Society of Robots - Robot Forum

General Misc => Misc => Topic started by: sonictj on August 11, 2009, 12:55:31 AM

Title: Are there any tutorials out there for pc based robots?
Post by: sonictj on August 11, 2009, 12:55:31 AM

I want to start incorporating the power of a pc, like a single board computer, into my robots, but I don't know where to start.  Any ideas?

Title: Re: Are there any tutorials out there for pc based robots?
Post by: SmAsH on August 11, 2009, 01:26:49 AM

you mean like a laptop or a gumstix?

Title: Re: Are there any tutorials out there for pc based robots?
Post by: sonictj on August 11, 2009, 02:06:57 AM

kinda like a gumstix, but they look a little too bare bones.  Not that I would know though.  I glanced at the roboard too, but what I'm really looking for is information.  Like how to's and such.  I'll have an idea what hardware is best when I know more information about pc based robots in general.  I would like the power to do complex vision algorithms, and stuff like that.

Title: Re: Are there any tutorials out there for pc based robots?
Post by: Admin on August 12, 2009, 07:28:15 AM

Its actually much simpler than it sounds.

You write software on your PC that does all your heavy work, then it sends commands to a mcu. The mcu then controls low-level stuff.

The mcu also reads in sensors, and sends that data back to the PC over USB/bluetooth.

Remember my ERP/bluetooth demo video? Its exactly like that, except instead of my typing in commands, its being fed in/out of another program on a PC. The program just needs to be able to read USB port data, and you're set!

RoboRealm with the Axon is a case in point.

Title: Re: Are there any tutorials out there for pc based robots?
Post by: sonictj on August 12, 2009, 11:30:42 AM

Thats tele-operated I've done that loads of times.  I'm looking to put an embedded PC on a robot.  My problem is I don't know what to look for, and I'm not experienced with linux. 

Title: Re: Are there any tutorials out there for pc based robots?
Post by: airman00 on August 12, 2009, 11:46:05 AM

Admin is talking about the following.
Microcontroller talks to laptop through wired USB connection

Serial commands to microcontroller from laptop tell or ask the microcontroller stuff. Laptop sends out serial " Read Sensor 0" , and microcontroller replies with " Value of 49". Obviously you wouldnt do plain english , it would be more like "R0" and returns "49".

Title: Re: Are there any tutorials out there for pc based robots?
Post by: Admin on August 12, 2009, 01:13:35 PM

To better phrase your question:

"Whats a good embedded single board computer to use, and where can I find tutorials on using it to interface with USB?"

 ;D

I however have no embedded PC experience . . . sorry! :P

Title: Re: Are there any tutorials out there for pc based robots?
Post by: sonictj on August 12, 2009, 02:05:55 PM

Quote

"Whats a good embedded single board computer to use, and where can I find tutorials on using it to interface with USB?"

your right my bad.

Title: Re: Are there any tutorials out there for pc based robots?
Post by: Ro-Bot-X on August 12, 2009, 07:46:07 PM

Read this blog and make sure you read the related blogs with improvements:

http://forums.trossenrobotics.com/blog.php?b=29 (http://forums.trossenrobotics.com/blog.php?b=29)