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Post by Dingo on Nov 17, 2005 21:45:41 GMT 10
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Post by Dingo on Oct 30, 2005 18:42:44 GMT 10
Firstly what clock source are you using?
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Post by Dingo on Jul 13, 2006 19:24:52 GMT 10
Stamps look really good but expensive, PICAXEs are probably equally as good and a little cheaper www.microzed.com.au/
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Post by Dingo on Sept 2, 2005 18:04:23 GMT 10
Sorry if that came over as a "semi-kicking". I thought I was actually agreeing with you botman. I was just emphasising that the little things can be fun too, i.e. one doesn't need to consider a fully fledged android as the pinacle, 100 BEAM bots working together or a smart robot that travels around in drains etc could be just as "good" a goal but without the massive cost and investment needed (they are still big projects though ) Sorry if it didn't come over that way.
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Post by Dingo on Sept 1, 2005 21:55:27 GMT 10
Robotics need not be a set path.
Look at the great innvovations in the BEAM area. Facsinating stuff, small cheap bots without code to debug etc and they display emergent behaviour.
Look at "simple" projects with one microcontroller, cheap (not as cheap as BEAM necessarily) and new behaviour is as simple as designing new code or adding a sensor then adding new code.
Personally the appeal is the fact it really is only just beginning and their is no monopoly on ideas or even "set" methodologies for most simple tasks. The hobbyist is tackling some of the same problems as the professional (e.g. having your bot know where it is an environment, dead reckoning, sonar, GPS, RF finding, visual systems, combinations of several or something copmpletely novel)
We are at the cusp and it is only going to get more interesting from here on in.
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Post by Dingo on Feb 21, 2005 13:29:21 GMT 10
Well for simple circuits you could look at software simulation PSpice, something like Student Circuitmaker (free download)
Apart from that, if the first breadboard is getting messy then buy a second one and spread the circuit out.
Once you want a soldered prototype look to veroboard or point to point board.
There is wirewrap out there but (a) cost of tools, parts etc (b) difficulty with undoing. I avoid it.
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Post by Dingo on Feb 10, 2005 22:39:14 GMT 10
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Post by Dingo on Feb 10, 2005 12:21:43 GMT 10
I good beginner's book is "Robot building for beginners" by David Cook It is only very simple but does a good job of those things it explains. If you want to make robots from scrap parts you will need a good knowledge of electronics. Check out BEAM robots. These are small insect like bots usually created from scrap parts. They really make you think try www.beam-online.comand www.solarbotics.net/I've seen people take a walkman and other such stuff and make photovore (light chasing) insect-like bots out of them, very cool. They have beginner's tutorials and guides, that should get you going.
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Post by Dingo on Feb 6, 2005 9:42:00 GMT 10
1) Where is "over here"? (I kno wof some really cheap stores in different countries) 2) And yes, scraping printers is a great (only) source of plastic gears and stepper motors. 3) What sort of "brains" do you think you want? Have a close look at www.picaxe.co.uk if you have never used microcontrollers before. If you can afford it, buy the picaxe CHI035 board ( www.rev-ed.co.uk/docs/CHI035.pdf ) 4) There is a book you might see( www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1568810970/002-8375176-5136833 ) but it is not worth buying, if you see it cheaply second hand or at the library pick it up, but don't waste the full cover price on it. If it is within you budget, start with a PICAXE, a PICAXE chi035 board and the tamiya tracks set. This way you can keep re-configuring and get lots of use out of it for the money you have spent. Please post which country you are in and what your budget is. Then I can help you the most.
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Post by Dingo on Feb 5, 2005 11:07:29 GMT 10
There are some good books about, check out your library. Tamiya sell a kit with plastic tracks (like a tank, sort of) www.users.on.net/~symes/tracks.htmIt is small, not too expensive and has the motors already. If you want wheels, I'd try www.sgrobotic.com They sell motors with wheels attached. As for the "brains" of the robot. Maybe start with the PICAXE (www.picaxe.co.uk) this is a PIC but has extra code in it to make starting out very easy (plus you only need to buy the chips, not a whole dev kit). There is a PICAXE board you can buy that has all the parts need to control the motors, I'd highly recommend it. (works well with an 18X) If you want a more powerful processor then look to the AVR (www.avrfreaks.net). But for starters I'd go with the PICAXE. If you need further info, just ask here
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Post by Dingo on Aug 4, 2004 11:23:47 GMT 10
Everyone robot needs "brains". This is usually acheived by controlling the robot with a microcontroller (a chip that can take inputs from switches, LDRs, etc and you program it using a computer to determine outputs) There are many types of microcontrollers available but the best place to start is with the PICAXE ( www.rev-ed.co.uk/picaxe/) These IC's (chips) are cheap ($5-20+ each) and don't require any expensive hardware to program them (programming done via cable frm computer to 3 pins on the chips) They were designed as a way UK students could learn about microcontrollers but are powerful enough to be very useful (actual chip is a commercial design with PICAXE bot loading code added) The distributor in Australia is www.microzed.com.au/index2.htmbut they are sold elsewhere: oatleyelectronics.com/www.kaytech.com.au/index.php?cPath=24_47and elsewhere My best advice is start with a kit, I chose the CHI-035 project board which is included in the AXE-002 /035 pack sold by MicroZed. I would also buy the 18X version instead on the 18A that is included (merely adds $4 to the order). This is becuase the 18X has more functions and more memory. The packs come with everything needed to get started (except batteries and maybe some LEDs - but these are available at any Dick Smith etc). Believe me, with a project board you can have your PICAXE program controlling LEDs, motors, piezo buzzers etc within minutes. Also there is heaps of docmentation that is accessible by newbies etc as well as support documents and support forums etc PICAXE is popular in UK, AUS, and NZ and is the best and cheapest way to start giving your robot "brains".
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Post by Dingo on Jul 13, 2004 19:08:08 GMT 10
The book mentioned above is American based so there is some translation required when finding places to get parts.
I found Dick Smith to be useful for a lot of the general purpose stuff. * Breadboard with wires (the 860 hole WISH one) for ~$30
*The tamiya tracks are detailed in another post called "tamiya tracks"
*Soldering stand ~$12
DSE was also the cheapest local (Brisbane) supply of LDRs @ $2.60 each - better elsewhere though
I also found the best place for the transistors mentioned in the book (if you want to follow his parts list precisely) was Prime Electronics (check out the links page)
They had a lot of stuff Dick Smith didn't, namely switches, comparators etc.
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Post by Dingo on Jul 6, 2004 20:09:28 GMT 10
I started out by buying a book called "Robot building for beginners" by David Cook. The author has a website ( www.robotroom.com) The reason I think this book is better than others for people just starting is that David Cook assumes absolutely no previous experience and shows you absolutely every step to create a simple line following robot. This book really is as good as it sounds. I bought my copy from www.bookware.com.au and had it mail ordered. I also recommend these guys
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Post by Dingo on Mar 1, 2005 19:10:01 GMT 10
Software in general? or just software that runs inside robots? or both?
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Post by Dingo on Jul 20, 2004 15:05:46 GMT 10
I'm thinking of adding a section to the main page titled "projects"
Do you think it would be better to have just entire robots there or also include subsystems (like how to use Microcontrollers etc)?
What do you think would be best?
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