Which one?? Hmmmm...

morris4019

I am very interested in Robotics, and have been ever since i was very little. I am currently going to school for software engineering. I have been creating software for along time, because i have taken programming through high school and independent studies for along time now.

·My question to all of you experts out there (or at least anyone with more knowledge than me, that is), what would be a good starting point. I have been looking through the Parallax website, and i've been thinking about starting at the Boe-Bot Robot Kit. Now would this be a good place to start learning about robotics, or should i start with something different, like just practice breadboards or something?

Any help would be greatly appretiated. I have long time goals, and all i ever think about is programming and creating little robots.

Thanks to anyone with any answers for me.
-Michael Morris

Mike Green

The BoeBot kit is an excellent way to begin. I would suggest that you also get the PING))) and the matching bracket with servo that mounts on the front. You might also get the What's a Microcontroller parts kit since the main part of the Stamp starter kit is the BOE which already comes with the BoeBot. Download the What's a Microcontroller manual and the Robotics with the BoeBoe manual to familiarize yourself with what's covered. Go to the main Propeller webpage and click on the Resources tab, then select the Downloads link, then the Stamps in Class Downloads link.

www.parallax.com/Store/Robots/RoboticAccessories/tabid/145/List/1/ProductID/248/Default.aspx?txtSearch=ping+servo&SortField=ProductName%2cProductName

www.parallax.com/Store/Microcontrollers/BASICStampModules/tabid/134/List/1/ProductID/328/Default.aspx?txtSearch=whats+a+microcontroller&SortField=ProductName%2cProductName

GWJax

I too agree with Mike Green, the BoeBot with the Ping))) is almost a must have and can and will be a great learning robot as well..

Jax

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If a robot has a screw then it must be romoved and hacked into..

morris4019

Great! Thank you very much for the input. I'm logging on right now and ordering my new project. [noparse]:)[/noparse]

Also, thanks for the advice on the extra's i might purchase. I'm going to be picking them up too.

-Michael Morris

iDave

The above mentioned are fantastic. When I started out a year ago or so, I also wanted to learn about BEAM robotics, which is an excellent way to learn about fundamental analog electronics. I also like the challenge and simplicity of trying to make a robot without any microcontroller. Solarbotics.com is the home for all that. And the book "Junkbots, bugbots & bots on wheels" is pretty much the bible on all that too. Good luck!

Dave

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"THE ONLY TRUE WISDOM IS IN KNOWING YOU KNOW NOTHING." - SOCRATES

morris4019

Oh wow, you know your the second person to tell me about that book. I think i'm gonna have to go pick it up. Thanks dave.

-Michael Morris

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GWJax

Yes I have that book as well and it is great!!! Lots of fun stuff in there and also hunting parts from old or damaged electronics..

Jax

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If a robot has a screw then it must be romoved and hacked into..

morris4019

One more question... I was completely reading through the BOE-BOT kit, and I had a thought. Now I am pretty good with coding, using software, etc. But as far as hardware goes, I have not had as much experience. Now my question is, I see that the BOE (Board of Education) is a completed board with a small breadboard attached. I would assume that a big part of robotics is using and understanding how and why we use each component. Would the BOE-bot kit still be a good choice for me, to learn the practical uses of each component? I guess what I'm trying to ask is will this kit still teach me the uses of different components and how they are put together as well as, say, a kit that focuses on soldering components to make a completed BOE board? I have been searching around that this came to mind : Machine Science Inc, electronics starter kit (http://www.machinescience.org/store/product.php?productid=28&cat=253&page=1). This kit uses a breadboard and single components to teach the ins and outs of electronics. (This kit is not as in deapth as the BOE-bot, but it does have it's own appeal) I just want to be sure that, putting together the BOE-BOT (and i've been having dreams about it, I would love to complete this kit today, but it's still being shipped [noparse]:([/noparse] ) will not just be a snap, I need to learn something, like I said, i'm already a fairly good coder.

Sorry if this is too confusing to understand, sometimes my thoughts don't come out right.

