What kind of microcontroller should I use for a VERY simple 2 wheeled, move-forward, move-backward, turn-around, piece-of-crap robot? It's my first robot, but I know quite a bit about robots, just nothing about the difference between microcontrollers and what I'm looking for in one.
2007-09-25 03:26:24 · 5 answers · asked by Rogue Engineer 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
Parallax makes a self contained device, the "stamp" which might fit the bill for you. You are actually asking for something quite complicated, A long time ago, Radio Shack sold these programmable robots, small things, slightly larger than a large softball with a keypad on top. You could program in a limited number of start/stop, left/right, forward/backward timed moves. It was able to do everything you want, and this is already in a package. Maybe you could disassemble one and get some ideas. I've got one of these in a box in my garage. I was going to use it as a small mobile platform with a wireless TV camera to programatically patrol an area. The problem is I could not make it reliably loop the program and repeat an accurate path. There was just too much slop in the gearing and the timing wasn't accurate enough. It would drift off course after a while and I was never able to figure out a way to realign it to correct for the drift. While the Parallax Stamp can probably handle all of the brain functions you need, you will need more electronics, motor control circuits, sensors and the like.
2007-09-25 03:52:54 · answer #1 · answered by rowlfe 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
basic stamp is good but cost $50 or more for just the chip. If you haven't done any robotics before then you'll want to buy the starter kit for $150. buying the basic stamp makes sense only if you think you'll use the same processor in a future robot design.
PIC chips from microchip are great and cheap. but again, since it's your first robot you'll need to get a programmer module to write the program to the chip. that can run you over $100. It makes sense if you think you'll buy more PIC chips to use in other projects.
PICAxe chips are probably best if this is going to be a one off design with little or no follow up in the future. They are cheap and only need a cheap download cable to program. there are relatively few to pick from, but anyone would be fine for your 'simple' project.
I carry all 3 in my store.
2007-09-25 10:30:09 · answer #2 · answered by Piglet O 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This isn't necessarily the least expensive way to go, but it is perhaps one of the quickest easiest ways to start out. Basic Stamps are programmed using a simple interpreted language and have at least 8 I/O lines, more than enough to make a simple robot.
2007-09-25 04:13:54 · answer #3 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Check out www.microchip.com for a very long list of good (and inexpensive) microcontrollers. They also have a ton of free software and 'canned' programs for various things. Free is good ☺
There is also no shortage of web sites dedicated to robots that might give you some good 'how to' ideas.
Doug
2007-09-25 03:38:02 · answer #4 · answered by doug_donaghue 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
that relies upon on what variety of robots you're thinking.in case you concept some robotic resembling human beings it would desire to have extra suitable than one micro controller,in case you seen small robots like line follower,impediment detection robotic that is going to require purely one micro controller.
2016-11-06 08:10:30 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