Shop OBEX P1 Docs P2 Docs Learn Events
Please help out a Newbie here.. — Parallax Forums

Please help out a Newbie here..

nonameherononamehero Posts: 9
edited 2009-09-22 22:17 in Robotics
Hi, I am trying to build autonomous vehicle because of a college project.
However I had absolutely no experience building a robot.
Is there anywhere I can start off by...
I was reading this article
http://www.blogcadre.com/blog/jason_striegel/howto_make_a_robot_car_-_part_1_overview_2005_10_25_13_22_21
It was helpful.. but some stuff i still cant understand
And i am really not sure which type of sensor to use in an indoor environment
Which one is easier, camera or GPS

Any help will be appreciated.
thx

extra info, basically this race will be indoor.
there would be random obstacles in the course that we have to avoid.
And we basically can use anything we want, but our grade will be based on our originality and design.

My group is thinking about using a camera, and someone mention it is really hard to figure how to use it.
Can someone suggest a camera at a ok price to buy, and what i should read on how to integrate it into the system.

Post Edited (nonamehero) : 9/22/2009 9:42:13 PM GMT

Comments

  • SRLMSRLM Posts: 5,045
    edited 2009-09-20 22:23
    Browse around. You'll find that "autonomous vehicle" could cover a wide range of possibilies, from very simple to rather difficult. There are a couple of different areas that you will have to learn about, including electronics and computer programing. Unless you have prior experience in either of these fields, you will probably have to spend alot of time to make something even very simple.

    As for the camera or GPS issue, GPS is generally very simple to use, but it only works outdoors. A camara will work indoors, but it is difficult to use with a low cost microcontroller such as what Parallax sells. Even with an embedded computer, a camera is no small feat.
  • FranklinFranklin Posts: 4,747
    edited 2009-09-20 23:01
    Take a look at this (and the other books on robotics on nutsvolts.com
    store.nutsvolts.com/product.php?productid=16787&cat=251&page=3

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    - Stephen
  • Chris SavageChris Savage Parallax Engineering Posts: 14,406
    edited 2009-09-21 02:06
    You should really include a descriptive subject line in your post. You can do this by clicking the pencil icon to the top right of your original message.

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    Chris Savage

    Parallax Engineering
    50 72 6F 6A 65 63 74 20 53 69 74 65
    ·
  • ScopeScope Posts: 417
    edited 2009-09-21 02:49
    Somebody said...
    Hi, I am trying to build autonomous vehicle because of a college project.
    However I had absolutely no experience building a robot.
    Is there anywhere I can start off by...

    For those of you who are at least proficient with robotics, please correct me if I'm wrong but I thought the best way to become an expert with robotics was to first obtain a hands-on grasp of the basics. By learning about all simple aspects of robotics (programming, input, processing, output, chassis design/construction, et cetera) you'll begin to have the tools necessary to solve problems like the one you described.

    I believe the process is similar to learning a language: as robotic knowledge increases, problem solving becomes more efficient and effective. There is no substitute for experience. Get a Boe-Bot, toss it together, follow the book, learn about robotics by actually doing it.

    That's how I'm starting out and next week I'm probably going to have the necessary skills to build "Ultra-Super-Mega-Tron," the robot that builds other robots which rule the world (in the voice of Simon Bar Sinister).



    SimonBarSinister.jpg
  • nonameherononamehero Posts: 9
    edited 2009-09-22 21:45
    Scope said...
    Somebody said...
    Hi, I am trying to build autonomous vehicle because of a college project.
    However I had absolutely no experience building a robot.
    Is there anywhere I can start off by...

    For those of you who are at least proficient with robotics, please correct me if I'm wrong but I thought the best way to become an expert with robotics was to first obtain a hands-on grasp of the basics. By learning about all simple aspects of robotics (programming, input, processing, output, chassis design/construction, et cetera) you'll begin to have the tools necessary to solve problems like the one you described.

    I believe the process is similar to learning a language: as robotic knowledge increases, problem solving becomes more efficient and effective. There is no substitute for experience. Get a Boe-Bot, toss it together, follow the book, learn about robotics by actually doing it.

    That's how I'm starting out and next week I'm probably going to have the necessary skills to build "Ultra-Super-Mega-Tron," the robot that builds other robots which rule the world (in the voice of Simon Bar Sinister).

    hi, are you talking about this one
    http://www.parallax.com/StoreSearchResults/tabid/768/txtSearch/Boe-Bot/List/0/SortField/4/ProductID/302/Default.aspx

    does this robot work indoor, and what sensor does it use, how does it avoid obstacles?
  • iDaveiDave Posts: 252
    edited 2009-09-22 22:10
    Yes, that's it! Great introduction to robotics. Also get the "what's a microcontoller?" text and go thru that as well. Both manuals are available as free pdf downloads. (I think in the resources section)

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    "A complex design is the sign of an inferior designer."
  • ScopeScope Posts: 417
    edited 2009-09-22 22:17
    nonamehero said...
    hi, are you talking about this one

    I think the USB only version would be preferred - this one:

    www.parallax.com/Store/Robots/RollingRobots/tabid/128/CategoryID/3/List/0/SortField/0/Level/a/ProductID/296/Default.aspx
Sign In or Register to comment.