tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32974605488016592692011-11-27T17:47:49.646-07:00Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00450229100886833043noreply@blogger.comBlogger211100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297460548801659269.post-62957128259155958272010-08-21T21:03:00.000-06:002010-08-21T21:03:17.658-06:00

Well it looks like I fell off the face of the earth for 2010, but I'm still here (with an unfinished Ardubot blog).  Anyway long story short, moved out of my apartment without a new place to live so while I'm staying at friends houses all my stuff is in storage including all my robot stuff :( I have my Ardubot and a spare Arduino so I might start a bit of tinkering again soon.

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00450229100886833043noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297460548801659269.post-59304404532937194492009-12-31T11:04:00.005-07:002009-12-31T13:12:02.858-07:00

Yeah, programming time! First step is to download and get the software up and running for the Arduino.  I didn't have any problems, but that might be because I had some other serial and avr stuff already installed.  Some people I believe had do download java or some such other things. Step two is to hook up the Arduino so that the computer can see it.  Under the tools drop down menu you will

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00450229100886833043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297460548801659269.post-4972222571298457542009-12-07T12:32:00.001-07:002009-12-31T11:09:46.477-07:00

In this step you will need the PCP board, the headers, the power switch, the H-bridge (the IC chip) and your soldering stuff 1.  Break the headers so you have 2 pieces of 6, 2 pieces of 8 and 3 pieces of 2 2.  Solder the pieces of 6 and 8 onto the board in the holes that are labeld 3.  Solder 1 of  the 2 pin pieces in the unlabeled holes next to where the power switch goes 4.  Solder the

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00450229100886833043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297460548801659269.post-40547263317668047782009-12-07T12:18:00.000-07:002009-12-07T12:18:49.311-07:00

The Bot Arduino - the brains of the robot $29.95 Ardubot PCB Board - the base of the robot $14.99 Wheels - 2 wheels $6.95 Caster - 1 caster $2.95 Motors - need 2 motors $15.95 each Motor Brackets - set of 2 $4.95 H-bridge motor driver - needed to run the motors $2.35 Power switch - turns battery power on/off $1.50 Headers - their tutorial says 2 but I only used 1 $2.50 Battery Holder - regulated

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00450229100886833043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297460548801659269.post-41518491127117570772009-12-07T11:55:00.002-07:002009-12-31T11:07:06.785-07:00

So sparkfun was suppose to have a robot class and competition this past weekend, they ended up getting canceled and morphed into more of a workshop.  Lucky for me I got to go.  In about 4 hours I had a arduino bot up and running by remote control on my netbook.  So, I'm going to go through and do another tutorial and once again it might take me a while to get through it... Ardubot Parts Ardubot

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00450229100886833043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297460548801659269.post-20828572369238253702009-10-25T22:21:00.000-06:002009-10-25T22:21:02.528-06:00

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00450229100886833043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297460548801659269.post-63657397211551911812009-07-16T10:45:00.004-06:002009-07-17T23:36:07.266-06:00

Part 8 - Build the chassisI built my chassis out of 2 floppy disks, and 2 peanut butter lids for wheels. The floppy's are a bit small but I was able to fit the batteries and servos between them and the bread board on top. The PB lids worked pretty well for wheels, I just poked a tiny hole in the center and then screwed them on to the servos. When I did my first draft everything was held

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00450229100886833043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297460548801659269.post-65189927772603505172009-05-23T09:53:00.002-06:002009-05-23T10:20:48.505-06:00

Part 7 - Build the circuitSome people say breadboards, some people say solder your board. I think breadboards are fine unless you want you robot to be permanent, but if you might ever want to recycle parts stick with the breadboard. That's why we chose small cheap boards. Eitherway you will want to make your first draft on the breadboard.Here's the schematic that's used for the $50 robot (

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00450229100886833043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297460548801659269.post-44295098583176086752009-05-21T23:30:00.005-06:002009-10-25T23:46:37.740-06:00

Part 6 - Make the sensors Now we make the light sensors, the society of robots has already done the work of writing a tutorial so here we go... http://www.societyofrobots.com/schematics_photoresistor.shtml crimping really does make things nicer Note: I made my cables over a foot long which I'm sure is useful in some applications, I really only needed about 3" meaning I had lots of wire to hide

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00450229100886833043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297460548801659269.post-64166942219407707592009-05-21T22:30:00.006-06:002009-05-21T23:13:43.786-06:00

Part 5 - ServosServos are a type of motor, sure you could probably use a regular motor but servos seem to be very popular with robot people. There is one problem though... servos are manufacture to move 180degrees meaning your robot isn't going to go very far! So we have to modify it a bit...$50 robot tutorialA picture tutorialbetween these 2 tutorials you should be able to modify your servo.

