Brand new to robots where to start?

[bogonick1]

i am brand new to robots and don't know were to start

i got a fast computer and would like to know what software to use and how to use it.

i have a school project where i build a robot using a 4 DC batteries how will that effect how i build this robot?
i cant use any other batteries.
i also need mechanical arms or something to pick up a trophy and it has to have a characteristic (like dancing or singing)
it has to go up a ramp onto a stage.
what is a LED for?
ill have more measurements later today.

[waltr]

Go over the the SoR home page and start reading the tutorials. This is an excellent place to start learning all the details.

[MangoBot]

4 batteries will not effect how you build it. Do you know what kind of battery:AA AAA 9V C D?
An LED provides light, it can be used for line-following in the dark, or signalling something like if a motor is on. IR LED's can be used for wall avoidance.
Does the robot or the statue have to have a charecteristic?
Do you have any prior knowledge of Electronics, Programming, or Mechanics?
As waltr said read EVERY tutorial, I almost have. They are very helpful. Make the $50 robot, and then maybe scrap the parts so that you can build your robot with the same board.

[bogonick1]

ill know probably tonight or tommorow morning i have the rules and specifications on my flash drive which is at home (im at work till midnight)

o and about software. which one can i use to design my robot

[Webbot]

If you are using a robot arm to pick up a trophy then you will need to make sure that your batteries/arm/motors have enough power to do that.
Software: well if you are using 3rd party motor drivers/sensors etc then I would suggest that WebbotLib might help you to just plug them in - but then I would wouldn't I ?

[bogonick1]

i also dont understand how a crystal works
i have tones off rc cars and i took apart my cheapest one a $5 rc motorcycle controller and found a small square chip
ill have a pic soon
it has some metal on top of the numbers so i cant say the numbers right now
can i just take the whole circuit board thing out of the rc car and put in on my robot ro do i have to remove the crystal and attach it some how?
if so how do i attach it?

[SmAsH]

Well, the obvious way to remove it would be to desolder it.
If a microcontroller supports and external crystal it will normally have two pins.
One each of the crystal pins attach to these pins, with a capacitor from each pin to gnd, normally about 20pf.
If it is a crystal you have there, the numbers on top would be the frequency of the crystal... Most likely...

You could probably use the whole circuit board on you robot, to receive stuff wirelessly but meh, if you want to...