Build Your Own Combat Robot

264 Build Your Own Combat Robot
If you ever want to start a microcontroller “war,” log onto one of the robot
clubs’ e-mail list servers and ask the question “What is the best microcontroller?”—
and watch what happens. Many people think the microcontroller they use is the
best, but there’s really only one correct answer to this question: the best
microcontroller is the one that you know how to use and program.
Every microcontroller has its advantages and disadvantages. Some
microcontrollers have features that make certain tasks easier than other microcontrollers.
For example, a number of microcontrollers have a built-in feature
that can directly read in an analog voltage, and other microcontrollers have
multitasking capabilities. Although users of these types of microcontrollers may
claim they are better than other types of microcontrollers, that’s not necessarily
true. You can always find a way to make a microcontroller work to meet your specific
needs, particularly if you’re handy with electronics and/or programming. A
“weak” microcontroller with good programming can outperform a “good”
microcontroller with bad programming.
A search of the internet will yield dozens of companies that sell different types
of microcontrollers. All of the different manufacturers have documentation that
explains the capabilities of their products, an explanation of the programming
language, and sample programs that illustrate the microcontrollers’ capabilities.
When selecting a microcontroller, keep in mind what you want it to do, and compare
it with the literature you have collected. Then choose the microcontroller
based on how well it can fit your needs and how well you understand its programming
language.
The next few sections offer a short introduction to several of the popular available
microcontrollers, and at the end of this chapter is a short discussion of
microcontroller applications.
Basic Stamp
Throughout this book are many references to the Basic Stamp from Parallax, Inc.
Basic Stamp applications include servo mixing—reading R/C servo signals to operate
switches to turn on weapons.
For the beginner getting started with microcontrollers, the Basic Stamp is probably
the best unit to start with. Parallax has created a rather extensive set of tutorials
on how to use microcontrollers, basic programming, electronics, sensor
integration, and actuator applications. All of its easy-to-understand tutorials can
be downloaded from its Web site for free.
Probably the best place to learn about microcontrollers is to purchase one of
Parallax’s Board of Education Robotic (BoeBot) Kits and go through all of their
experiments—see Figure 12-2. After you have worked through the tutorials, you
should have a pretty good understanding of how to use a Basic Stamp inside combat
robots. An excellent book on the subject is Programming and Customizing the
Basic Stamp by Scott Edwards.