Mr. General
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| Mr._General_4.bas | 16.45 KB |
| Tone.zip | 9.68 KB |
| Mr__General_ATmega8_Edge_Detect.zip | 3.23 KB |
| Mr__General_ATmega8_Object_Detect.zip | 3.25 KB |
| Mr_General_Nano.zip | 3.21 KB |
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ve318yVUdU
DAGU products support site: https://sites.google.com/site/daguproducts/
This kit has recently been upgraded to include a USB interface, programming cable and the ATmega8A processor with the Arduino bootloader. The Manual has been updated with wiring instructions and diagram as well as USB driver instructions and trouble shooting section.
An improved "Tone" library is included on the CD as well as being available here that allows the Tone command to function on the ATmega8 processors (thanks to Robot Freak and Brett Hagman).
Based on Bot 08M, Mr. General is designed around a breadboard and includes the universal sensor brackets designed here at LMR as well as my IR object tracker in the form of a compound eye.
The Picaxe code was written for the picaxe 28X1 processor. The first Arduino code was written for an Arduino Nano which has 8 analog inputs. The second Arduino code is for an Arduino with only 6 analog inputs. This version uses digital inputs for the corner sensors which gives them slightly less range.
An IR LED and phototransistor is mounted on each corner and can be used for edge detection or object detection depending on how you choose to mount them. When mounted for object detection they can also be used for swarm communication. These sensors have an analog output but can also be used with digital inputs.
Here are some videos using a picaxe 28X1 and here is a video from GuangZhou University using the compound eye and an arduino to solve a maze.
The compound eye allows your robot to track a moving object but can also be used for IR communication between two robots. Other range sensors could also be fitted to the sensor bracket.
2 factory modified, continuous rotation servos allow speed and direction of each wheel to be controlled by a single digital output.
The kit does not include a micro-controller as the breadboard allows a wide variety of processors to be used. A generous 140 piece cable pack allows easy connection between the breadboard and sensors.
2 individual voltage busses allow for up to 3 different voltages plus ground to be used. Ideal for 3.3V devices and op-amps. A basic recharge circuit allows NiMh or NiCd batteries to be charged from a 9V DC source without being removed from the robot.
All spare room on the main PCB is configured as prototype board as show in the picture below. This allows additional sensors and circuitry such as voltage regulators to be easily added.
Of course being designed with parts from LMR it is only fitting that we have the LMR logo on the box.
Click on the photo for a bigger picture.
More information can be found here: http://letsmakerobots.com/node/24348
@ Sun, 2012-02-05 16:20
how do we know what the latest release is?
Hi,
I bought a Mr.General last november(ish) for the Kid's christmas gift. She now has half term time to get on with the build but we are not sure what the latest info on the build is?
The CD that came with the kit appears to be well out of date if the time stamp is anything to go by.
Where should we look for the latest software /errata etc?
Thank you for yout time on these kits certainly got my interest as me rather than being in Dad mode
@ Mon, 2012-02-06 02:17
Product support for all my
Product support for all my designs can be found here:
https://sites.google.com/site/daguproducts/
The tutorial for Mr. General on my site is just a copy of the original here on LMR:
http://letsmakerobots.com/node/24348
You will find sample code for both picaxe and arduino to help you get started quicker.
@ Thu, 2011-09-08 08:26
arduino duemilanove - ceramic resonator - Mr general
Hello i just finished solder everything on my Mr General, i just noticed that i need a ceramic resonator 16mhz to plug it with the arduino, my question is (as i am very impatient to test it) :
Do i really need this 16 mhz ceramic resonator to plug my arduino duemilanove on Mr Genral ?
Thank you !!!
@ Thu, 2011-09-08 11:53
Yes. The processor will not
Yes. The processor will not run without a clock and the bootloader is configured to use the external resonator. If you reconfigured the clock to use the internal 8MHz clock then you would upset timing functions such as the servo commands.
The processor should have been supplied with the 16MHz resonator.
@ Fri, 2011-09-09 19:49
re resonator
Ok thank you,
my box is the old one so without processor and resonator.
I found one resonator 16mhz in a shop in my city but with two pins. The seller told me "it should work with this one with two pins just not connect it to the ground". I did it and it works.
But my robot do stranges moves, here is a video of it with a zoom (bad) at the end of the resonator i use : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjABtJObIWw
For the programme i uplaod the "Mr__General_ATmega8_Object_Detect" on my atmega with my arduino duemilanove, after i plug the atmel on the Mr General bread board.
Thanks for your help !!!
@ Sat, 2011-09-10 06:24
Your crystal needs to be
Your crystal needs to be wired up with 2x 18pF or 22pF capacitors to work as a resonator. That is One reason that your robot is not working correctly. You need to connect each capacitor between ground and a crystal pin.
You also have your eye on upside down so that up/down and left/right are reversed. If you want to leave it mounted that way then swap the wires where they connect to the processor so that up and down left and right are all reversed.
@ Wed, 2011-01-19 06:34
It's Here!
Mr. General arrived today. I was a little surprised by the small size of the box, but it's all there! After reading through the material on the CD I had a couple of questions before getting started on the build.
1) It's mentioned that the kit was built,and the code written, with a picaxe 28x1 in mind, but I didn't see wiring instructions for connecting that processor from the breadboard to the robot. I only found the instructions for the Arduino. Are the Picaxe processor wiring instructions available?
2) The calibration of the IR eye using heatshrink seems a little risky, and I might be concerned pieces of heatshrink won't stick well. The option of using a variable resistor is mentioned -I'm assuming I would need one VR for each LED for a total of 4 for the eye, correct?
3) The calibration instructions connect 4 inputs and 1 output from the eye to the processor. Which pins from the 7 on the eye are used for this connection?
4) I've studied the Picaxe code and think I understand it. Did you happen to experiment with how far way it can actually track motion by decreasing the distance constants? Just curious.
5) Was the recharge jack envisioned to be used with a 9V wall wart power adapter or a 9V battery connected to a matching plug? Do you have a part number for the jack on the board so I can find a match for it?
Sorry for all the questions...
Thanks!
Bill
@ Fri, 2011-01-28 02:11
First robot with Mr General
Hi everyone
I just get my Mr General and is my first robot look really great, but I dont have clear the position of the LED and IR LED. I know the short leg is the one to go to the (-), however the instructions I have dont show the (-) or (+) on the PCB, so I´m afraid to put in wrong position the LEDs. Could you please give additional info how put the LEDs into the board.
Thank in advance
@ Mon, 2011-01-31 14:34
+ and - are not printed but
+ and - are not printed but if you look where these components go you will see that they are printed on the board. Note that the phototransistor looks like a black LED and there is a transistor symbol where it should go. You will also see that the circles are not printed perfectly round, they have a flat spot. When you look at the components they also have a flat side. Line the component up with it's picture printed on the PCB.
@ Mon, 2011-01-24 15:02
Thanks, Again!
Thanks again for the info and advice. I got sick this week so I haven't been able to start it. Doing better now. I'll start posting my progress on my own project page.
Thanks!