Whats next after the lights stop blinking.

Karpovskaia · 2013-08-02 16:44

I have been learning for some time now by blinking LED. I found the Propeller Education Kit book usefully. I have also
Listen to "First Spin" By Tymkrs. Very good for beginner. Now I think Im ready for more challenge.
Any ideas?

TyroneR · 2013-08-02 16:48

Im new also. Do you like robots that crawl, roll ,or fly?

Karpovskaia · 2013-08-02 16:54

I dont like spiders. So I am thinking about something with wheels. I have thought of making a balancing robot on two wheels.
Has anyone post code for a good one using parts from Parallax?

TyroneR · 2013-08-02 17:12

Thats actually next on my newby list. The closest I found was
The dancebot by Hanno. Another forum member replaced the
accelerometer with one that parallax sells. Unfortunately the gyro
Is a hobby servo that is difficult to find. But the other parts are
not hard to find. Im still pretty new at programing, and I would
hate to stear you in the wrong direction. However there are plenty
of experienced people who can better help you. Good luck

Karpovskaia · 2013-08-02 17:19

Much success to you TyroneR. I will look for code for dancebothanno. Is it hard to replace gyro with other from Parallax?

Cluso99 · 2013-08-02 17:33

I think the dancebot by hanno would be quite difficult for beginners. For starters, since you seem interested in gyros etc, why don't you just try to get one working by tilting the pcbs and seeing the responses. There are plenty of cheap pcbs with gyros, accelerometers, compasses and sometimes pressure sensors. I started using the accelerometer from a Wii Plus (the extension for a Wii hand controller. The hand controller IIRC has a gyro. You can find this info via google - if your search doesn't find it then add quadcopters to your search. I am not sure what boards Parallax have for gyros/accelerometers etc, but Parallax has a lot of help behind the scenes, and of course on the forum.

Have you looked at the Parallax Education section? I understand there are a lot of demos, examples and help there. I am sure you will find something worthwhile there.

Karpovskaia · 2013-08-02 17:44

I did find code for dance bot. And I think im going to try. I will purchase parts. What is good type of gyro from paralax? I am very good at building things. Thank you Cluso99 for response.

TyroneR · 2013-08-02 18:06

Parallax has some good ones. I personally like the
3axis L3g4200d. There is a good quad code posted that
uses it. You can get it and the mesmic from Radio Shack. Or just order it.

Karpovskaia · 2013-08-02 18:11

Once again TyroneR for many help. You know how to help a girl out. I will go to Radio Shack. There is one around corner. Maybe I add you to friend list. Is that ok!

TyroneR · 2013-08-02 18:20

I will do what I can to help. Sure you can add me as a friend.
Good luck.

TyroneR · 2013-08-02 18:30

Is that you're name? Is it pronoumced car-poov-ska-ee-a?

Karpovskaia · 2013-08-02 18:33

YEAH

! You right. I just moved from Russia. Many peaople no pronounced my name right. So I say. Just call me Sally.

NWCCTV · 2013-08-02 19:02

Welcome to the Forums and the wonderful world of Parallax, Sally. No matter what your experience level you will find plenty of help on these forums. If memory serves me correctly, Amanda was also working on a balancing robot so she may chime in here also. Good luck with your project and be sure to post your questions if you run in to problems.

Edit: Here's a link to what Amanda is doing: http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php/148717-Two-Wheelin

Rayman · 2013-08-02 19:09

What's next probably depends on interests you...

Servos are fun. Microphone and speakers are interesting. LCD and LED arrays are cool.
Lots of opportunities here...

Karpovskaia · 2013-08-02 19:49

I want to build a robot I can through time make better, and better. Servos are great inerest to me, and dc motors.
I built my own hbridge that handles up to 15amp with load.. I think that I made right choice of propeller, rather than adrino. I hope spell correctly. Please excuse my english typing accent. I have been only speaking you're language for only a year.

Cluso99 · 2013-08-02 20:38

Most of the gyros will likely be OK. You just want a 3 axis version. Same goes for accelerometer and compass if you need them later.

Parallax has a lot of interesting parts for robots.

The prop chip is great for learning because you can run each piece of code without worrying about interrupts. There are objects for controlling servos in the obex and there is also a dedicated robotics thread.

prof_braino · 2013-08-03 09:52

Karpovskaia wrote: »

I have been learning for some time now by blinking LED. I found the Propeller Education Kit book usefully. I have also
Listen to "First Spin" By Tymkrs. Very good for beginner. Now I think Im ready for more challenge.
Any ideas?

