im totally new in this stuff ?!?

[marc]

I'm just into this robot thing since a few weeks , now I'm designing one using google sketchup this
goes pretty well and  because I first builded kit cars ( gas ) I can make it remote control that;s the part that I CAN do
but now comes the hard part and I hope you can help I've got 3 modified servo's :  at the back 2 servo's to drive forward/backward, they don't need to steer
and one servo has to steer at the front now I don't know much of microcontrollers so could you guys explain to me what kind of thing I need and how I programm these things ??

greetz Marc

[Razor Concepts]

Follow the $50 robot tutorial, it will teach you how to program a microcontroller to drive servos. Also a better way might be to go away from steering and just use differential drive with two servos, it will be a lot simpler.

[pomprocker]

new guys come through here a lot, the site is all set up to handle that.

learn how to search this site and forum, and learn how to use google, and its all there at your fingertips

[marc]

ty but aren't there simple microcontrollers that you can buy cheap ?
just a simple controller with a USB-connection so I put it into my laptop and program
I can only program in visual basics. anyway thanks for the fast replies
It's nice that you help people so fast. I've learned a lot so far

grtz Marc

[Razor Concepts]

Search for Roboduino, only about $40-50 and has USB programming. It uses a program called Arduino which is very close to C, programming in Visual Basic might be a pain to get working.

[pomprocker]

Check out http://www.parallax.com

http://www.parallax.com/tabid/295/Default.aspx

They are $50 microcontrollers versus $2-$5 used in the $50 robot tutorial here, but they are easy to use, you can program them in BASIC, and there is very good support and knowledge base.

The BS2-IC Rev J is the one i'm thinking of.

ty but aren't there simple microcontrollers that you can buy cheap ?
just a simple controller with a USB-connection so I put it into my laptop and program
I can only program in visual basics. anyway thanks for the fast replies
It's nice that you help people so fast. I've learned a lot so far

grtz Marc

[marc]

now I've been looking around the internet for the roboduino.
It looks great but can I just take servo's and click them on the board or not ??
and what is the difference between roboduino and arduino or is arduino a computer language

TY

Marc

[airman00]

It looks great but can I just take servo's and click them on the board or not ??

Yes, its as simple as this picture : http://curiousinventor.com/images/kits/roboduino/servo_attached.jpg

and what is the difference between roboduino and arduino or is arduino a computer language

Roboduino is just a better version of the Arduino because it has a power bus built in. Both the Arduino and the Roboduino use the same programming language . Have a look here for examples : http://arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/HomePage

[marc]

I saw a microcontroller on ebay and I want to know of
it's good stuff : http://cgi.ebay.nl/myAVR-Board-USB-for-AVR-Atmel-Microcontroller_W0QQitemZ230318397769QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_BOI_Electrical_Components_Supplies_ET?hash=item230318397769&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1399|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318

It's a Microcontroller AVR ATmega8

plz reply

Marc

[marc]

Is it easy to program ??

[frodo]

yes, the microcontroller on ebay looks very good for robot-building. as for programming, it depends what you want to program the microcontroller(robot) to do. what are you planning to build on it?

[marc]

well..
for drive/steering I use 2 modified servo's, then I think
 I will build an IR Rangefinder on it and 4 simple sensors
and maybe a line follow kit ( ?!?)
maybe later a camera .

can I connect the microcontroller to bluetooth ??
so I can remote control it using my laptop ?

grtz

Marc

[frodo]

the programming should be quite basic then. follow the $50 robot tutorial and at the end, there are upgrades, whichever ones you want to do, click on them and take the programming (source) codes off of them and put on your robot. this should work.

http://www.societyofrobots.com/step_by_step_robot.shtml

and about the laptop control, bluetooth and camera. i'd try it out but only if you feel confident with diving in at the deep end if you know what i mean. good luck!!!

[marc]

ok ty

[marc]

the programming should be quite basic then. follow the $50 robot tutorial and at the end, there are upgrades, whichever ones you want to do, click on them and take the programming (source) codes off of them and put on your robot. this should work.

http://www.societyofrobots.com/step_by_step_robot.shtml

and about the laptop control, bluetooth and camera. i'd try it out but only if you feel confident with diving in at the deep end if you know what i mean. good luck!!!

In the beginning I will just make sensors then if everything work I will slowly expand the robot
I'm just a beginner so...
but what software would i need to program >?

grtz Marc

[frodo]

on the $50 robot tutorial there are links that you click on to download the software.  there are four links, WINAVR and AVR studio (three links for this bit). download them all but if any of the AVR studio links don't work them follow this link* and it will bypass all of the AVR studio. this is what you use to program and it uses C program. admin takes you step-by-step through using AVR and C language on the 50 tutorial.

*http://www.atmel.com/dyn/resources/prod_documents/astudio4b623.exe

[marc]

ok thanks

UPDATE : this week I've ordered

- 2 servo's : protech B305
- plexiglass

I'm going to probably buy a My avr + led screen
and a USB cable for it

does anyone has a link for a site that has cheap
sensors and that ship to the netherlands

grtz Marc

[frodo]

hope your robot goes well     i don't know of any shop that ships to the netherlands apart from ebay.nl. sorry