Whats a good starter kit?
AIman
Posts: 531
I want to get a couple of starter kits and was thinking over the options.
The end goal is to be able to create a robot that can function off wireless communication, use IR and sonar, hook in a camera and save things to memory.
The robot is to be built in phases. First IR and sonar, then save IR and sonar results to memory, then go to a camera and lastly to wireless communication.
Is it better to go with a Propeller, SX or a BS2?
Reasons for asking:
1) Concerns about number of pins
2) Ability to utulize PC with wireless communication
3) CMU Cam
4) Memory size
5) Complexity of project considerations
The end goal is to be able to create a robot that can function off wireless communication, use IR and sonar, hook in a camera and save things to memory.
The robot is to be built in phases. First IR and sonar, then save IR and sonar results to memory, then go to a camera and lastly to wireless communication.
Is it better to go with a Propeller, SX or a BS2?
Reasons for asking:
1) Concerns about number of pins
2) Ability to utulize PC with wireless communication
3) CMU Cam
4) Memory size
5) Complexity of project considerations
Comments
What I do know is go with the Proffesional Development Board·aka PDB.· I went with the SX tech kit, and now I find myself hobling things together, when I should be learning the programing part instead.
(o.k.· where does this pin go to now?· where is my jumper wire!?· Damit that switch doesn't wan to fit...)
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
12-25-07 Got SX Lite Kit Plus for Christmas
12-27-07 Bought LED's and other components
12-29-07 Realized that none of my wal-warts work with board
1-2-08 Bought power supply and turned on·board, but realized the A shell sub-D connector on laptop is actually 15 pins and not serial.
1-3-08 Decided to use old laptop with a serial sub-d, that barely meets the minimum sk-key requirements.· Got LED to BLINK!!!!!!
2008 Went through most available SX/B info and started to read through Gunther's book.
·
What exactly do you mean by "hook in a camera"? Also, what sort of wireless connection are you looking for, and what is this connection to do?
If you're up to it, I'd go with the USB propeller protoboard.
With a Propeller it is harder to do the easy stuff (blink LEDs, etc.) but much easier to do the hard stuff.
It'll also cost you less to get started: a Protoboard is $30, and a Proptool is $25. That's $55, of which $25 is a one-time cost (that is, the tool can be used with all of your Props). A BS2 module alone is $50, and nowhere near as powerful.
(Later: ) Oops. That should be "Propplug", not Proptool. See below
Your project is reasonably ambitious: you should expect to put in some time learning to use the microcontroller. It's really not that hard.
Post Edited (sylvie369) : 12/12/2008 2:55:46 PM GMT
So·far·the general thought·seems to be that·a Propeller is the better way to go. Assuming a Propeller driven robot here are some additional thoughts.
Ideally the camera would be used for color recognition. Wireless is hopefully going to be utulized for navigation and accessing additional subs and memory. IR and Sonar for object detection and avoidance with perhaps a whisker or bump sensor in addition.
In my mind I see a robot with sonar and IR sensors mounted back to back that sweep at 180 degrees (which means a servo),· a camera for color detection, wireless for additional memory dumps to and from the PC, memory onboard for collecting info between dumps and maybe a few extra sonar or IR sensors for clearance and edge detection. It would be nice to use 4 legs, throw in a few flashing lights and a speaker for giggles...
If memory serves minimum pin usage is as follows
2 Sonar·-·4
2 IR·-·4
Servo for Sonar and IR - 2
Assuming wheels a servo for steering - 2
Assuming wheels a·drive motor·- 2
Camera - 2
Wireless communication - 2 for sending and 2 for rcving totaling 4
That gives a total of 20 pins not including whiskers or bump sensors of some sort,·additional sonar or IR and also doesn't take into account the requirments of a 4 legged robot.
Given that the Prop seems to be the·better way to go what is a good way to get started?
Is a complete starter kit the way to go or was Sylvie369's comment of a Protoboard and Proptool·better?
Keep in mind I only have some chips at this point, nothing else.
Maybe I am wrong but you can handle up to 32 servos· with one cog but one x pin.
Sorry - I meant Propplug.
Proptool is the programming software, which, as dMajo pointed out, is a free download. But you need either a Propplug, Propclip, or some kind of homemade device to program the Prop chips with. At $25, I say just buy the Propplug and save the effort for learning the Propeller itself.