Society of Robots - Robot Forum

Electronics => Electronics => Topic started by: kaitrias on March 11, 2013, 11:08:49 PM

Title: Arduino Vs. Regular Microcontroller
Post by: kaitrias on March 11, 2013, 11:08:49 PM

If I understand the $50 robot tutorial right... that microcontroller used in the tutorial is customized with different parts like capacitors and stuff like that right?  If I bought an Arduino, will it have the same functions if I built my own micro controller. If not can I add the electronics to it?

One last question... If I had a microcontroller, do I still need a motor controller?

Title: Re: Arduino Vs. Regular Microcontroller
Post by: jwatte on March 11, 2013, 11:37:45 PM

An Arduino would replace the microcontroller of the robot. The code would have to be slightly modified and re-built to work on the Arduino instead of the microcontroller.
You still need a motor controller, because the motor controller takes the relatively weak signals from the microcontroller (only enough to light up a LED) and uses them to turn on/off the relatively heavy load of the motor. Trying to drive a motor directly from a microcontroller would likely fry the chip.