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00450229100886833043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297460548801659269.post-36383458025932515092009-05-16T11:04:00.003-06:002009-10-25T23:44:34.574-06:00

Part 4 - Blinking Light Go to http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/tutorial_info.php?tutorials_id=93 Solder a resistor to an LED so that you can directly plug it in Put LED between GND and any of the outputs (8 and 9 works) Download the zip file Open Programmer's Notepad Follow directions for running make file Follow directions for programming Pray You should now have a blinking light (this is the

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00450229100886833043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297460548801659269.post-18964543250163818622009-05-15T11:43:00.005-06:002009-05-21T23:28:09.897-06:00

Part 3 - Getting programs on the chipDownload drivers http://www.ladyada.net/make/usbtinyisp/download.htmlUnzip driversPlug in USBtinyISPFollow directions here: http://www.ladyada.net/make/usbtinyisp/drivers.htmlDownload winavr http://www.ladyada.net/make/usbtinyisp/avrdude.htmlInstall winavr http://www.ladyada.net/make/usbtinyisp/avrdude.htmlGot to run and type "cmd"Run:avrdude -c usbtiny -p

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00450229100886833043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297460548801659269.post-30549955300786272842009-05-15T11:39:00.006-06:002009-10-25T23:39:42.775-06:00

Part 2 - Build USBtiny programmer Well now you are an expert at soldering (while the board is useful so is the soldering practice).  Now we build our programmer.  The website tells you everything you need to know.  Go ahead and put the jumper on.

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00450229100886833043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297460548801659269.post-24632104983589166622009-05-14T12:32:00.006-06:002009-10-25T23:37:36.541-06:00

Part 1 - Building your programming board This is the board we are going to program our chip on.  We are going to need a place to put the chip, and interface to our programming cable, we will also need power to our board, and an on/off switch is good too, and an led to let us know things are on) -Learn about power / LEDs and resistors- sparkfun -Learn how to solder (try google) -Figure out

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00450229100886833043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297460548801659269.post-79971107247578741632009-05-14T12:07:00.017-06:002009-10-26T12:19:12.926-06:00

Tools Breadboard $2.95 elexp.com (B) PC Board $0.90 elexp.com Wire $6.95 elexp.com Wire Cutter/ Strippers/ Pliers $17.95 elexp.com (includes solder stuff) Helping Hands $3.95 elexp.com Multimeter $10.95 elexp.com Programmer $22 (you have to solder it together) adafruit (sparkfun has one pre-build, don't forget a cable $14.95+$1.95) 9V Battery Holder(x4) elexp.com $0.25 $66.65 Components

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00450229100886833043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297460548801659269.post-9463859490083729002009-05-14T11:43:00.004-06:002009-05-21T23:14:49.266-06:00

When my $50 robot is up and running at about $200 but I've learned a lot. First things first. Learn what you're doing. Makes sense huh, well I went to a site, bought parts, found I needed different parts, bough different parts, paid too much, bought more parts... and I still didn't have anything to show for it except a bunch of parts. So I'm writing a $150 robot tutorial. I know $150 sounds

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00450229100886833043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297460548801659269.post-13732319691446509792009-04-02T23:34:00.004-06:002009-04-02T23:40:24.931-06:00

Well I got my robot book in an starting reading, its very basic which might be a good thing. It doesn't assume you know anything, and even if you've picked up some of the stuff, having it neatly layed out for you can be nice, and often it will point out things you might have missed. Well its a new enough book that it actually has a list of websites to get parts. Here are some (as much for your

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00450229100886833043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297460548801659269.post-26143843456488313622009-03-24T21:40:00.002-06:002009-03-24T21:52:07.555-06:00

One thing you do need when building robots is a computer, besides them be useful for, well for everything, you need them to program the microcontrollers. These I believe can be programed in anything from BASIC to C. Then of course compiled and downloaded.So I figured I'm build a spare computer that only has be be able to allow me to program (and some web surfing) and keep that at my robot

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00450229100886833043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297460548801659269.post-87779499461133727392009-03-20T22:04:00.004-06:002009-04-11T09:38:32.117-06:00

So my $50 robot tutorial assumes you already have wire to connect your circuits. I didn't but finding wire isn't really that hard. Knowing how to find cheap wire online with all the options on the other had. I had gotten some wire from radio shack, 3 rolls 25' each red, black, and green for about $7-$8, but I keep going through it, I'm trying to figure out how to get more wire, more colors and

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00450229100886833043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297460548801659269.post-7564451361874531232009-03-20T01:11:00.001-06:002009-03-20T01:21:29.668-06:00

Well I got all my stuff in today (except for the book from amazon, but I don't need that for this project). Its amazing how quickly you can loose track of time when you're playing, its now after 1am and I should probably go to bed soon. This little $50 robot is harder than it seems. A couple of things I noticed:Servos - they need to be modified if you want them to go around in a circle (not

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00450229100886833043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297460548801659269.post-32484230690274509782009-03-15T16:23:00.000-06:002009-03-15T16:50:00.938-06:00

Probably no one, but you are here so maybe not. I decided robots were a fun way to get back into playing with electronics, but I didn't know where to start. So, I did what I do any time I am in any way confused or don't know an answer, I go to google. Over the past couple of months I bought an ordered books, and supplies, but I've been busy so I haven't gotten started. Anyway, here are a few

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00450229100886833043noreply@blogger.com0