The Anatomy of an R2-D2 Astromech Droid!

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What makes up an R2-D2 Astromech? We chat with members of the R2 Builders club to learn about the process of building your own droid--the materials, power systems, and electronics needed to get started. Chris James of the Bay Area club chapter opens up his own R2 and shares the custom controls and components he's designed to make his droid come alive!
Learn more about the R2 Builders club at astromech.net/ and at www.artoo-detoo.net/
Shot by Andy Bauman and edited by Joey Fameli
Music by Jinglepunks
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Tested is:
Norman Chan / nchan
Will Smith / willsmith
Joey Fameli / joeyfameli
Adam Savage / donttrythis
Jamie Hyneman / jamienotweet
Thanks for watching!

[@tested]

Learn more about the R2 Builders club at astromech.net/ and at www.artoo-detoo.net/

[@shinigamilee5915]

I so much want one of those! 🤣

[@baileydavis1616]

​@@shinigamilee5915 me too

[@wIzKid16100]

One of these days R4. One of these days. 😔 we will be together again.... My old friend

[@ObiiWanKenobii]

Hello old me

[@visualize2065]

Oh dear

[@saviour1754]

My little blue friend

[@mrcreepersubscribe5385]

Hello there, General Kenobi.

[@HeyItsLukeLane]

@@ObiiWanKenobii hello there

[@brendenkidd4633]

I want to have one that wonders around by itself and has collision detection. I also think it would be cool to get it to follow you automatically. Another thing I think would be cool is to add a vacuum to the third leg so you will essentially have an R2D2 unit roaming around you house with a purpose. Best roomba ever.

[@duon44]

Love the r2 screaming in the background :p

[@verybigboy]

duon44 1st reply.

[@duon44]

what

[@BinkieMcFartnuggets]

Don't forget to punch enough air holes for the dwarf. That's a lesson I had to learn the hard way.

[@robotfishFX]

It would be badass if someone put a mini projector inside one of them. So you could project the "help me obiwan scene"

[@minisithunknown5568]

I actually want to build a custom RC R2D2 with a mini projector in it. Who needs a laptop when I have R2 on the job. :P My project will be expensive but it is my dream PC and willing to spend the cash on it instead of a nice car.

[@PodpadStudios]

See @podoadstudios

[@PodpadStudios]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bqm1gaVpa7udbZI

[@BallingerFamily]

Someday I will build you R2... someday...

[@MrHws5mp]

Chris Ballinger Build it sooner rather than later while the kids are still small enough to fit inside Chris - you could save a fortune on fancy electronics.. ;-)

[@kruleworld]

+Chris Ballinger: I started my R2 build a few years back, bought the dome, built the body and legs. If you can't make a lot of the parts yourself, you need to spend a LOT of money to buy them. I'm trying to do it as cheaply as possible, so for some parts I scavenged (like the cylinder things on his shoulder i used cdrom motors).

[@fanoffrankieonps3]

+Aussie Muscle How do you make the dome?

[@kruleworld]

I bought one, but you can make it with fiberglass and wood.

[@rosinemercado8127]

dose this mean in the near future we will use R2-D2s BB8s and C3s

[@jeroexx]

love the r2 who's singing the cantina sound....and the screams are just fantastic haha

[@RasoKye]

I love how you focus on the creator instead of the thing we really want to see...

[@qais187]

ikr

[@flipballaz93]

+Roxas theNobody he did a review on the creator lol

[@Fairpoint374]

Roxas The Nobody well you can't just mess with some creation all Willy nilly XD

[@moultriemanicmechani]

If you go to their page , all the info on building one ,everything inside etc , is available to you . The interview was about the builders , the website is mentioned , there will be the droids ,you are searching for

[@Zoidd_Bergg]

I'm 15 and recently watched the first 6 star wars movies for the first time and I love R2D2, I'm getting a 3D printer soon and already have the files to print one, I will be making 3 of them, 1 for me and the other 2 for my dad and uncle who love star wars, best of luck to me xD

[@MildRider1]

This is by far the most informative R2D2 video out there. good work guys. Currently modding the hasbro interactive R2D2

[@sidowninc]

RIP Kenny Baker Awesome work btw!

