Author Topic: Noob needs some tips (Read 1867 times)

RoboManiacz · « **on:** June 16, 2009, 10:40:17 AM »

Hey,
I am interested in robotics since I am a kid (okay I am still one), but never built one before.
Now I want to build a robot :-)

It shall have the following features:
No collisions => Sonar
Not falling down on edges => IR
Following Objects and people => Cam ?

To my knowledge, I can perfectly code c, I looked at the sources and I don't think this will be any problem.
I also understand physical basics, what I saw is not that hard (I want to use a premade microcontroller).

Also I am planning to use a RC car, strip it down and connect the servos and the DC motor of the car to the microcontroller.
Any tutorials or project documentations for this?
The robot should be fast, is this RC car approach good for a newbie or should I make an own chassie and buy servos and a DC motor (will I need extra servo drivers then? Because I saw servo and dc motor drivers in a robotic shop).

And what microcontroller should I use for this? I read good stuff about the Axon and I like the libraries very much! But will this be enough to expand the robot later for using voice recognition?

I hope you understand my questions and someone can solve them :-)

Thanks in advance,
Max

jamort · « **Reply #1 on:** June 16, 2009, 01:11:24 PM »

Build the 50$ robot I dont care if you say you think its a little "easy"... truth is its not its one of the best path because it teaches you how to build your own microcontroller... then theres add ons for stuff like sonar.... plan and simple if your using a dc motor your going to have have an h-bridge or motor controller which will make it even harder... you may say well i want a challenge... exactly what i said when i started and i had a background in electronics and programming but i still had a lot to learn.... so $50 robot and then move from there... #1 computer vision can be very hard to use and you mentioned using ir for not falling down on edges but im not to sure what you mean by that....

RoboManiacz · « **Reply #2 on:** June 16, 2009, 01:14:39 PM »

I understand that it would be better to build the 50$ robot, but I would look forward to something more "fancy".
Perhaps I will just start with that.

With that "falling down on edges" I mean like if the robot drives towards stairs, he sees the missing ground and turns away. That could be done with 2 IR sensors at the bottom front.

Best Regards,
Max

jamort · « **Reply #3 on:** June 16, 2009, 01:26:47 PM »

you can make the 50$ robot fancier by using alluminum and such materials and real wheels it will just cost a little more... there was somebody that did that a while ago but im to lazy to look for it now... the main reason the 50$ robot uses stuff like card board is #1 cheap #2 easier to work with for aluminum you will need sheers atleast to cut it.....

if you are still hell bent on building the car robot i think this may help you...
http://www.geocities.com/hobby_robotics/
you can find plenty of sites by googleing but i personally would stay away from those that show you how to build smething but then would like for you to buy the completed board... or have an option to do so.... you may know c but your still going to have to learn rather much for robotics... a lot of libraries....
good luck
cj
ps im working on a tutorial on controlling the 50$ robot with game controllers....

RoboManiacz · « **Reply #4 on:** June 16, 2009, 02:56:44 PM »

The main thing why I stay away from this is the soldering.

I really suck hard at this, is there any wiring tutorial for using axon or some other cheaper ready to go board with the 50$ system?

Game controllers sound cool, saw some videos on youtube about this. Good luck with this!

SmAsH · « **Reply #5 on:** June 16, 2009, 03:04:49 PM »

soldering is one thing you CAN'T avoid in this business (robotics).
it isnt that hard, look up a few tutorials and you will see.
for a $50 robot with the roboduino check out here http://www.societyofrobots.com/member_tutorials/node/240'
the roboduino is pretty much just a pretty suped up $50 robot board. although it is great! i love mine!

RoboManiacz · « **Reply #6 on:** June 16, 2009, 03:15:44 PM »

I will try to get into soldering :-)

Thanks for that link, that is EXACTLY what I searched.
Is the roboduino board good enough to add speech recognition? Just a quick question, I will 100% start with this. So I won't have all the hardware frustration in my first project

Also downloading a few physic ebooks so I can understand what's going on

I really love this community, by reading here I understood more of robots and building them then I could imagine!

Best Regards,
Max

SmAsH · « **Reply #7 on:** June 16, 2009, 04:03:04 PM »

roboduino *may* be able to do speech recognition but it would be very complicated.
im not sure as i haven't ventured there before but maybe if you had a microphone connected to an adc port...
i have only ever seen it done using Microsofts text to speech software.

PS: make sure you post pictures of your robot, we love those here...

jamort · « **Reply #8 on:** June 16, 2009, 04:14:40 PM »

Quote

really suck hard at this, is there any wiring tutorial for using axon or some other cheaper ready to go board with the 50$ system?

and i said exactly opposite of that

the most important thing is electronics in robotics without them you wouldnt have power nothing to program

which involves soldering

im probably biased as electronics are my best and favorite part...

