Begginner

[Robomac]

Well hello all. I have just recenlty rediscovered robotcis, after doing it with my brothers when i was small. But I need some help. Im going to start out with a basic kit, the solar speeder kit. Once I get better im gonna try and work out programming my robot. Well I have a cart of itmes that can build several photovores and a walker, and mayybe some other stuff


        K SS - Kit #5 - SolarSpeeder 2 Kit: Quantity: 1
    SCC3733 - 37 x 33mm Polycrystalline Solar Cell Quantity: 4
    TR3904 - 2N3904 NPN Transistor       Quantity: 10   
    TR3906 - 2N3906 PNP Transistor          Quantity: 10
    GM10 - Gear Motor 10 - Geared pager motor    Quantity: 2      
   FLED - Flashing LED                 Quantity: 4
   CP1000uF - 1000µF Electrolytic Capacitor          Quantity: 5
    CP3300uF - 3300µF Electrolytic Capacitor          Quantity: 5
    CP4700uF - 4700µF Electrolytic Capacitor          Quantity: 5
    RB1 - Resistor Bundle Set 1: 100ohm, 470ohm, 1k, 2.2k       Quantity: 3   
    RB2 - Resistor Bundle Set 2: 4.7k, 47k, 100k, 220k       Quantity: 3   
    JBB - Junkbots, Bugbots, and Bots on Wheels          Quantity: 1
    IR1 - Infrared Optical Sensor          Quantity: 8
    CDS - CdS Light Sensitive Resistor          Quantity: 8
    CP0.22uF - 0.22µF Monolithic Capacitor          Quantity: 8
    RT100k - 100k Multi-turn Trimpot          Quantity: 4
    RPM2 - Regular Pager Motor 2          Quantity: 4
    MMFC - Fuse Clip Motor Mounts                   Quantity: 8

im also getting parralex's basic stamp 2 module: http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=BS2-IC

so are these all good things to get? Also can you program the controllers on a mac cause that is all I have? And i have some experience in programming languages such as a lttle Java and applescript, actionscript. And a little python.

Thanks!!

[Kohanbash]

Welcome back to robotics.
You might want to just start with one and get used to the stamp controller. then move on to the others.
This following link has a Mac Basic Stamp Editor. http://www.parallax.com/html_pages/downloads/software/software_basic_stamp.asp
Stamps are good because they are relatively easy to learn and can be used for servo control easily.

[Admin]

The problem with solar based robots is that solar power does not provide enough current to run complex robots, such as those that use a stamp controller . . . so basically I am saying you must use batteries if you want to add additional features. 

[Robomac]

Thanks for that link SDK, oh and admin yes I know that there is not enoguh power for more complex ones, i have one battery that ifound somewhere, im gonna get some more. Bu I just want to make one of these little solar ones, cause they will teach me about basic scymatics and ssoldering and those things, plus they are fun  . Also does that book, bugbots and solarbots, and whatever teach about microcontroller programming, if not could you recommend a good book? Thanks!!

[Admin]

The books I recommend:
http://www.societyofrobots.com/robot_books.shtml

The top one will probably be best for you. Its what I used as a beginner, and I recommend it to anyone.

I need to go to barnes & noble and check out the latest . . .

[Robomac]

Hmmm, robot builders bonanza ill look into that.