[@josephdavis2695]

What a gorgeous and elegant control surface!

[@peten6445]

Chris is a great guy; super cool and helpful.

[@whatchef]

Great interview. As always. Good work on asking questions about how to get started. Tested should build a basic R2

[@slashingraven]

You know what I like about Norm? He's a proper nerd. He shows genuine interest. He's asking the questions other nerds like me want answers to. He's not just skimming over and rushing through the subject matter like Will does.

[@thedr00]

It would have been nice is there was some R2 in this R2 video. Is there a follow up that includes this?

[@Cuddlestrike]

would be nice if you could add a video part where you focus on the actual content that is being talked about

[@rlrsk8r1]

Snuggle bum Or hire a half-decent cameraman. "I have a button here that opens all the panels" *blurry shot of some hands, Norm's crotch and the R2's midsection as the focus racks back and forth*

[@christiangera3679]

1:28 WAHHHHHHHOOOUUUUUUU

[@benjamincarlin]

Great interview but desperately wanted to see more of the animatronics of the R2 in this vid!

[@Mikomaribojo]

Dope! I work at the costco and livermore. We just had these EXACT guys taking photos for donations to childrens hospital. Was awesome. Were going to have some cosplayers as darth vader and stormtroopers this Sunday.

[@tornuptom]

Good to see the well known and loved oshpark purple circuit boards!!

[@allluckyseven]

Great video, Norm!

[@alexcenteno2611]

I built my own (R2-Q5) the builders club really help me with my project. now I'm on my second build and soon my club will be doing BB-8. my advice is to read a lot, you can find different ways on building a astromech on youtube. I suggest on going to comic con and talk to a builder most of us are friendly and will steer you on the right direction

[@aDotFromTheFuture]

In the thumbnail, you actually had the R2 opened up, so why not show that in the video? It's great to hear what the builder has to say about the subject, but what I really came here to see was that opened up R2...

[@chroboe]

aDotFromTheFuture b-but they did show the inside starting at around 34 seconds in...

[@aDotFromTheFuture]

chroboe Yeah, that's not what I mean. They should have given us a more detailed view and explanation, of what's going on inside.

[@CorneliusSneedley]

aDotFromTheFuture I think if the title were different I might be less disappointed with videos like these. So often they have videos with titles like "Building a ..." or "The Anatomy of. . ." and then they barely show the item in question.

[@whoknows8678]

+aDotFromTheFuture You do realize they have their entirely own dedicated website, right? Probably a better source for what you're after than some cheesy 7 min KZbin video. Just sayin'...

[@aDotFromTheFuture]

Who Knows Sigh... my point was, if you're going to make a video about an operational R2D2 and imply with the thumbnail that you're going to be talking about how it works, then why not just do that? Even the title implied that. But yeah, it was all done just as a clickbait...

[@nitr8]

Good vid. Thanks 👍🤘🖖

[@kevinyoung9557]

Very cool!!

[@jeff_mustash1534]

Ok, right at 4:10 he says"...there are even some pipeds running around with 'em right now..." and the most perfectly timed r2 scream happens. Amazing...

[@tucker3350]

Would have liked to see his r2 move and it's gadgets.

[@raymondgerlach3148]

True

[@jawajamm6361]

Omg there's a Jawa!!! My FAVOURITE Star Wars creature!!

[@JLeoni96]

Awesome sauce!

[@frankl2467]

My left ear enjoyed this.

[@undefined326]

Frank Lieberwirth u have broken headphones?

[@NileSuperRiver]

Frank Lieberwirth It's in stereo mate. Problem is on your end.

[@vonantero9458]

gsrglrsnglskg nrsogn

[@ryolo132]

Von Antero it's one of the bugs in the new HTML5 player

[@vonantero9458]

göorgmrsöpgmsr

[@cobra-kx3zn]

I wonder if they are for sale? It would be interesting to have an R2D2 unit in the house.