-Mike

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Zoot

If you not as familiar with electronic circuits, components, etc. and how they interact with your code (firmware), then a breadboard 'bot like the Boe-bot is *better* -- you can try out all kinds of circuits, change them around, make mistakes, try stuff out, *before* committing to a soldered circuit, which is not as easily modified. And it comes with a selection of common components for trying out all kinds of sensor scenarios, etc. And if you ever need more LEDs for a pretty light show, you can always run down to Radio Shack and pretty much buy the same electronic components that came with your Boe-bot.

How do you choose a value resistor for an infrared LED? The Boe lets you experiment. What capacitor and resistor values are good for reading a potentiometer? Ditto. What's the best way to power and run a servo from a voltage other than the voltage that the microcontroller uses? Ditto.

I scratch-build fairly sophisticated 'bots of all sizes; I still use my first (and only) Boe as a "model" when trying out new circuits, sensor concepts, etc., before committing a single piece of wire, solder, or aluminum (not to mention the time saved knowing that when I transfer the circuit to a board it should work properly). I can assemble a circuit in minutes, try out some code, tweak it, etc., then "lock it down".

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When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro. -- HST

1uffakind.com/robots/povBitMapBuilder.php
1uffakind.com/robots/resistorLadder.php

morris4019

Awesome, thanks soo much. Thats what I needed to know. I just didn't want to be "left in the dark" about some things you know. Now i feel better about the purchase.

Thanks a million Zoot! [noparse]:)[/noparse]

-Michael Morris

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Jessica Uelmen

Hi Mike,

Another great resource for you, as Mike Green had also referenced,·is our What's a Microcontroller book, also available for free download from our website at the link below:

http://www.parallax.com/Portals/0/Downloads/docs/books/edu/wamv2_2.pdf

This book goes through all the basics of how breadboards work, how to wire simple circuits, and how the BASIC Stamp·2 reads information from them.· While Robotics with the Boe-Bot is written for beginners, some knowledge of breadboard wiring is assumed, and What's a Microcontroller will help fill in these pieces.· A great thing about this book is that you can also complete 26 of the 44 activities with the components that·come with the Boe-Bot Robot Kit.· If you go through this book in small chunks at a time, you should get that·extra confidence when you begin wiring circuits for your Boe-Bot!

Hope this helps!

Jessica

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Jessica Uelmen
Education Department
Parallax, Inc.

Post Edited (Jessica Uelmen (Parallax)) : 3/9/2009 6:46:15 PM GMT

Mike Green

Another thing to remember is that you can always use a larger breadboard with the Board of Education. Parallax sells a very nice breadboard for use with the Propeller Education Kit, but also sold separately. You can just put this next to the Boe and use jumper wires from the power supply on the Boe. The regulator on the Boe has plenty of capacity (about 1 Amp) for experimentation and you can use the Stamp to control and monitor whatever you construct.

morris4019

Great! [noparse]:)[/noparse] And like i said before, I am astounded by the quick response, and knowledge of this forum. This has to be by far the *BEST* forum online. (And not just about robotics, the *BEST* ever) Thank you guys soo much. I am right now going through the "Whats a microcontroller" .pdf right now, I'm too excited I can't wait.

-Michael Morris

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Whit

Michael,

The cool thing about the BOEBot is that once you've worked through what you have, there is alway more to do and more things to try - like wheel encoders, remote control, compasses, and other sensors besides the Ping))), which you ordered.

You may also want the Basic Stamp Syntax and Reference Manual, which is to order·here - http://www.parallax.com/Store/Books/BASICStamp/tabid/168/CategoryID/42/List/0/Level/a/ProductID/143/Default.aspx?SortField=ProductName%2cProductName
Or as with most of Parallax's materials, it is available in pdf for free!
You are going to love·your BOEBot·and I promise you will begin to learn a lot about robotics. Keep us posted on your progress.

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Whit+


"We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths." - Walt Disney

Post Edited (Whit) : 3/11/2009 12:50:10 AM GMT