How to control our robot?

[robotfanatic]

Hi,
we're about to construct a robot for a school project. It's supposed to controlled through a PC, but how?
How, and what program do we need? (electric components?)
Any suggestions are appreciated.

The robot is much like a car, 4 wheels. It should be able to drive straight forward, left, right and revers.

Thanks in advance!

PS! We've looked into it, and decided we want it to be wireless controled via (Matlab?).

[kd5kfl]

Input!

are you allowed to modify the PC?
do you have a budget?
what software writing skills do you have?
4th grade or graduate school?
are you using servos?

I would send PWM through XBEE to servos. generating the PWM would be the tricky part. maybe generate it through a sound card?

[robotfanatic]

Hi again,

yes, we are allowed to modify the PC, since it's a school project the school is providing us with money which is around 40 USD. But we will be adding money from our on pockets.
Our software writing skills are very limited, almost nil.
We're currently in upper secondary school. Last year.

Since we recently started with the project we're not sure, but we're thinking of using a 12v DC motor to the backwheels. And 2 servos for the frontwheels? Would that work?

[walkercreations]

I would look into a bluetooth setup like Admin has posted. Should be simple enough to modify a $50 Robot MCU to work and inexpensive enough to not break the bank.

[radhoo]

we're about to construct a robot for a school project. It's supposed to controlled through a PC, but how?
How, and what program do we need? (electric components?)
Any suggestions are appreciated.
The robot is much like a car, 4 wheels. It should be able to drive straight forward, left, right and revers.

Hi,

Here's a PC controlled robot (A RC Buggy) using the car's remote connected to the computer LPT port:
http://www.pocketmagic.net/?p=520
This is the easy way.

And here is a ATMega8 microcontroller board with Bluetooth, controlled from a remote PC using Hyperterminal:
http://www.pocketmagic.net/?p=869
Not so easy.

Hope it helps.

[Soeren]

Hi,

[...] generating the PWM would be the tricky part. maybe generate it through a sound card?

Or, do it the right/easy way... Use the CTC, like we did in the days before soundcards even existed.

Here's an example, doing it on a PC (in x86 assembler) with the 8253/8254 CTC:
http://ocw.kfupm.edu.sa/user/COE3055253/part2-expr05.pdf

[robotfanatic]

Is there someone sitting on a wiring diagram for a PWM control unit that will work for our robot?
Will a PWM control unit be able to reverse the motor and control the speed of it both forwards and reverse?

Thanks.

[imran_robot]

I have similar project for but just would like to know to get it done simpler way . . . Any recent developments? Help would be appreciated.

[mklrobo]

  Hello!
Building a robot, can be a daunting task. I try to cover all the points
in my post in the miscellanous section; Analyzing the Axon: Coding, Construction, and Contraptions. I have just started myself, and are logging
all the triumphs and tribulations. Good Luck!   

[Ibaeni]

I would agree with bluetooth. You can get modules that plug into a USB port on the computer, than a small usb receiving module for the robot. We've used this one (http://www.amazon.com/KEDSUM%C2%AE-Arduino-Wireless-Bluetooth-Transceiver/dp/B0093XAV4U) many times and it is very cheap, easy to use, but reliable.