Propforth is the coolest, most fun you can have on a microcontroller. In my humble opinion.

http://code.google.com/p/propforth/

http://code.google.com/p/propforth/wiki/GettingStartedWithPropForth

After you the software installed and do the "Hello World, Braino is the coolest" and Blinky LED tasks, try the quickstart touch demo and the ANSI terminal codes, these are really fun.

Then just check the extensions directory for servo, stepper etc drivers.

Even if you decide not to use forth, it will show you a lot about what's really going on in the prop.

JonnyMac · 2013-08-03 10:03

You'll find no shortage of "Where's the object for X?" or "How do I wrote the code for Y?" questions in these forums. I frequently suggest to readers of my Nuts & Volts column that one can improve programming skills by helping those that don't want to help themselves. And it's fun! By helping others you won't feel stressed about your own project, you'll gain a lot of experience, and when you decide what's next for you, you'll have a code base and that experience to fall back on.

jazzed · 2013-08-03 10:11

Welcome to the forum.

Since you used Spin with the PEKit already, try some of the other Spin examples.
Use Propeller Tool File->Open From->Propeller Library Demos.

What Propeller board do you have?

cavelamb · 2013-08-03 13:49

Karpovskaia wrote: »

I want to build a robot I can through time make better, and better. Servos are great inerest to me, and dc motors.
I built my own hbridge that handles up to 15amp with load.. I think that I made right choice of propeller, rather than adrino. I hope spell correctly. Please excuse my english typing accent. I have been only speaking you're language for only a year.

Karpovskaia,
Welcome to the group!
And to the Propeller. Interesting processor, don't you think?

One thing to keep in mind before starting a complex project is that one
seldom has all the answers at the beginning of a project.
I guess that's why it's called "Research and Development"?

So there is a lot to learn doing this kind of stuff.
That can be a lot of fun, or very frustrating, depending on expectations
and complexity. From much experience in this arena, our predecessors
came up with the KISS principle. Keep It Simple and Stupid.

This little robot project is a simple one - it won't fall off the table.
That's its' whole purpose for existence - don't fall off the table.

It can be "driven around" with the IR Remote control, but the software
checks for table surface before allowing it to move.

Pretty simple at first blush, but with lots of potential for "growth".
Nothing impressive compared to a dance-bot, but fun to play with
and not unattractive to civilians.

Sensors (Sharp GP2YOD805ZOF) watch for table top in front of
the wheels.

Q-Bot - a QuickStart project for a small robot.

And yes, it fits in the CD cover for storage and travel.

A few links that might be helpful?
http://www.pololu.com/catalog/product/1134
http://www.robotshop.com/sensors.html
http://www.robotshop.com/encoder-pair-tamiya-twin-motor-gearbox.html
http://www.robotmarketplace.com/products/motors_geared.html
http://www.cytron.com.my/viewProduct.php?pcode=MO-TMY-70097
http://www.robotgear.com.au/Product.aspx/Details/319-Pololu-TB6612FNG-Dual-Motor-Driver-Carrier

http://www.hobbyengineering.com/H2242.html
http://www.robotshop.com/eu/inex-infrared-reflective-sensor-QRD.html
http://www.seattlerobotics.org/encoder/200109/dpa.html
http://www.nubotics.com/products/ww02/index.html
http://www.philbot.com/projects/BOB/BOB-E.htm
http://www.robotstorehk.com/sensors/sensor.html

http://www.dallaslogic.com/miva/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=1&Category_Code=10
for 60 pin dual row stack-through connectors!

http://www.instructables.com/id/Infrared-Remote-Control-for-the-Parallax-QuickStar/
http://www.instructables.com/id/A-custom-shield-for-the-Propeller-ASC-Infra-Red-/
http://www.instructables.com/id/QuickStart-bi-directional-motor-control/
http://www.instructables.com/id/QuickStart-one-transistor-DC-motor-controller/

cavelamb · 2013-08-03 13:52

or?
Maybe just put some "emotion" in your blinking leds?

{ Throb.Spin  - blink an LED - with feeling!}
CON     
_CLKMODE=XTAL2
_XINFREQ =5_000_000
MSec   = _XINFREQ / 1_000
USec   = _XINFREQ / 1_000_000
T500U = Usec * 500                                          
T300M = Msec * 300                                  
Tsteps= 50                       
VAR
Byte X, LED
PUB  Throb
   LED := 23
  dira [LED] :=1
    Repeat                              
      Repeat X from 1 to Tsteps step 2   
         outa[LED] := 1                                     
         waitCNT ((X*T500U) +cnt)        
         outa[LED] := 0                                      
         waitCNT ((Tsteps-X+1)*T500U+cnt)
      outa[LED] := 1                      
      waitcnt(T300M +cnt)
      Repeat X from 1 to Tsteps step 2          
         outa[LED] := 1    
         waitCNT ((Tsteps-X+1)*T500U+cnt)
         outa[LED] := 0                                         
         waitCNT ((X*T500U) +cnt)
      waitcnt (T300M*2 +cnt)        
                        

