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Boe-Bot. Beginner — Parallax Forums

Boe-Bot. Beginner

bob3695bob3695 Posts: 3
edited 2007-10-24 16:30 in BASIC Stamp
Hello everyone,

I am thinking about picking up the Boe-bot full kit (USB). I was just wondering what all I will be able to do with just that kit. Also I found some interesting parts over at www.hobbyengineering.com that I would be interested in putting to use. I was just wondering if they are compatible and how to tell if i can put a part onto the boe-bot. Sorry if this is a basic question but I am just starting into robotics.

Thanks

Comments

  • Mike GreenMike Green Posts: 23,101
    edited 2007-10-22 20:16
    We're not going to be able to tell you if the "interesting parts" from hobbyengineering are compatible with the BoeBot. If you ask about a specific part, we might able to answer you. Different things have different mechanical and electrical requirements. The Stamps can control all sorts of things and, particularly if you're inventive, you can mount all sorts of stuff on a BoeBot chassis. Examples are the PING and PING bracket, a CMU-Cam, and the Grabber. You may notice that the PING bracket and Grabber won't both fit on the chassis at the same time unless you can get inventive about how and where to mount them.

    The BoeBot is an excellent way to begin in robotics. If you scan these forums, you'll find all sorts of projects that people have developed and learned by doing. The BoeBot is an excellent platform to learn about robot navigation, particularly with the addition of a PING sensor to the IR sensor that comes with the full kit.
  • Steve JoblinSteve Joblin Posts: 784
    edited 2007-10-22 20:22
    If you are just starting out, the BOEbot is a great place to start!!!!

    The best part about Parallax, is that so much is available for free... the software you use to write your programs is free as is the documentation for everything they sell. The best way to get an idea of what you can do with the BOEbot is to review the documentation which you can download here... http://www.parallax.com/dl/docs/books/edu/Roboticsv2_2.pdf

    You will need to be a bit more specific as to which items you were looking at at Hobby Engineering... technically, you can hook up any electronic device to a Stamp, though some may need some type of "interface circuit". A good example is a toy DC motor... you can connect it to a Stamp, but you need to use a motor controller circuit between them as the power draw of the motor is more than the power that the Stamp can source.
  • bob3695bob3695 Posts: 3
    edited 2007-10-22 21:27
    I am looking at many of the items they have. Is there really a way to tell just by looking at the site.

    One item im looking at is something like:
    http://www.hobbyengineering.com/H1743.html

    Thanks for your answers.
  • Roy CarlsonRoy Carlson Posts: 46
    edited 2007-10-22 23:31
    Bob,

    If you are interested, I have a Boe-Bot with serial input (you can buy the USB to Serial adapter from Parallax) and all the manuals and parts. I have worked through the book and examples and will be moving up to the Penguin.

    I also have the Boe-Bot Tank Tracks, Boe-Bot Crawler kit, Ping & servo, the compass chip, and a 5 function Keychain transmitter & receiver set that could be used to remote control the Boe-Bot.

    I could let all this go for a great price which would save you alot. I could ship this via USPS Priority for about $10 and you can pay me via PayPal.

    If you are interested, email me at roy-kathycarlson@msn.com

    You can seel the list of items. cost and offer price at the robot forum under Roy Carlson.

    Sorry about the early price mistake since my cost for all the items is well over $400

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    Post Edited (Roy Carlson) : 10/24/2007 12:15:31 AM GMT
  • Kevin WoodKevin Wood Posts: 1,266
    edited 2007-10-23 01:00
    >>> I am looking at many of the items they have. Is there really a way to tell just by looking at the site.

    There really no way to tell, because it will ultimately be up to you, the robot builder, to figure out. If you can figure out a way to hook something up and run it, then it works with the Boe-Bot!
  • Mike GreenMike Green Posts: 23,101
    edited 2007-10-23 01:09
    You asked specifically about an RF remote control transmitter/receiver that has 4 relay contact closures for output.· That would be easy to interface with a BoeBot (which uses the "Board of Education" for its controller board).· You could also use an infrared remote control if you've got direct line of sight with the BoeBot.· I suggest you explore the educational materials that Parallax has available for download for free, in particular:

    What's a Microcontroller?

    IR Remote·for the BoeBot

    These can be found under the Downloads menu item in the webpage on Stamps in Class tutorials on the main Parallax webpage.
    ·
  • bob3695bob3695 Posts: 3
    edited 2007-10-23 17:01
    Thanks for the answers guys. Another quick (dumb) question. I am reading some material on the board of education and see that you can replace the BASIC stamp 2 chip. What chips can i replace it with? all of the ones on the main parallex site or just certain ones?
  • allanlane5allanlane5 Posts: 3,815
    edited 2007-10-23 17:12
    You can replace it with any 24-pin BS2 'flavor'. You could also replace it with a Javelin module (programmed in Java from the free Javalin IDE. The chip itself is $99). There are a few non-Parallax modules which also match the "24 pin wide DIP" form factor.

    The only Parallax chips that wouldn't work are any 40-pin modules, or the Propeller or SX28 or SX48 families. I understand there IS a Propeller 24-pin module in the works, though.
  • Mike GreenMike Green Posts: 23,101
    edited 2007-10-23 17:46
    The 24-pin Propeller is called the SpinStamp and is available. You do have to be careful about its use in that the I/O pins are 3.3V logic and you can damage the chip if you connect 5V devices to it without at least a current limiting resistor (like 220 ohm or higher) between the 5V device and the Prop I/O pin. Also, you need a PropClip for programming and the built-in serial port (to the DB-9 connector or USB adapter) isn't guaranteed to work with all serial devices (the voltage levels may be too puny for some devices). It worked with an FTDI USB to serial adapter though ... just not supported.

    I had used it as a BoeBot controller before the Propeller Protoboard came out. Worked fine with IR, compass, servos, wireless (xBee).
  • D FaustD Faust Posts: 608
    edited 2007-10-23 18:37
    I thought the boe-bot was a great start. Definitly a good bot.

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    --DFaust
  • Steph LindsaySteph Lindsay Posts: 767
    edited 2007-10-24 16:30
    For a beginner, I would recommend getting the #910-28132, a Serial Boe-Bot with the USB-Serial Adapter. Then disconnect and reconnect at the serial port on the BOE for programming. Disconnecting and reconnecting a USB board requires more attention, making sure the power to the board is off and the Debug Terminal is closed first so you don't hang up the port. I find this distracting with robots since you want to unplug and replug to test-drive new programs frequently, so we always use the Serial + Adapter when teaching our Educator's Courses.

    We do have lots of add-ons that can be used with the Boe-Bot too, you can see some video and sample code on the links at the Stamps in Class Mini-Projects sticky-thread at the top of the Stamps in Class forum.

    -Stephanie Lindsay
    Editor, Parallax Inc.
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