28.01.2013 Views

Build Your Own Combat Robot

Build Your Own Combat Robot

Build Your Own Combat Robot

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

268 <strong>Build</strong> <strong>Your</strong> <strong>Own</strong> <strong>Combat</strong> <strong>Robot</strong><br />

Following is a short list of some of the most-popular microcontroller Web sites:<br />

■ Basic Stamps www.parallaxinc.com<br />

■ BrainStem www.acroname.com<br />

■ BasicX www.basicx.com<br />

■ OOPic www.oopic.com<br />

■ Handy Board www.handyboard.com<br />

■ BotBoard www.kevinro.com<br />

■ PIC www.microchip.com<br />

■ Basic Micro, Atom Chip www.basicmicro.com<br />

■ 68HC11 and 68HC12 www.motorola.com<br />

■ Robominds www.robominds.com<br />

■ AVR www.atmel.com<br />

Microcontroller Applications<br />

The following discussion offers several examples of the various applications for<br />

which microcontrollers can be used. Although they are not directly associated<br />

with combat robots, these features can be adapted to building combat robots. All<br />

of these examples are based on the BrainStem microcontroller from Acroname.<br />

Keep in mind when reading the following examples that virtually any<br />

microcontroller can be used to accomplish these applications.<br />

The Robo-Goose<br />

The Robo-Goose is a robot that can be driven by a human operator via remote<br />

control. The operator drives the robot using a standard R/C-type transmitter<br />

(much like a combat robot). What is different here is that the receiver sends the<br />

control commands into a BrainStem microcontroller module that manipulates<br />

the input and translates it into meaningful output for the motors on the goose.<br />

One input determines the steering and the other the speed of the goose. The<br />

BrainStem is performing a servo mixing function. Figure 12-5 shows a photograph<br />

of the Robo-Goose.

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!