CON     
_CLKMODE=XTAL2
_XINFREQ =5_000_000
MSec   = _XINFREQ / 1_000
USec   = _XINFREQ / 1_000_000
T500U = Usec * 500                                          
T300M = Msec * 300                                  
Tsteps= 50                       
VAR
Byte X, LED
PUB  Throb
   LED := 23
  dira [LED] :=1
    Repeat                              
      Repeat X from 1 to Tsteps step 2   
         outa[LED] := 1                                     
         waitCNT ((X*T500U) +cnt)        
         outa[LED] := 0                                      
         waitCNT ((Tsteps-X+1)*T500U+cnt)
      outa[LED] := 1                      
      waitcnt(T300M +cnt)
      Repeat X from 1 to Tsteps step 2          
         outa[LED] := 1    
         waitCNT ((Tsteps-X+1)*T500U+cnt)
         outa[LED] := 0                                         
         waitCNT ((X*T500U) +cnt)
      waitcnt (T300M*2 +cnt)

ajward · 2013-08-03 14:03

Karpovskaia wrote: »

I have been learning for some time now by blinking LED. I found the Propeller Education Kit book usefully. I have also
Listen to "First Spin" By Tymkrs. Very good for beginner. Now I think Im ready for more challenge.
Any ideas?

Welcome Sally! I bought the Propeller Education Kit and It is a lot of fun and a great learning experience. I wish you success in building a balancing 'bot. Frankly I'm amazed at those... not sure I could make something like that.
I built a two wheel robot... it doesn't balance, just kind of lurches around randomly.

http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php/148717-Two-Wheelin

Again... welcome to the forums and have fun!

Amanda

Duane Degn · 2013-08-03 15:15

TyroneR wrote: »

. . . The dancebot by Hanno. Another forum member replaced the
accelerometer with one that parallax sells.

Hey, that was me.

Here's the thread.

TyroneR wrote: »

Unfortunately the gyro
Is a hobby servo that is difficult to find. But the other parts are
not hard to find.

I think Hanno purposely used a hobby gyro like those found in RC helicopters since they're relatively inexpensive (the one linked to should do the trick).

Since a balancing bot on two wheels only has to worry about a single axis, the hobby servo should be enough.

Things like quadcopters benefit from 3-axis gyros.

I agree with others that a balancing bot isn't really a beginner project. I think cavelamb's robot is a good research robot. You're going to make lots of mistakes, it's a good idea to start out with parts that aren't going to be too expensive to replace. I have a thread about making an inexpensive robot. I think it's good first robot.

In post #3 of my index (see signature) I have some links to Propeller tutorials (including JonnyMac's excellent SpinZone articles).

It's a lot more fun to see a robot roam around the room without dynamically balancing itself than watching a robot repeatedly falling over as you try to get it to balance. There's a lot too this stuff. I'd suggest starting with projects with high chances of success. You can always modify the robot later to make it balance.

cavelamb · 2013-08-06 19:12

While I agree completely, Duane, these guys weren't all that cheap!
(yours was fabulous in that respect)

I think they'll run about $100 each before finished.

Number One (on the left) is the prototype.
They are all further along than shown here, but none completely finished yet.

While the electronics and software are identical, the physical manifistations
are unique and individual as possible.

They fit in a medium-tall CD caddy for storage and transport.

These guys aren't just ordinary robots, though.
I built them as Christmas presents for the older grandkids.

I'm currently (when possible) working on animating some "personality".
Eyes, mostly. (servo controlled?) Kinda cartoonish, but ?

But they are not my first robots.

THIS one was built about 30 years ago.
(I had to dig around in the storage room full of boxes to find him!)

It was built for a maze race (with fairly substantial walls).

That's a "Big Trac" motor. Dual motor with magnetic couplers between them.
With a 6 volt lantern battery the thing is not only fast, it's noisy as New Years eve!

His "feelers" are lost. They were bent coat hangers that curved around the front end
and open a microswitch that turns off motor power on the opposite side, if bumped.
That caused him to turn away from an obstacle and take off in another direction.

He's literally a "two-bit" robot!

Worth restoring, if just for the fun of watching people trying to get outta the way.

If I can find it, I'll post a pic of my first one - Rug Rat (Random Access Toy)
THAT was my first one.

He was cool. He had sunglasses. (and a Z8)

Whats next after the lights stop blinking.

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