SmAsH · « **Reply #9 on:** June 16, 2009, 04:15:59 PM »

Quote from: jamort on June 16, 2009, 04:14:40 PM

im probably biased as electronics are my best and favorite part...

mine too

although im getting better at programming and mechanics thanks to taking metal work classes

jamort · « **Reply #10 on:** June 16, 2009, 05:24:06 PM »

guess he could use a prototype (bread) board... I've always liked that for prototyping but when i do the final design i dont like it because it can come apart easily and you have to have a larger space to put it normally because of all the jumper wires....

RoboManiacz · « **Reply #11 on:** June 17, 2009, 03:21:08 AM »

About the arduino,
I don't care for 15 bucks more or less, but I want a good microcontroller that I could use for other robots too.
Should I go for the Arduino Mega? Or which arduino?

Best Regards,
max

SmAsH · « **Reply #12 on:** June 17, 2009, 04:00:38 AM »

well, arduino mega with a shield would be an awesome thing to have!
the arduino mega uses the big brother chip of the axons, the mega640. the arduino uses the mega1280.
it has 54 I/O which is a lot! http://arduino.cc/en/Main/ArduinoBoardMega
i always say bigger is better but if you don't need it why pay for it?
up to you mate, if you are getting the standard arduino get the roboduino!
otherwise an arduino mega with a shield is all good.
also, have you considered the axon/2?

RoboManiacz · « **Reply #13 on:** June 17, 2009, 04:05:52 AM »

Well I guess for my first 50 bucks bot I will get the roboduino and then I will buy a bigger board.
Roboduino should be enough and I want to save my first robot from getting stripped his heart after finishing it

EDIT:
Roboduino costs nearly the same like arduino mega and I will also need the SERIAL programmer for that (says the tutorial). Should I go for the Mega one?

SmAsH · « **Reply #14 on:** June 17, 2009, 04:20:23 AM »

its really up to you!
the only difference between roboduino and arduino is the headers and power buses.
the roboduino has male headers and a power bus, the arduino had female headers and no bus, this means you
will have to buy/make a shield for it. both are programmed via the usb cable or a programmer if you choose.

RoboManiacz · « **Reply #15 on:** June 17, 2009, 04:24:15 AM »

Can I put my .hex files on the roboduino directly via USB without a serial programmer?

Because this http://www.societyofrobots.com/member_tutorials/node/288 says that I would need a serial programmer. If this is not needed the roboduino will be my choice

SmAsH · « **Reply #16 on:** June 17, 2009, 04:36:12 AM »

hmmm, im not sure about that one but i can program my roboduino with no programmer fine.
im pretty sure there is a way to upload .HEX files through arduino, google it. im too lazy

EDIT: arduino accepts straight C. you can upload the code using avr dude, just select STK500 as programmer.

RoboManiacz · « **Reply #17 on:** June 17, 2009, 04:44:08 AM »

Thanks for the reply, already got it installed

So I will choose the roboduino. What arduino model must I choose in the software?

Sorry for all these questions

SmAsH · « **Reply #18 on:** June 17, 2009, 04:47:25 AM »

"arduino diecimilar or duemilanove w/atmega168"

RoboManiacz · « **Reply #19 on:** June 17, 2009, 04:51:35 AM »

Okay, I only got one last question:
Is this also possible with AVR studio (programming without a serial port programmer)?
Because I like AVR studio more, it's a real advanced c IDE where I can see what is going on.

Thanks for all these nices answers

Max

SmAsH · « **Reply #20 on:** June 17, 2009, 04:53:34 AM »

no, i don't think it is $:-\$ im pretty sure that you need a hardware programmer with avr studio.

RoboManiacz · « **Reply #21 on:** June 17, 2009, 04:56:27 AM »

Then I will stick with [EDITED]roboduino

[/EDITED].
Thanks for all your responses, I will make a documentation of building my robot and share it for other newbies.

Will start next week, trying to make a very very cool chassey :-)

Thanks

Max

SmAsH · « **Reply #22 on:** June 17, 2009, 04:57:34 AM »

wait, arduino or roboduino? and its chassis not chassey

(sorry, im a spelling nazi)

RoboManiacz · « **Reply #23 on:** June 17, 2009, 05:06:24 AM »

Haha okay, no problem :-)

The roboduino. Isn't it better for robotics than a normal arduino?!

SmAsH · « **Reply #24 on:** June 17, 2009, 05:20:48 AM »

yes, because it has male headers with power buses so its plug in and play, with the arduino you have to buy a shield to use sensors or servos as it only has female headers and no power bus.

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Author Topic: Noob needs some tips (Read 1867 times)

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