Hello everyone,
I have just started learning about robotics, and beleive its about time to tackle a project.
I've done quite a bit of reading and have a few questions.. I'm not sure which PIC/programmer I should use for my project..
Motors:
I was also thinking about using the Pololu Micro Dual Serial Motor Controller. I have read the datasheet and understand how i can control it using a serial input, this controller is quite nice as you can hook up other controllers like it to the same serial line and control each seperatly.(I could perhaps add some servo controllers later?) At first I considered using pulse width modulation in my programming to control the motors but this seems much better.
For the sensors, I'm sure a simple IR detection collision system would work fine in the beginning. My question is if I put something like a ultrasonic distance measurement component on the robot.. Well, I've read they they output using varying voltage.. I'm assuming I would need a analog to digital converter for my microcontroller to use this.. I dont know much about these..
As for the PIC, I thought about using the "Basic Stamp" by Parallax, but I think I would rather use just a PIC.. This way I will have to connect the clock input and everything myself.. I would like to program the chip in ASM. I have read alot and believe I could do it.. I just have a little more learning to do about different banks and TRISA/B type things. But i'm almost there..
Any thoughts on my project.. Where to start? What to do? Any comments would be appreciated..
Edit:
Sorry.. I forgot to ask about the baud rates and such.. The motor controller I was talking about expects the serial input to be in a certain baud range.. I dont know anything about how a PIC handles this... Thanks again for any help.
I have just started learning about robotics, and beleive its about time to tackle a project.
I've done quite a bit of reading and have a few questions.. I'm not sure which PIC/programmer I should use for my project..
Motors:
I was also thinking about using the Pololu Micro Dual Serial Motor Controller. I have read the datasheet and understand how i can control it using a serial input, this controller is quite nice as you can hook up other controllers like it to the same serial line and control each seperatly.(I could perhaps add some servo controllers later?) At first I considered using pulse width modulation in my programming to control the motors but this seems much better.
For the sensors, I'm sure a simple IR detection collision system would work fine in the beginning. My question is if I put something like a ultrasonic distance measurement component on the robot.. Well, I've read they they output using varying voltage.. I'm assuming I would need a analog to digital converter for my microcontroller to use this.. I dont know much about these..
As for the PIC, I thought about using the "Basic Stamp" by Parallax, but I think I would rather use just a PIC.. This way I will have to connect the clock input and everything myself.. I would like to program the chip in ASM. I have read alot and believe I could do it.. I just have a little more learning to do about different banks and TRISA/B type things. But i'm almost there..
Any thoughts on my project.. Where to start? What to do? Any comments would be appreciated..
Edit:
Sorry.. I forgot to ask about the baud rates and such.. The motor controller I was talking about expects the serial input to be in a certain baud range.. I dont know anything about how a PIC handles this... Thanks again for any help.
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