Hacking the MiP - Proto Pack
This Tutorial is Retired!
This tutorial covers concepts or technologies that are no longer current. It's still here for you to read and enjoy, but may not be as useful as our newest tutorials.
CaseyTheRobot 
Attaching the Proto Pack
Step 1. Remove Battery Pack
You want to make sure the MiP is powered off and the batteries are removed before we start hacking away.
Step 2. Drill and Remove Wheel Screws
Fortunately/unfortunately the manufacturer glued the screw caps on the wheels. Good for consumers, ad for hacking. Take your favorite drilling device, and carefully create a hole in the wheel. This will expose enough of the screw head to get a phillips head screw driver to the screw head. I found that a 3/16" drill bit works great. I have also used a Dremel rotary tool to grind out the plug. NOTE: Remember to drill both sides.
Step 3. Remove Wheels
Using a small phillips screwdriver, remove both wheels. If the holes you drilled were small enough, the screws will stay in the wheels.
Step 4. Remove the Eight (8) Body Screws.
Remove the 8 body screws that hold the two halves of the MiP together (be sure not to lose the screws so you can put it back together). NOTE: The wheels should already be removed, disregard them in this photo.
Step 5. Remove Electrical Connections
There are three cables to remove. They are all different enough that it shoudl be obvious where each is replaced. Here is a quick overview of what each cable is for.
Step 6. Make a hole for the hacking cable
Here is where you will need a rotary tool or some skill with a drill. You need to create a hole in the back to allow the hacking cable to pass through the shell. This doesn't have to look pretty, it will be covered up later.
Step 7. Solder the Connector to the Proto-Pack
Solder the 4-pin connector to the back of the Proto-Pack. The front side has a Sparkfun and OSHW logo. The backside does not. NOTE: Pay close attention to the orientation of the connector. There is a small groove located on the bottom of the connector, this groove should be pointed towards the outside of the board as shown below.
Step 8. Remove the Battery Pack Plate
Remove the three screws that hold the back plate on. It's not necessary to keep these screws.
Step 9. Assembling the Battery Holder
Using the 4-40 screws and nuts, re-assemble the Battery Holder by replacing the back plate with the Proto-Pack. Make sure the 4-pin connector is facing towards the Battery socket.
Step 10. Re-assemble the MiP
Before re-placing the back shell, plug in the Expansion Cable. Thread the Expansion Cable through the hole you created in Step 5. Replace the 8 screws that were removed in Step 4. Replace the two wheels.
Step 11. Did you forget the Arms?
I managed to re-assemble my MiP with out arms... It happens.
Step 12. Final Assembly
First make sure the Expansion Cable is exposed. Then plug this into the assembled battery holder. Once the connection is made, simply replace the battery holder and use the three M3 x 12mm screws to complete assembly. NOTE: Don't forget to install the 4xAAA batteries
Step 13. You're Done!
Admire your fine craftsmanship and start hacking!