[@user-hb4de1jn6d]

very nice

[@novustalks7525]

That's so cool

[@kingdogok9611]

I already know what I’m putting in mine servos and a 24 volt PLC SO MANY POSSIBILITIES!

[@FaceForwardd]

If I were a millionare I'd buy one of these for every childrens cancer hospital in the US. R2 is pure joy

[@IceCrossFire]

Aww! Watch the shy little boy in the background! 5:35

[@AllThreeWitches]

4:10 that R2 was amazed that there are bipeds running around on the same system.

[@lullul4509]

I’ll try to get the money to buy this it is cool !

[@sayresyDevino]

DONT have to be a mind-reader to know that this is what NORM wants for Xmas... Great interview, would have liked to have seen more R2

[@doginstine]

Nice to see Robby the Robot in the background.

[@WillieBeard]

Any videos around showing the actual projects?

[@jaymesfleury5073]

That was an R2 Petting Zoo! Is there a group noun for astromechs? A herd? A Bleep?

[@chrisvellner3922]

If they ever need astromech extras for a big scene...there ya go!

[@hethutjemetkutje9575]

Does it fit to green storage of video image with tag funktion?

[@johnmorgan1629]

Can't believe it's been 5 years since first watched this.

[@SteveCarmichael]

These are so cool. I made a wooden R2 birdhouse on my woodworking channel, but would love to go full scale and make one of these with electronics and stuff. Awesome!

[@BuildanR2D2byAri]

Steve Carmichael All it takes is time and some research! Go for it.

[@anakindb7791]

i want one so badly

[@mechagoblin8768]

Im waiting for the BB creators club :)

[@lordofthestings]

I wanted to see some r2d2 action

[@nephildevil]

hehe yeah i've been intrigued by this, cool :p

[@ZombieChimpanzee]

three questions 1: has anyone designed a mobile astromech with a retractable third leg? 2: has anyone made a mobile astromech that will follow the user, like it uses some signal thing and can follow a person on a flat surface? 3: what type of wheel design do people go with? do people go with treads in the feet instead of wheels? these Astromechs are super cool. I wish I had the know-how, money, and time to make one. I'd definitely make one and have it just sitting in my house somewhere, and occasionally have it move or vocalize when people are over.

[@pixelFiend]

1. Yes, several have been made. It's a highly individualized design kind of thing, and a lot of difficult concepts to tackle. 2. To my knowledge, no, but I've heard the idea tossed about several times. 3. Several configurations have been used through the years. From inexpensive cast urethane with timing belt pulleys, to pneumatic tires, to off the shelf wheels with hubs from hobby robotics companies. A few have tried treads, but these are mainly driven tank-style, and even in four wheel configs there can be a bit of scrubbing on tight turns. Currently Colson wheels with a softer durometer are popular, as well as a custom wrapped tire around a wheel with integrated motor and planetary gears. The know-how is on the official site, along with a few hundred experienced builders and very friendly guys willing to help. Can't help with the money or time though. :) But the project takes a looong time, and will not be completed in the short term, making it more feasible cost-wise.

[@jorenmartijn]

I'm gonna get some dislikes for this, but I'd love to make Rosie the Robot from The Jetsons, just to be different :)

[@slashingraven]

jorenmartijn Whateveh makes you happy, Misteh Jay.

[@mcsdaver]

jorenmartijn Go for it! My R2 always wanted to date her!

[@alext2046]

jorenmartijn that's an awesome idea actually

[@jorenmartijn]

Oh and that robot the mechanic of the series had would be cool. The one with three wheels. :) Perhaps somewhere in the future I might take that project on. Maybe when there's an open source variant for Siri so I can have her respond to things I say. :D

[@mcsdaver]

jorenmartijn Some programmers are working on what they call EZ-AI for robots. It works with the software from EZ-Robots to give you a robot the you can chat with and it will recognize your face and talk about things you like to talk about. It can know the likes of everyone in your house so it wont sing children's rhymes to the adults in your house or let the kids search for things they shouldn't on the web. It has full use of the internet for information if you want to ask the weather or have it search the web for you. Voice control is getting better and better and this new AI makes it smarter.

