Society of Robots - Robot Forum
Software => Software => Topic started by: LeftHandRobotics on August 01, 2011, 09:58:03 AM
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Hello,
I'm looking for a MicroController that uses Ubuntu. I have practically no knowledge of MicroControllers, other than I've made a few robots in the past using the infamous Parallax chip (I think its called Basic-Stamp?). Google just launched an open source Robot Operating System using Java, but It looks like you need a MicroController using Ubuntu. I'd prefer one more sophisticated than the basic-stamp as I quickly hit limits with what I could attach and what I could do with it.
Thanks Guys,
Lefty
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It's just a port of ROS to java - and it's incomplete, as of yet. Use the proven and tested Python/C++ interfaces instead, unless you already understand how ROS works very well.
And a "microcontroller using Ubuntu" doesn't quite exist in the way you're thinking of it: You'll need something with a decent amount of processing power for a full-fledged ROS install, be it a high-spec Android phone or a laptop (I use a laptop, but that's just me). For low-level interfacing, you'll want a separate microcontroller, for things like reading sensors and controlling motors. In between you can have some hardware drivers that communicate between the two systems.
In short: use an old laptop, connected to a microcontroller.
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As I can tell from this page http://www.ros.org/wiki/ROS/Installation (http://www.ros.org/wiki/ROS/Installation), you can install ROS on many platforms including specific already made robots. If you choose to install it on, let's say, Ubuntu, then you don't need a uController since you'll be using your OS and the hardware it runs on. What you'll need are means to interface ROS to your actuators, sensors, etc. I'm sure if you read through their documentation, you'll find out what technology to use, be it USB, Serial, Parallel, IrDA, or any other.
As rbtying said, use a laptop interfaced to the robot hardware.