Leptop as a robot brain?

[Fejwin]

Hey guys!
I'm completely new to this, but I would like to make a rather big robo and use a leptop without the screen for the microprocessor. I'd like to programm really complicated routines for him, thats why I'd prefer to use complicated brains. =)
Is it possible?
What are pros and contras?

My main problem is attaching wheels and indicators and devices and sending signals/commandos to them from the leptop... no idea how. ^^

[Hawaii00000]

Hey Fejwin, welcome to the forum. Its definitely possible to to use a laptop as a "brain" for your robot, however you will need a motor controller to control the wheels. If you intend to have sensors besides a usb mic of webcam, you need a micro controller to conect tot he laptop. Both the micro controller and motor controller us serial to connect to the laptop. So basically it possible but I wouldn't try it as a first robot.

A laptop does have some advantages like tot ability to do image processing and speech recognition of syntheis, but laptops are power hogs.

My advice would be to work up to using laptops. Start by learning about microcontrollers (such as roboduino and axon), motor controllers and serial and then start using laptops.

You might also want to look a Chives in the memberpages part of this website. He is a robot controlled by a laptop.

[Fejwin]

Hello Hawaii00000!
Thank you very much for this info!
So I understand that I need to know about "micro controller", "motor controller" and "serial" (or is it "serial controller", I'll look both up). The serial connects the micro (for any special devices) and the motor (for wheels etc) with the PC. =)) Great stuff!!

[Hawaii00000]

Thats correct; serial is the communication between the laptop and the mircocontroller, its not a physical board or anything.

You might also be interested in single board computers (SBCs). They're like laptops but they are on a single board and use much less power. Unfortuntely they're a little less powerful and you need to buy a mouse, keyboard and screen to plug into them. The Beagle Board is a good one to look into. Its only 3in. by 3in.

http://e2e.ti.com/videos/m/applications_processors/97341.aspx

[Fejwin]

Cool stuff, this mini-board!

So "serial" is something like these Phidgets 0/16/16 airman00 used for Chives?
Chives is great!! Great example for me to follow! =)

Unfortunately there is no source code for chives programm available...

[Hawaii00000]

I don't think so. Serial is kind like a way transfer information, like a call or email transfers data a serial connection transfers data. Just as you can email the letter "a" you can send through a wire going from the laptop to the motor controller or microcontroller- that's serial.   

[Fejwin]

Ahha! Okay, now I get it.
Alright! Time for me to read the details... =)

[dayhkr]

I am currently working on my new robot using an old laptop for the brain as well.  I used a USB hub since the laptop had only one USB connection (yes its that old) and I am taking the one serial out to a max232 chip.  Since my motor controller can run off of packetized serial I can build a small serial network for the devices and use the single serial out for the motor drivers.  I also bought a Phidgets 8/8/8 interface board and run my sensors off of this.  So far it is coming along but everyone is correct the main board is a bit power hungry.