advice fr desktop programmers first robot
hey,
So i"m an advanced desktop/web apps programmer and MCTS WinDev so far, and I've done it all completely on my own.
After a few weeks of research now I've realized I might be able to build a simple robot, I've already chosen my shop and products, my ideas are usually quite ambitious.
I want to build a simple car like robot on wheels, with some sensors and maybe an LCD. Very important thing however is that I need to be able to send instructions to it wirelessly from a PC. Eg. I need to be able to control it to stop/move/turn from a pc, wirelessly. The point of this is I can leverage my application programming skills here.
So here's what I plan to buy:
Robot kit: http://robokits.co.in/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=10&products_id=214
(I'm assuming I need the optional AVR ATMega32 Programmer to burn programs into it?)
RF mod : http://robokits.co.in/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=7&products_id=245
So my problems are, I've never programmed AVR C before.
Is this the way I would connect my robot? :http://www.uchobby.com/index.php/2007/05/01/simple-rf-wireless-link/
The method here is there are two programs one to receive and one to send, but i think theres a way to send signals straight from the 232 port via hyperterminal through the transmitter to the receiver??
I dont have much of an idea what UART is.. but I'm on my way..
The RF Mod says I could buy an encoder/decoder pair, dont know what it is really but would it make things easier?
http://robokits.co.in/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=7&products_id=76
The trackbot comes with sample programs, but I dont know if it comes with any to use the IR sensors for proximity detection, also, if I buy an optional LCD would i be able to write a program to write text to it?? Would that be very difficult?
I'm also assuming here that there would be instructions on how to write/burn the program into the MCU, how to write programs to move the bot forward/reverse etc?? Because I really wouldn't know how.
Thanks so much
Gideon
@ Thu, 2009-07-16 07:52
actually, the problem is
actually, the problem is more the money. The trackbot kit will cost me around 2500 bucks ($51) but its still expensive to me, and robokits is one of the few resonable distributors in india, the rest charge insane prices. The Lego mindstorm kit for example, if you buy it from an shippable country online it costs $250 something.... down here... they sell it for anything between $400 - $550+. Even the sparkfun guys in india are a little steep.
Robokits.co.in doesn't have any arduino board, neither do any sellers around me. Also, my plan is to start of with the trackbot AVR 40 pin dev board(on ATMega32) and I'll just be buying parts like sensors after that. I won't be able to afford another board then, (until maybe I get another webapp job)
I saw the ATmegaXX datasheets and then I've been seeing a lot of code, I gather, its mostly settings ports/pin high or low to control things, and getting input i assume is the opposite. The only thing I really dont know so far is electronic theory..so if i buy sperated parts without instructions, I might burn something.
Someone told me from an indian forum that robokits.co.in guys package decent code samples and docs with their products....he also said "The 433 and 315 Mhz IC's(RF mods) need to be used both at a same time , a 4800 bps connection can be established b/w them easily making them the cheapest transceiver around. No external circuitry is required as such. Communicate on the Serial port at 4800 bps"
I'm assuming using 2RF mods could mean I can send/receive to and from the robot?. I can only afford for now though. But I gather I dont have to worry about any extra parts??
Thanks
Gideon
@ Wed, 2009-07-15 20:06
hmmm.....the arduino seems
@ Wed, 2009-07-15 23:31
Looks can be deceiving...
Some of the AVR code around a couple of the things you said you don't know yet (such as UARTs) can be tricky. Not insurmountable, but tricky never the less.
The Arduino just hides some of the tricky stuff while you get some of the other basics down. Then you can start working your way towards C/C++ in "raw" AVRs.
@ Wed, 2009-07-15 20:43
well arduino is avr
@ Wed, 2009-07-15 19:56
Hi!
I think it would be better to start with the "hello world" of the micro controllers world first (yeah I mean blink the LED), and then consider investing on things.
A very good way to start would be with an Arduino, it is a very beginner friendly board it has all what you need to get started. Then if you want you can give up on the Arduino C++ based language and change to avr-c or assembler if you prefer, the Arduino is basically an ATMega 168 with a bootloader.
Whatever programming language you choose what you have to know comming from the PC world and especially Windows, is that the kind of programming on these things is not event based, it is the old scool procedural approach.
@ Wed, 2009-07-15 10:26
hi, thanks for your reply.
hi,
thanks for your reply. The robot kit i've linked to is not assembled, its a DIY kit with just all loose parts.
I'm just a little worried about the code and documentation of the kit, if its not good I might be a little lost. I did try reading up on electronic basics and lot of "theory" even got a copy of Art of electronics horowitz hill but i never absorb anything like that... I need to do something practical, get down and dirty.
You're right, I might just buy only the trackbot and see how it goes....
Thanks
Gideon
@ Wed, 2009-07-15 09:47
If you ask me. You are
If you ask me. You are starting in the wrong the direction. Even though you'd like to build a cool robot - Its important to learn the basics. The first link to the microcontroller is probably a nice kit, but it all comes assambled and ready to drive, out of the box(yea, you need to mount the motors, i know). If you, as you say, "want to build a simple car like robot on wheels", then this kit will eliminate the
"build"and also"wheels"(it has tracks). I do, though, suggest to go in the AVR direction when choosing microcontroller, maybe not to assamble everything your self from start, but more then what you suggest. Arduino's are popular platforms due to learning experimence and price. I recommend them.When it comes to wireless control I suggest to first do the wired option, then see if you can make it work wireless. One step at a time.