Society of Robots - Robot Forum

Electronics => Electronics => Topic started by: farnoise on November 25, 2011, 08:48:02 AM

Title: Using Computer Processor (CPU) in robot
Post by: farnoise on November 25, 2011, 08:48:02 AM
Hi Guys,
I was surfing a robot website where I ran into a robot that was using a 3.0 Ghz Dual Core intel processor  ???  :o, I mean when I though about it I guess there will be nothing that this robot won't do (Logic, I/O and processing wise) but I just can't figure out how you would replace a small 8 Mhz microcontroller with a giant 3.GHz processor.. is it doable? I have tonz of processors hanging around my office, could someone shed some light on this please, I'd love to know a little bit more about this,

PS: Well as you could say I am not a pro so if I am missing a simple link in here please let me know.

Many thanks
Title: Re: Using Computer Processor (CPU) in robot
Post by: newInRobotics on November 25, 2011, 09:32:53 AM
To use PC processor You need to have compatible motherboard for it. Having that said, You can either buy one, or build one (which is not easy if You consider DIY).
Title: Re: Using Computer Processor (CPU) in robot
Post by: farnoise on November 25, 2011, 09:38:04 AM
So you are saying I should just use a motherboard?? are there any special kind of motherboards for robots, cuz considering how much power they consume its nor ideal to have a motherboard in robot i guess
Title: Re: Using Computer Processor (CPU) in robot
Post by: joe61 on November 25, 2011, 10:35:47 AM
There are already lots of boards available that can run Linux and be used in robots. For example

http://www.adafruit.com/products/278 (http://www.adafruit.com/products/278)
http://www.gumstix.com/ (http://www.gumstix.com/)
http://beagleboard.org/ (http://beagleboard.org/)

Lots of more possibilities at
http://www.linuxfordevices.com/ (http://www.linuxfordevices.com/)

The next rev of Arduino will include a 32-bit ARM version, which will be capable of running linux, but I doubt it will come that way.
http://diydrones.com/profiles/blogs/arm-arduino-coming (http://diydrones.com/profiles/blogs/arm-arduino-coming)

Edit, my mistake the new Arduino isn't going to have enough RAM or flash to run linux.