Tag Archives: robotics

Computer/Arduino Communication Via Phototransistor

Posted on January 29, 2012 by engineerzero

Here’s the basic idea: I’ll send commands to the Arduino by flashing a rectangle on the screen and having a phototransistor on the Arduino read the light level. The above photo shows the test bed set-up. This is very similar … Continue reading →

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Casters for a Small Robot

Posted on January 17, 2012 by engineerzero

Poor little cheapbot is undergoing surgery this week. The purpose is to change the caster wheel, but in the end the whole chassis will be replaced. Because I’m trying to build my ‘cheapbot’ robot out of readily available parts, I … Continue reading →

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GIRC test drive on blocks

Posted on January 13, 2012 by engineerzero

GIRC (Graphical Interface for Robotic Control) is a ‘sketch’ written in Processing that enables user to draw a path file, save and reload, and transfer control codes to an Arduino-brained robot. The magnitudes of the turns and distances haven’t been … Continue reading →

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Disorganized workspace, organized mind (I hope)

Posted on January 12, 2012 by engineerzero

Today I verified that the Arduino sketch still runs the servos, and then I did some organizing and planning. The note card on the left shows the listing for GIRC control codes (so far). On the right, I wrote out … Continue reading →

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Arduino Pin 13 as low-res serial monitor

Posted on January 3, 2012 by engineerzero

Now that I have data to send from the computer to the arduino, I’d like to verify that it has gotten to the arduino. My original assumption was that I could echo back the data and read it on the … Continue reading →

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GIRC: Reviewing Output in the Processing Console

Posted on January 2, 2012 by engineerzero

After I generate a path and convert the data into turn-and-move format, I want to send the data to the arduino-robot. For this I will use the USB/serial cable. But before I send any data, I want to make sure … Continue reading →

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GIRC Distance Commands

Posted on December 31, 2011 by engineerzero

In the above illustration, the first Command Element has a command code of 44, which tells us that it is a Move command, and that we are to move 360 plus whatever is in the second Command Element minus 33. … Continue reading →

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GIRC Turn Codes

Posted on December 30, 2011 by engineerzero

Here we make a 76 degree right turn in GIRC, and this information has to be sent over the USB/Serial cable to the microcontroller aboard the robot. This communication is done with a control code pair. As shown, the first … Continue reading →

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GIRC Path Data Conversion

Posted on December 29, 2011 by engineerzero

The user inputs path data to GIRC by clicking points on the screen. Processing then draws segments between the points and calculates x,y coordinate data. This data is then converted into distance and turn data which will then be sent … Continue reading →

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GIRC Path Calculations

Posted on December 28, 2011 by engineerzero

(ATTN Google Searchers: Click here for Generation Starship Orinoco.) The user guides the robot in GIRC by creating a path. The path is composed of segments which are created by mouse clicks. The program calculates the length (or distance traveled) … Continue reading →

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