Category Archives: Uncategorized

Grisbot in sketchup version 2.0

Posted on May 26, 2012 by engineerzero

All the nicely drawn components are, of course, downloaded from Google Sketchup 3D Warehouse. Thank you, Public Domain!

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Dual Sensor Communications Protocol

Posted on May 24, 2012 by engineerzero

Photoresistors are cheap, and the ATMega328 chip has spare analog pins, so why not use a dual sensor configuration for the GRISbot communications protocol? Here’s what the sensor cowling looks like with two photoresistors (aka LDRs) inside: Likewise the screen … Continue reading →

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Protocol Layers for GRIS Communications

Posted on May 22, 2012 by engineerzero

Years ago, I tried to read a book on telecommunications protocols. I didn’t get very far before learning that there were such things as ‘protocol layers’ that made the subject a lot more complex than simply translating voltages (or light … Continue reading →

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GRIS bot photos

Posted on May 17, 2012 by engineerzero

Here she is, the integrated prototype. Note the cowling is fastened on the back and that the breadboard has just the ATMega328, not the whole entire Arduino board. An overhead view showing the arrangement of the servos, wheels, breadboard, and … Continue reading →

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GRIS bot circuit diagram

Posted on May 7, 2012 by engineerzero

I’ve been working on this thing for months now, and it seems rather odd that only today did I think to make a circuit diagram. I think this is correct. I’ll get around to posting a photo soon too and … Continue reading →

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Using a digital photo frame as a linear clock

Posted on May 6, 2012 by engineerzero

A reader writes: I have two mentally disabled daughters who are severely OCD. They can’t wait for anything. I’ve been looking for a simple linear clock showing 24 hours (or at least 16). I would put pictures of them waking … Continue reading →

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GRIS Calibration Flow Chart

Posted on May 2, 2012 by engineerzero

I spent an hour working on this chart tonight. It shows the calibration procedure program flow. I don’t expect anyone to follow it, this is basically for my own edification when I (attempt to) write the code tomorrow. I sure … Continue reading →

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GRIS Light Calibration

Posted on April 29, 2012 by engineerzero

For some time now, the biggest roadblock to implementing my robot has been with screen communications. Now and then the path data transfer procedure works perfectly, other times it doesn’t work at all. I suspect it has something to do … Continue reading →

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Mintduino Blink Test

Posted on April 12, 2012 by engineerzero

Finished assembling Mintduino. The ATMEGA328 chip not only has the Arduino bootloader, it also has the LED blink sketch pre-installed, so when the battery was attached to the Mintduino, the Green LED started to blink. Tomorrow: attaching the FTDI cable … Continue reading →

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Assembling a Mintduino

Posted on April 11, 2012 by engineerzero

I’ve been assembling a Mintduino, which is a breadboard version of an Arduino. The above photo shows me about midway through the process. The Mintduino case is a mint tin, hence the name. The case holds the electronic components shown … Continue reading →

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