Build Your Own Combat Robot

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HAPTER 11 introduced you to several sensor concepts that can be
used to enhance the performance of your combat robot. All of the concepts used a
microcontroller that received control input from an R/C receiver and a set of sensors,
and output control signals to relays and ESCs. This chapter will introduce
what microcontrollers are, and how they can be used. Virtually all robots have
some form of intelligence that can range from simple switches, to a simple radio
control (R/C) system, to fully integrated microcontrollers with neuro-networks.
Most of this book focused on robots that use traditional R/C equipment to control
the robot. Some R/C equipment has advanced programmable features that can
give the operator customized control options.
To implement advanced controls on a robot, you need to use microcontrollers.
The following is an introduction to microcontrollers.
Microcontroller Basics
Most people who develop robots use the term “microcontroller” as a generic term
to refer to a small control system with input and output control capabilities.
Microcontrollers are not computers or microcomputers. Simply put,
microcontrollers are designed to accept input from a set of electrical signals and
output other electrical signals in response to commands programmed into the device.
Computers are designed to accept input from humans and output the results
back to the humans. A computer will include several microcontrollers, but a
microcontroller will not have a computer inside. Microcontrollers, which interpret
a human interface and send electrical signals to the rest of an electronic device, are
often implemented as small, embedded processors found in many modern electronic
gadgets from Furbies to watches, from thermostats to microwave ovens,
from radios to television sets, and from cell phones to electronic ignition systems
found in cars. They are found in many electronic devices made today.
Many controllers are designed specifically for robotic and similar applications,
including Basic Stamp, Handy Board, BrainStem, OOPics, BotBoards, and countless
other controllers. Figure 12-1 shows a photograph of several of the more-popular
microcontrollers.
Some controllers are slave controllers in which commands are given and executed.
An R/C transmitter/receiver pair is a form of slave controller: the input
from an operator using the transmitter is executed and transmitted to the receiver,