[@UncleRichie101]

I wonder if u could make him automated so he could free rome maybe with a kinect for the 3d mapping. Could use voice activation. For example "maintenance" opens the hatches. Also if people talk to him he could make an automatic response. Still the most amazing R2 I've ever seen. Only reason I make the recommendations is because if anyone can do it these guys can. XD

[@juhva]

One suggestion. Less "talking heads" and more video on actual item. So in this case more videos on R2's and put the interview audio on background.

[@andrewjenkins9965]

I'm learning so much from this though.

[@lewisconboy1765]

It really puzzles me how the third leg moves, i si t free wheeling or is it controlled by a servo to turn in which direction it moves yet that would still cause friction, if anyone knows please tell me

[@macrick]

I wanna build a Death Star (Life size) out of styrene, with an operational main cannon & crew. So, where do I sign up?

[@Tomfoolery1972]

dead 😭😭😭😭😭

[@JoshuaModerwell]

What I would give to have the skills to build my very own R2-D2 replica droid, except mine would have sound and motion sensors to respond to my voice and anyone else's and to follow me around without the use of an RC remote control or pocket remotes.

[@amongusmarkII]

Cool

[@Sanglierification]

but omg. That the most fuckking amazing thing i've ever seen

[@JoshoMeow]

Look at this R2 at my movie theater!

[@joannecousins4328]

Where can I get some blueprints from please, I've tyred every way

[@DarkLordDiablos]

What I'd like to seem them build is T7-01 from SWTOR or maybe R5-D4 from A New Hope, hell I'd love to see them make C1-10P aka "Chopper" from Star Wars Rebels, considering he's supposed to be based on the original design for Artoo.

[@kargandarr]

Electric seat motors out of wrecked vehicles can also be used to move the droids around.

[@stevenjones2371]

sweet im 3d printing one as i type this

[@logandarklighter]

Robby the Robot in the background of several of the shots! ^_^

[@steveb0503]

logandarklighter Yeah, fuck the R2s - I want one of THOSE!

[@RichSzerman]

Interesting. Intested of a remote control why not hook up over wifi. I can see using Andriod OS a good path for this interfaced using +5v then all you need is some programming and a little bit of programming :-) Your R2 unit looks great

[@ZBoy0123]

is that a protectron in the backround?

[@Jamesah1975]

Need!

[@leosf9751]

The real R2-D2 in the clone wars has a jet pack mud antenna cables a shocking electrical ray fog mist and the storage place with a control gear for spaceships

[@owenfitzgerald8944]

Much more high tech than the movie R2-D2, which was a guy in a bin on wheels.

[@shattaredentertainment4782]

Some one needs to build an Apu-d2.

[@UncleRichie101]

The head movement could be done with a dish an 4+ motor wheels in the dish to provide moment on all axis's. Think that's the simplest way. And easy on the maintenance if done ergonomically. :)

[@alexcenteno2611]

***** head movement is done using a lazy susan 17in by5/8 the dome drive is connected to the body. I built one and building my 2nd

[@greggeshelman7106]

These people are making astromech droids to a supreme degree of perfection. But look closely at the original 1977 Star Wars and you can see in close up shots how crudely built and roughly finished it was. It's the same with most 1990's and previous SciFi props. They look passably good on screen, especially in motion, but when seen in person or on one of the TV and movie prop websites most of them look pretty crappy, as if they were quickly slapped together in a couple of days. Well, many of them were for TV productions that often called for props that would be used in a single short scene then never used again, or would be cut up, added to and otherwise modified to speed up production for a later episode.

[@liam3847]

The R2D2 Scream at 4:11

[@generico366]

James Bruton from XRobots built an open frame 3D printed R6 astromech droid and is currently working on a fully functional BB-8. Check out his channel, he has some great stuff on there.

