Building a Robot with New Features

Community General Discussions
1

I’m trying to build a mobile robot system. The robot main idea is to broadcast live video via Wi-Fi or 3G networks. That requires very high processing capabilities in addition to large memory solutions. Hence, Microcontrollers won’t help me due to lack of memory and analog cameras would be so expensive and so hard to program for such purposes. I’ve found best solutions for least cost components (3G modem and Wi-Fi router) will perfect matches a SBC “Single Board Computer”. But that would be so suitable for digital interaction with camera and other options.

But for robot control, I’ll still in need of a Microcontroller that would help me interact with servo motors and switches to move the robot.

Now I have 2 major control components (SBC and MIC).

The question is: Can I find a SBC that has analog interfaces to interact with servo motors, sensors…etc? Or a Microcontroller with high features that would be capable to interact with such normal cameras and 3G or Wi-Fi modems?

If that not possible in mean time, Can a SBC get connected to the MIC so that control options comes from external PC via wireless medium to the SBC then call the MIC to move the robot?$

Or there is available digital servo motors, sensors, etc and they’re simple to plug, program and play?

I’m very in need of that information ASAP so that I can decide what I can do in my graduation project.

2

Hello ahmhdy,

There may infact be SBCs with the interface capabilities you require. Alternatively, if the SBC you use has USB ports, off-the-shelf Phidgets products can possibly be used for sensor I/O and actuator control. Wireless communication should also not be a problem as a variety of different options are available. You can do anything you want really, it is simply a matter of making sure you have the required interface options for the devices you want to use.

Keep in mind that RobotShop is currently working on bringing in single board computers for use with software such as Microsoft Robotics Developer Studio, for example. More and more robots will require higher processing power for realtime video analysis, real-time mapping or AI, just to name a few.

If you can not find the SBC that suits your needs, microcontrollers can still be used as intermediates, which has the benefit of liberating the SBC for more important tasks. This really comes down to choice.

Regards,