Society of Robots - Robot Forum

Electronics => Electronics => Topic started by: supernoob on October 07, 2009, 06:58:14 PM

Title: what is better for a noob Axon or Arduino mega
Post by: supernoob on October 07, 2009, 06:58:14 PM
Hi, Im new to all of this and was wondering what would be a better choice for me the Axon or the Arduino mega? Sorry Admin don't hate me for being curious lol ;)
I did build the board for the $50 robot and messed with the code some, And if the Axon has libraries that take alot of the dirty work out of the code then i should be fine. so i'm guessing the axon is programed in a similar way as the $50 robot board? I've never used an Arduino board.
what are the diffrences between the Axon and Arduino mega? what are the pros + cons?
Also I know that the axon can control like 29 servos but are you better off using a servo controler board like the ssc-32 servo controler to take some of the load of the mcu if your using that many servos?
 
Title: Re: what is better for a noob Axon or Arduino mega
Post by: Joker94 on October 07, 2009, 07:05:06 PM
well the Arduino is cheaper so it would be better in the fact that after you buy it you still have enough cash to build the bot. but if it was me i would go with the axon, 1)it is a better investment for the future and 2)it has a massive community and data base of users so it would be easier if you didn't want to program.
Title: Re: what is better for a noob Axon or Arduino mega
Post by: galannthegreat on October 07, 2009, 07:26:34 PM
If you're going to use it for robotics, the AXON will be the prefered choice because of the standard 3-pin headers that are on it that are used by servos and commonly, sensors aswell.
Title: Re: what is better for a noob Axon or Arduino mega
Post by: SmAsH on October 08, 2009, 05:08:50 AM
Axon lmao.
Anyone that has ever tried to connect servos to an arduino of any kind without a breadboard will tell of horror!
As galan noted before, the three pin headers. The arduino was not really designed for roboticists, instead all the other people who are interested in leds and the like.
The axon on the other hand WAS designed for robotics. It may be more expensive but it is well worth the money.
Title: Re: what is better for a noob Axon or Arduino mega
Post by: Joker94 on October 08, 2009, 09:51:09 PM
The axon on the other hand WAS designed for robotics. It may be more expensive but it is well worth the money.

Definatly worth it.
Title: Re: what is better for a noob Axon or Arduino mega
Post by: radhoo on October 11, 2009, 01:14:23 AM
go for Axon since you will quickly learn to use it and take many advantages afterward.
Title: Re: what is better for a noob Axon or Arduino mega
Post by: Soeren on October 11, 2009, 05:46:43 PM
Hi,

well the Arduino is cheaper so it would be better in the fact that after you buy it you still have enough cash to build the bot. but if it was me i would go with the axon, 1)it is a better investment for the future and 2)it has a massive community and data base of users so it would be easier if you didn't want to program.
Ad. 1 As long as you don't burn it.
Ad. 2 Googling "axon microcontroller" = 9k hits, while "arduino microcontroller" gives about 107k hits, so if the Axons user base (which is not a data base ;)) is massive, the Arduinos base would be what... Gigantic? in comparison.

It all comes down to a first time users choice here. Maybe a choice for life, maybe just for the spur of a moment, so I think it would be proper to start of cheap - one can allways upgrade (and one allways will, as nothing in electronics is permanently in the lead - to put it mildly).

It's just like with eg. multi-meters, scopes and other tooling!
Hands up, all of you who started off your electronics hobby with one of the better Fluke meters,  a 1GHz Tektronix 'scope, a 10ns logic analyzer, Lindstrom hand tools etc.
And all of you with your hands still down (i.e. all of you): Please start giving sensible advice that fits a newbies pocket, instead of projecting your own wishes onto others budgets.
Title: Re: what is better for a noob Axon or Arduino mega
Post by: Joker94 on October 12, 2009, 04:15:35 AM
sorry i ment massive user data base on SOR, not to metion the creator, Admin.
Title: Re: what is better for a noob Axon or Arduino mega
Post by: radhoo on October 12, 2009, 01:03:49 PM
Admin sounds too impersonal.

Does he have a name? 
Title: Re: what is better for a noob Axon or Arduino mega
Post by: madsci1016 on October 12, 2009, 09:08:06 PM
Admin sounds too impersonal.

Does he have a name? 

If he didn't keep his identity secret, what kind of super-hero would he be?

Duhhhh.....
Title: Re: what is better for a noob Axon or Arduino mega
Post by: madsci1016 on October 12, 2009, 09:20:23 PM
But seriously, i have to agree with Soeren.

The Axon is great, but if you are new to programing and uControllers, the Arduino is way better.

Today was my first day messing with an Arduino pro I got. It was a breeze. I have never used LCD screens before, and i had one running in 15 minutes. The pre-existing code base is amazing and very straight forward. In about 30 lines i wrote a program that reads off an Xbee radio and displays it on a 2x16 LCD screen. This uController is going to be the brain of the controller for my large (and Axon powered) UGV Robot.
Title: Re: what is better for a noob Axon or Arduino mega
Post by: billhowl on October 13, 2009, 06:43:45 AM
You can connect servos to an Arduino mega by this servos bus without using a breadboard

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2465/4007145946_45ed2df48f.jpg)
Title: Re: what is better for a noob Axon or Arduino mega
Post by: Admin on October 13, 2009, 01:55:41 PM
Quote
Ad. 2 Googling "axon microcontroller" = 9k hits, while "arduino microcontroller" gives about 107k hits, so if the Axons user base (which is not a data base ) is massive, the Arduinos base would be what... Gigantic? in comparison.
Don't confuse quantity for quality :P

Besides, the Axon is barely over a year old! ;D


ps - I got 6k to 60k ratio in google
pps - admins name is John 8)
Title: Re: what is better for a noob Axon or Arduino mega
Post by: dellagd on October 13, 2009, 02:40:53 PM
written stuff and a person info wise are very different
back to quality not quantity
Title: Re: what is better for a noob Axon or Arduino mega
Post by: Digisynth on October 24, 2009, 09:10:00 AM
What about this one?

http://www.roboard.com/RB-100.htm (http://www.roboard.com/RB-100.htm)
Title: Re: what is better for a noob Axon or Arduino mega
Post by: blackbeard on October 24, 2009, 09:19:16 AM
axon = robotics hobbyist wet dream! if i had money i would own one. it's also cheaper then arduino mega.

arduino mega = jack of all electronics trades but master of none high end micro. it's designed for all kinds of electronics and not optimal for robotics. it is a very capable micro but if your interest is mainly in robotics i'd go with axon.