GoPro Camera Track

This is a camera track designed for any GoPro or any other small camera. It uses the LEGO Mindstorms and Spike platform; specifically the Robot Inventor Hub, Spike Essential Small Motor, and the Spike Prime Large Motor. It uses a DualSense wireless controller to move the camera or can be programmed. This uses block coding or python, both will be linked below. When using the controller both the controller and the hub needs to be connected to the Mindstorms Robot Inventor app to allow the controller to work.

Necessary Parts (Other than the included STLs)

1. 3/4 inch dowels (2 needed)

2. Mindstorms Robot Inventor Hub

3. Spike Essential Small Motor

4. Spike Prime Large Motor

5. Large LEGO Wheels / Axles

6. Wood Glue (If laser cutting parts) or other strong glue (If 3D Printing everything)

7. Powered up cable extensions - https://www.ebay.com/itm/187483972411?_skw=wedo+extension+cable&itmmeta=01KKFN969X6M46H9YXBJP36V2F&hash=item2ba6ea633b:g:rzMAAeSwFPhojXNl&itmprp=enc%3AAQALAAAA8GfYFPkwiKCW4ZNSs2u11xDajFcvvbG81VqovvXWHYcIjKO36Xks2ZnpKiVbtUHe%2FEp%2Fhhc7Jo7zjCFdnWuIzS7kB8rJDJ%2BW0Ohtxelt%2FEzrEh8BifGBzIHCxLCZiHIClYtBLgFgroxnGld2QX75Gicn%2FOSswiW4a4EkjBAcyVaJOTfjbudpAh0HjBpMBb%2Bgh9ryr9xiros8ppDHofmqyVNW8Xfz9RlhVXBhdM%2FCt6RTFOT6gdqEWfmxmOn3AEj9PCFlr1btnkzMazaGJZrOpV1JSnbMDJpS2osHo0OFEHoQOClaZ5WpAL4dy7W3hJNkjA%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABFBMkuWk9Ztn

8. Soldering tools

9. Wire - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C7MKBFNK?psc=1&ref_=cm_sw_r_ud_ct_4K9Y380PVM0JEMSZ34R8_2 

10. Heat Shrink / Electrical Tape

How to Build 

1. The "Sides" can be laser cut like I did with mine or 3D printed

2. Start printing / Laser Cutting the parts

3. Extending the extensions

   1. Cut the extension in half

   2. Strip each of the six wires

   3. Solder the new 35-40 inches of cable to the powered up extension you cut earlier 

      1. Make sure to keep track of where each wire connects to so you don't miss wire the extension causing shorts

   4. Heat shrink the new longer powered up extensions

   5. Repeat this whole process again to end up with two longer extensions

4. Start assembling the track

   1. Glue the dowels into the sides with about 1/8 inches of dowel sticking out of the front of each side

      1. As long as the flat bottom of each side are on the same side it doesn't matter if the sides are flipped or not

   2. Then glue the hub holder into the correct cutout on the correct side pannel

   3. Route one end of each extension through the cable holes by the hub holder

   4. Connect the large LEGO wheels to the Large Motor and slide the motor into the motor hole on the opposite side of the hub

      1. Make sure the end of the motor where the wire exits the motor goes in first 

   5. Glue the motor mount onto the side panel

      1. Make sure to keep the motor straight during this process

   6. Connect the first extension to the motor

   7. Place the Small Motor into the motor slot on the platform

   8. Using tape / wire / zip ties anchor the motor into the platform

   9. Place the platform onto the track and connect the last extension cable

   10. Tie the string onto the wheel / spool and wrap it around the loop on the hub holder

   11. Then wrap the string on the platform and tie the end onto the wheel / spool

Coding it

1. Ensure the drive motor (large motor) is connected to port F and the small motor is connected to port D

2. Upload the code to the app and connect the hub + controller

3. Start the program and test it

Trouble Shooting

• Controls are backward - reverse connections

  • Check the solder points

• Controller not working - ensure "streaming mode" is on in the code

  • Ensure the controller is connected