robot that press and release a button

[dcjea]

Hi,

I am looking for a simple robotic device that can press and release a button.  I tried google, but results always ended up something different.  Any suggestion on where I can buy or how I can build such a device?

Thank you,
David

[newInRobotics]

Can You describe the device a bit more?

On what event the button has to be pressed?

Can a button be replaced by a MOSFET, transistor or relay?

[dcjea]

Can You describe the device a bit more?

On what event the button has to be pressed?

Can a button be replaced by a MOSFET, transistor or relay?

This is the physical iPhone Home button that I want to press.  Plan to trigger the 'press-release-event' through a serial port (or any other similar method). In my imagination: I use mouse to click on my laptop screen (in a control program), this device then press iPhone home button (and release the button afterwards) for me.

[Soeren]

Hi,

A solenoid with a rubber '"finger" is probably the best way to go (at least it was some 25 years ago when we made test robots for testing hand-held terminals with 20+ solenoids.

If you have a serial port (they're getting scarce these days), you can go with any of the output lines, just remember that EIA/TIA-232 is resting positive (and active negative). This can be inverteed in the control program, which you'll have to build yourself, as it will be quite OS/version dependant in connecting with the physical hardware.

A couple of transistors + "glue" is all the hardware it takes to interface the solenoid to the serial line.

[dcjea]

Hi,

A solenoid with a rubber '"finger" is probably the best way to go (at least it was some 25 years ago when we made test robots for testing hand-held terminals with 20+ solenoids.

If you have a serial port (they're getting scarce these days), you can go with any of the output lines, just remember that EIA/TIA-232 is resting positive (and active negative). This can be inverteed in the control program, which you'll have to build yourself, as it will be quite OS/version dependant in connecting with the physical hardware.

A couple of transistors + "glue" is all the hardware it takes to interface the solenoid to the serial line.

Thanks! I do not know there are things like "solenoid" exist. Looks like it is what I need, am going to look into it.
Though serial port becomes scarce. I would expect USB-to-Serial adapter can be used to do the trick.
David

[Fr0stAngel]

if you know how to use a servo motor, they can perform your task very easily.http://www.societyofrobots.com/actuators_servos.shtml
using a proper servo horn, you will need to position the servo such that when you give the command, the servo horn presses the button.just remember to cushion it at the end, and not make it go more than the required position.

[Gertlex]

It could be as easy as putting iphone on a piece of wood, attaching a servo to the wood, with a little arm on it for the button, and getting a USB servo controller.

E.g.:
http://www.sparkfun.com/products/9664
plus
http://www.sparkfun.com/products/9065  (ebay would be cheaper for tiny servos)

[growler]

I would not count on a usb to serial adapter working for this. The usb converters fake a serial port enough to communicate generally but the electronics behind it are different then a real port and so they do respond differently to things like wiring up external electronics.

[Gertlex]

I would not count on a usb to serial adapter working for this. The usb converters fake a serial port enough to communicate generally but the electronics behind it are different then a real port and so they do respond differently to things like wiring up external electronics.

Well I've never had problems with my USB-Serial adapter.

(not sure if you were referring to the stuff I linked, but I'm pretty sure the USB servo controller wouldn't sell if it didn't work...)

[Soeren]

Hi,

A servo would need a circuit to generate the correctly timed pulse widths to engage and disengage.
A solenoid will only need a single pulse that isn't time critical.
A servo solution will be more expensive.