Robotics

This book provides far more detail on the hardware aspects of robot building than any other I have seen to date and is worth picking up.

"Intermediate Robot Building" offers the kind of real-world knowledge that only an experienced robot builder can offer--the kind of knowledge beginners usually have to learn through mistakes. In this book, you'll learn the value of a robot heartbeat and the purpose of the wavy lines in photocells.

The BASIC Stamp is a microcontroller with a small, specialized BASIC interpreter (PBASIC) built into ROM.

The third variant is the Javelin stamp. This stamp uses Sun Microsystem's Java programing language instead of Parallax's PBasic

all current PICs are Flash-based, and support in-circuit programming.

1381s are CMOS voltage-controlled triggers -- these "gate" a source until the voltage is above some "trip" limit, at which point it is allowed onto a third pin

We use them as 3- or 5-volt triggers

This chip is often considered the heart of Nv net technology

This simple circuit can detect the invisible fields of voltage which surround all electrified objects

CALEB CHUNG: Of course we could have used micro-servo motors to accomplish the motion of Pleo, but we aren’t able to use expensive motors. So we had to engineer it with a high-speed motor with high gearing and no backlash for control purposes and have it all fit within the muscle envelope of Pleo.

So what we did was go after a lot of ethology research. How do animals really handle the complexity of their environment? We built a virtual brain—a whole system that decides how Pleo will react in various situations.

CALEB CHUNG: Pleo will reset thresholds and adjust his idea of what he thinks is normal. Let’s say you get Pleo and you take him home to your shag carpet. When Pleo walks, the carpet will drag on his feet. So his force feedback sensors will realize that he is spending too much energy to walk around. Pleo will try different things to reduce the energy spent. Eventually, he will have the idea to step higher. Your Pleo compared to my Pleo will walk with a higher step.

Pleo Technical Specs: Ugobe LifeOS 32 bit Atmel ARM 7 microprocessor - The main processor for Pleo 16 bit sub processor - The processor dedicated to the camera system (4) 8 bit processors that provide the low-level motor control for the servos (35) Sensors including a camera custom designed to fit into Pleo’s very compact body. (4) foot-switches to detect footfalls and being picked up - assists with spatial orientation. (12) capacitive touch sensors (4) legs, (4) feet, back, shoulder, head, chin (2) microphones for directional sound detection (14) “Force” sensors, one per servo, to recognize abuse through force feedback joints. Orientation/tilt sensor IR transceiver for bidirectional data communication with other Pleos. IR interrupter for detection of objects in Pleo’s mouth (14) motors. Standard low voltage DC motors (150) gears and clutches Rechargeable NiMH battery pack USB port with mini USB connector SD/MMC memory card slot

Pleo不仅拥有内置的触摸、感光、听觉系统，还能够随着环境的改变随时“学习”，适应新环境。对于感官上的刺激，Pleo会立即做出真实的反映

Pleo同样善于表达，喜怒哀乐，皆形于色。当他感到疲劳时，它会昏昏欲睡渐渐入睡，甚至会做梦——这可是机器人过去想也不敢想的。更令人惊叹的是它们还能识别同类！但是你得当心了，因为感冒也会在它们之间传播！对了，差点忘了，它们甚至还会有见到强光就喷嚏连天的Achoo综合症。

Note that the resistor value of the pull-down resistor affects the voltage at pin 3 of the Furby's connector. We used a 1k ohm resistor to make it less sensitive to light (since we're now operating with it open to ambient light).

In the above diagram, a 20k ohm resistor is used as the pull-up resistor. You can, however, use any resistor as the pull-up resistor as long as the resistance is high enough to protect the circuit.

attach your Pager Motors to your Popper using two Fuse Clips, two Small Paper Clips, and no solder

note that the human body is a good absorber of stray RF fields, so this sensor should be a good people-detector

Many Logo-based and other robotics products produced by LEGO are distributed to schools in the USA by Pitsco.

This free-range turtle does not require connection to a computer. All the controls are on board.

The Cricket is a tiny computer, suitable for all kinds of robotics projects, that you can program using Logo.

All Cricket devices have a built-in bidirectional infrared communications channel, which is used for Cricket-to-desktop communication (when downloading programs to a Cricket, or viewing sensor data) and Cricket-to-Cricket communication.

Cricket Logo is based on an iterative, interactive model of project development. It includes a “command center” window; instructions typed into this window are instantaneously compiled, downloaded to a Cricket, and executed, giving the system the flavor of an interpreted software environment such as LISP, BASIC, or FORTH.

The MetaCricket software system is based on a virtual machine, written in PIC assembly language and running on the Cricket, and a compiler for the virtual machine running on a desktop development computer

Motorcycle lead acid batteries work great for larger low performance type robots. They are great for solar power robots too.

lead acid batteries have the serious problem of being very large and heavy, need to always be kept charged, and do not have the high discharge rates as the more modern batteries.

They have low power capacities, are heavy, have trouble supplying large amounts of current in short time periods, and get expensive to constantly replace