[@vlweb3d]

That's all well and good ... *BUT DOES IT BLEND !?!?*

[@Plyroar]

R2-D2 now with joycon compatibility.

[@kadenater123]

WAS THAT A PROTECTRON IN THE BACKGROUND?!

[@squaddy4251]

the old anikan is dead but i miss this r2

[@Sunwakka]

was that a black protectron in the background?

[@Sunwakka]

Larry Power no need to get mad. it just looked like a protectron from that angle and distance.

[@markjordan77]

the robot in the background is called Robbie the Robot, he's from the 50's movie "the forbidden planet". the protectrons from fallout 4 are actually based on Robbie.

[@StartledOctopus]

Is a retractable leg like in the films possible?

[@kyloren2799]

Damn I was I was a fucking nerd I would built one of these in a heart beat. Wish I could.

[@SuperMasterTurtle]

Does the microwave ever interfere with operating?

[@JonTheGeek]

This guy basically made the Nintendo switch controllers before they were invented, just to control an R2D2. I love it.

[@bestbry1]

I dream of the day when someone will be able to have ai on these Star was droids

[@AKI_XO]

Bryan de Sá basically here already right?

[@FlesHBoX]

Oh this is dangerous. I could spend so much money on something like this!

[@imambrose6339]

Can i buy one of these big working droids or do i have to build it

[@pixelFiend]

They must be built, for a lot of reasons.

[@Durwood71]

Title: "The Anatomy of an R2-D2 Astromech Droid! " Video: An interview with a guy promoting his website.

[@tobyjamison6801]

ZX-3 for me! And the black R2 unit from Vader's star destroyer. Can't remember the name rhough

[@hardrockinhere]

I went to their website and couldn't even figure out how to register!

[@dundervevo6842]

hardrockinhere yeah what does it mean by ‘referer’? I entered 5 different things and it turned me down all 5 times

[@shelleyking8450]

Big hint- if you do a video about R2 anatomy, try and show some of it.

[@donniejewett8145]

Not good enough until we see an R2 with a mind of his own, like the movie. Not good enough.

[@generico366]

You realise that's not possible yet, right?

[@donniejewett8145]

Bas van de Kleut Yeah. *crying*

[@LongTimeAtheist]

+Bas van de Kleut Are you sure?...

[@generico366]

+LongTimeAtheist Yes, I am.

[@sony154]

The only thing about ALL your videos is that you never let them show you when they control things.

[@homersimpson6176]

Come-on Adam , Make an R2-D2 I know you can !

[@RD-hn7ry]

BEEP BLOOP BLEEP BOOP !! BEEP BLOP BOOP BLEEB BLOP !

[@Doug_R1]

An interesting concept for weight reduction is 3D printing the droid. There's actually a KZbin channel doing just that at the moment.

[@jojidonald]

Doug Peck can you share the link?

[@Doug_R1]

Joji Donald Look up James Bruton on KZbin. He's in the middle of doing a Hulk-buster suit but has plenty of videos up on his channel about his astromech droid.

[@jojidonald]

Doug Peck Thanks Doug!

[@mcsdaver]

Doug Peck His channel is amazing. He is also a member of the R2Builders group. He is also making a working BB8 droid. James can make anything.

[@tbuksuperfly]

David Mc Yes XRobots. Very talented guy :) Although he's not making BB8 the 'correct' way I guess you'd say. I.e. the way that was revealed at celebrations (magnetised wheels, gimble, internal movement system, etc..) he's doing it using a movement, accelerometer and levelling system in the head that attempts to right itself as it moves out of the centre of gravity. An interesting design but I can't see it being very successful for any kind of real movement (unless going REALLY slowly heh) Not that I could do any better but in a way I do think it's a shame he didn't change the plan when the info came out, would have saved him a lot of hassle

[@appa609]

They need to get some machine learning people to work on autonomous control.

[@raymondgerlach3148]

So where was the anatomy part? Most was talking about the how to and not enough R2-D2.