AI. We’ve reused the mecanum wheels and the hemispheres from Dalek 1.0. Practically everything else is new.
Birth of Dalek FAX
The Fairfax Dalex was conceived when a group of middle schoolers (including Nick) had some friends who had made a Tardis for the local Fairfax Parade, so of course they wanted a Dalek. Andrew was volunteering as a robotics coach in their classroom, and Fairfax Dalek V1 was born.
The initial version was completely recycled parts, with an old FIRST robot for the base, cardboard for the body with apple cartons from Costco as the hemispheres, a wok for the head and spice jars for the ears. It became a favorite with the kids, and each year they improved on it under Andrew’s guidance, taking the students with the Dalek to MakerFaire Bay Area whenever possible.
The second version had more durable parts, with an acrylic body, mecanum wheels, and 12v car batteries to power it. It had an arduino with several pre-recorded sounds (such as Exterminate!) that were controlled via the main controller.
Here is a complete evolution of the Dalek.