Re: Question: Microcontroller/kit for college project (robot)

Martin Griffith wrote:
On Tue, 28 Aug 2007 10:37:33 -0500, in comp.arch.embedded "ChrisLo"
<Nexus5k@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:


Hello,
I'm brand new to this forum, but it seems to be the best place I could
find to ask my question about a microcontroller and possibly a kit (I hope
I posted in the right place). I'm currently a junior Computer Engineering
major and am very new to the microprocessor world, so please forgive my
noobish questions. =)

What I need is a good microcontroller kit for my dynamics project. Preferably, a premade kit that is easily programmable via a computer. I
also need to be able to control servos and small electric motors that move
the legs of my robot.

As for my skills, I'm somewhat familiar with java and C++ and last
semester I programmed a CPLD chip to run a miniature stoplight. I am also
familiar with Lego Minsdstorms block style of programming. I tried looking
into buying a Lego Mindstorms kit but it only controls 3 motors (this
project needs to control around 4-8) and it's too heavy for my project.

Project Design:
I'm going to use a microcontroller to build an autonomous robot that
weighs less than 1kg. The robot will use ~4-8ish small servos/motors that enable the robot to
move around (on a window using suction). In addition, the robot must run
on rechargeable batteries (if that helps).

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Also, please feel free to suggest reading material or websites that have
useful information.

Thank you,
-Chris



It's a pleasure to find a student post that is well written !

1) select a breed of micro, say 8051 , Atmel AVR or TI's msp430
2) C++ is not really used on small micros, usually plain C or
assembler, look at GCC compiler, it's free
3)Linear.com for battery management, good docs
4) TI.com( unitrode) and irf.com for motor drivers etc

I would add that the USB-Stick approach is very Teaching/Project friendly.

TI has some good ones, as do Silabs, and Infineon, and ST.

Both TI and Silabs have 'two piece' cheap solutions, where you
connect the USB stick for Debug, and then run the module
standalone - Silans ToolStick LIN DC is a good example.

12V ready, and Debug ready too. Also has 0.1" pin-holes

-jg


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Question: Microcontroller/kit for college project (robot)
    ... What I need is a good microcontroller kit for my dynamics project. ... also need to be able to control servos and small electric motors that move ... the legs of my robot. ...
    (comp.arch.embedded)
  • Re: Question: Microcontroller/kit for college project (robot)
    ... What I need is a good microcontroller kit for my dynamics project. ... the legs of my robot. ... project needs to control around 4-8) and it's too heavy for my project. ...
    (comp.arch.embedded)
  • Question: Microcontroller/kit for college project (robot)
    ... What I need is a good microcontroller kit for my dynamics project. ... the legs of my robot. ... project needs to control around 4-8) and it's too heavy for my project. ...
    (comp.arch.embedded)
  • Re: Where is behavior AI now?
    ... distinctively more intelligent than when the robot is driving itself, ... same two output motors in both cases. ... without the controller, that you can with the control, too, right? ... quantifiably different output combinations as atomic behaviors. ...
    (comp.robotics.misc)
  • Re: Where is behavior AI now?
    ... distinctively more intelligent than when the robot is driving itself, ... same two output motors in both cases. ... without the controller, that you can with the control, too, right? ... quantifiably different output combinations as atomic behaviors. ...
    (comp.robotics.misc)