Society of Robots - Robot Forum
Electronics => Electronics => Topic started by: robotmaniac on April 05, 2012, 01:19:09 PM
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Hi, i was wondering if I could use the $50 microcontroller for a sumo robot and can I add some crystals to it? What other things can I add to improve its performance? I know it would be better to just buy another microcontroller but actually what i most like about robotics is building the microcontroller myself. Thanks in advance.
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Hi,
i was wondering if I could use the $50 microcontroller for a sumo robot
Sure, you just need to make another program for it of course.
and can I add some crystals to it? What other things can I add to improve its performance?
You can add a crystal, but you won't get any improved performance for what you wanna do, from doing so.
Not sure if you mean improving a Sumo or improving the controller?
I know it would be better to just buy another microcontroller but actually what i most like about robotics is building the microcontroller myself.
Let's be clear on the concepts. The microcontroller is the actual chip (which you aren't able to build). When you stuff it into a board, you get a microcontroller board.
If building the board is what gives you a buzz, you don't need to confine yourself to robotics - almost any piece of electronics can be made with a microcontroller (although it sometimes makes no, or very little sense).
For a Sumo the "$50 board" is more than enough and you'd gain absolutely nothing by using a more capable board.
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I meant improving the microcontroller and no hard feelings i wanna keep it cool with you but I said "most" doesn't mean i don't like the other stuff about robotics just saying. But thanks for the advice :) are we cool? But back to the topic would it improve the performance of the microcontroller
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and can I add some crystals to it? What other things can I add to improve its performance?
You can add a crystal, but you won't get any improved performance for what you wanna do, from doing so.
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Hi,
I meant improving the microcontroller and no hard feelings i wanna keep it cool with you but I said "most" doesn't mean i don't like the other stuff about robotics just saying. But thanks for the advice :) are we cool?
We're making robots, how can we not be cool ;D
But back to the topic would it improve the performance of the microcontroller
A crystal will improve the precision of the timing, but that won't improve how a Sumo handles (unless you have issues with servos without it).
The most important things in a Sumo is torque, mechanical design and then some more torque :)
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ok thanks ;D and do you know anything that would improve the microcontollers performance regardless the purpose it has? I mean forget that I'am going to use it for a Sumo I'am planning to make various microcontroller boards and stuff for other experimental robots I have in mind
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Hi,
[...] do you know anything that would improve the microcontollers performance regardless the purpose it has? I mean forget that I'am going to use it for a Sumo I'am planning to make various microcontroller boards and stuff for other experimental robots I have in mind
Problem is, that your question is like asking "What's the best car in the world".
What's an improvement in one situation may be a hindrance in another, so you can't just make one super board, but have to make them for the specific project (at least to some extent), or accept using inferior solutions.
The very misused term "one size fits all" really means "bad fit for most" ;D
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Ok thanks :)