Tag Archives: robotics

Using LEDs as Test Servos

I fully intended that I would complete all software testing before I removed the ATMega chip from the Arduino even once. However, as I test the software, I’ve had to swap out the ATMega chip from the robot back to … Continue reading

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Programming the servo calibration procedure

Sub program, sub routine, function, procedure — it seems like every programming language has a different name for ‘blocks of code.’ Well, now I need to write a block of code for the servo calibration procedure. So first I drafted … Continue reading

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Grisbot Bill of Materials

How much do the materials of the robot cost? Costs not included: laser cutting service, switch, labor for servo conversion and pre-soldering (if any), hardware (ie bolts and nuts).

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Mini gris servo calibration mode

The robot ‘brain’ (aka ATMega328) needs to know how long the servos must rotate in order to properly execute moves and turns. Hence there must be a servo timing calibration mode, and a way to initiate the mode. I’ve toyed … Continue reading

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More surgery on a servo

No, it didn’t crash. I had to disassemble mini grisbot in order to perform surgery on the right servo, whose centering had drifted so much that the wheel could not turn forward. To keep the potentiometer shaft from twisting (thereby … Continue reading

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Mini Grisbot in action

Preliminary test of my robot.

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Mini grisbot test status

I have completed screen-to-photocell calibration and control code transfer. Mini grisbot passes both with flying (or at least hopping and skipping) colors. The remaining test phase is to calibrate the servo timings to execute the path as shown on the … Continue reading

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2013: Year of the Raspberry Robot

My interest in the Raspberry Pi concerns its use as robot brains. I made the above chart to help me better understand where the Raspberry Robotics development process is heading. I’ll need an IDE on my laptop/desktop which can transfer … Continue reading

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Robot Sentry Duty

Obviously, there’s going to be course error buildup. I don’t think encoders would help that much. I’m thinking of navigation beacons, like so: (Maybe infrared? Hmm . . . . )

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Surgery on a servo

Servo drift occurs when the potentiometer shaft (the one on the left in the photo) turns from the centered position (ie 90 degrees). I tried to prevent servo drift by soldering the pot shaft in place, but apparently all I … Continue reading

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