Let's Make Robots!

Arduino: How to make your first robot with..

fritsl's picture

When writing this, LMR only offers "Start here" - instructions on how to make your first robot, using Picaxe.

"Nebster" wrote to me, and asked if I could do a parallel, using Arduino, and I think that is actually a very good idea (now that Picaxe refuses to pay me commission, haha)

Focus should be on making first timers get a robot up and running at a low cost, and most importantly learn how to hook up motors, a servo, and a analogue input in "no time".

Design should be the same as the "start here" robot. Both because this IMHO gives users a good all around start, and because it will make it easier for the newbee to compare and chose solution.

However, I do not have as much time as when I made the Picaxe starter-robot.. So I am asking you for help, save me some learning experiences, cut some corners, please provide input;

 

I am planning to use a Diecimila, and the L298 Compact Motor Driver Kit, since the Arduino motor shield is still not ready to just buy for a newbee.

Apart from this, the design will be the same; 2 motors, servo, Sharp IR, lots of tape, and no real body.

The programming example will be just as brief, however, it will be a bit longer, because it is C, and the setup will be a bit more complex.

Any comments, or should I just go on with it & order? :)

Thanks.

 

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guibot's picture

OK!  Here it is  :)

Hope you like it!!

 

cheers  ;)

guibot

Nebster's picture

w00t im just struggling to get my bot wired up let alon programmed thanks guibot for giving the time to help.
Evan

Nebster's picture

hey welcome and thanks for the offer. you can make a tutorial if you want but just wait till guibot has made his so that their not the same. i have not yet mastered (or familierised) my with the arduino and i would personally like tutorials to help reach the status.

Evan

guibot's picture

Thank you for waiting for me Nebster!!!   :)

All I can say is: the fotos have been taken, the texts have been written, and I am finnishing editing a small video..   :D

while cruising you guys site, i found this thread.. Arduino is my favorite controller.. i currently have three bots all running on arduinos. 

 

As for a the motor shield.. you should check out ladyada's at adafruit.com.  I use it on all of my bots.. you can get it as a kit to solder together or you can buy it preassembled.  

 

If no one else writes a tutorial on a "budget" robot with arduino, i would be glad to help out.  I have written several articles in the past, and one that is currently running on uchobby.com.  

 

If anyone is interested in my writing a tutorial, give me a shout out.

 

Great site you have going here, nice to see this many people interested in the home robotics thing.

 

guibot's picture

Hi grinan!! and welcome!!!

Like fritsl said, no one will tell us who will make the first tutorial.. we all are free to contribute!!   

Please make yours if you feel so! I would be glad to see more than one also!!

And for the adafruit shield, I have one once, but unfortunatelly burned out due to a stupid mistake, witch turns out to be a happy accident because I figured a way to make my own motor controller board. And IMHO the adafruit shield has a small / big limitation, it gets all your digital pins, even if you only want to connect one motor and one servo, you can´t use your digital pins any more. You still have the 6 analog pins free to use, wich can limit your needs.

I think the good point with this shield is, easy to assemble, and very easy to use  ;)

Nebster's picture

cool beans well i have given up, awe.
its too hard and i think guibot would do a much better job because he has experience already.
however when his tutorial comes out or whoevers i will have an arduino bot up and running.

Evan

guibot's picture
Evan, just give a little more time, maybe today or tomorrow I will have it complete.   :)
Nebster's picture

ok i just have on problem. what about a good non solder non serial motor driver. not controller.

ive looked into all the one on LMR and none suit my fancy. so what do you guys think?

robologist's picture

Here's one by Pololu, for 2 motors :

http://www.pololu.com/catalog/product/712

It has a max PWM of of 10 kHz though, which is annoying to listen to. But for a on/off switching, or lower frequency it  might be ok. Also, some of Pololus stuff has some soldering, so it might be good to email them to see if this is completely assembled, to be sure.

From  Solutions Cubed for 1 motor :

http://www.solutions-cubed.com/solutions%20cubed/SB1_2005.htm 

Not sure what max switching frequency is, but looks fully assembled.

From New Micros :  http://www.newmicros.com/

have to go to the site, then click the h-bridge button on the side (scroll down) to see NMIH-0010 (for 2 motors, 754410 based, 1 A), NMIH-0030 (for 1 motor, 3A, 2 kHz max PWM), NMIH-0050 (1 motor, 5 A) , D-Rex (2 motor, need male pins to interface, 7A)

Remember for all sites, to check availability and shipping costs before ordering.