First, I would like to say hello to everyone. I am currently in the process of joining this rewarding hobby of Robotics. However like with everything else I do, I like to hear from the experts first. I am completely new to this hobby. The only experience I can claim to have is with the actual building. I am in the process of considering a move and when and if I do I will join a robotics club.
Well, I guess the first issue is the microcontroller. After reading several post and doing a little research on my own I am looking at the Mini Atom Bot Board along with the Basic Atom 28 Pin. Should I go with the Pro instead? I take it that the software will be included/free download. In all honesty the programming aspect is intimating to me but I will devote the time to learning it.
I have also been instructed to consider the Sumo11 controller. I feel the Atom would be a better fit for me especially with the online community. I have mentally prepared myself for a good year of trail and error before I am able to get off the ground. I believe if I dedicate the time and effort toward learning the basics I won’t have to bother you all much lol.
I love the look of the Lynxmotion kits. I have looked at many different robotics kits, Lynxmotion looks like a quality product. I have seen many kits on the market that look like expensive toys, Lynxmotion kits look like serious business. I am currently looking at the mobile kits but they seem to be discontinued at this time. I feel that this would probably be the best for a beginner to learn the basics. I don’t feel that the robotic arms would suit me and the walkers all seem a little too advanced for me at this time. I was also thinking about just scratch building a simple mobile platform to learn the basics. Any advice?
I feel that if the manual is written well and clearly explained, i.e. with the absolute beginner in mind. I won’t have many problems. Like I said before I have no problem hitting the books before starting any project. Thank you for your time and any advice you may have for me.
It is true that all the 4WD 1,2,3 kits are discontinued. This is because Lynxmotion is coming out with an entire new line of (new-generation ) robot platforms which from what I understand will be roughly the same price, but will deliver more power/versitility and style. I agree, these are deffinately a good way to go if you are a beginner. If you have the patience, you can wait until they are released to order one. You will be glad you did!
Hello and welcome!! It is always good to see new faces around here.
The Mini Atom Bot Board with the Basic Atom 28 is an excellent starting point. This is what I started out with almost a year ago now. I have written quite a bit of code for it now, including some routines that allow reading any number if sensors of the same type.
The programming environments (Integrated Development Environment) are FREE and easy downloads. These have everything you need to program an Atom chip. There is one IDE for the Basic Atom and another for the Atom PRO.
Robotics is, and should be, an always learning experience. You are embarking on a wonderful journey into electronics, mechanics, and electromechancical systems. I am not good at mecahanical things at all, but I have been learning (ONLY when I must though) and doing (when I absolutely have to) this type of thing.
You will have many questions, which is exactly what these forums are here for. Ask away right from the start. Many answers can be found just by searching the forums and there is a LOT of information here. There are also tutorials and assembly guides for everything Lynxmotion sells.
No, I am not connected with Lynxmotion except as a very happy customer. Customer service and support here is second to none. I am just coming to the end of my first year working with robotics, and it has and will continue to be a very exciting journey for me.
You can actually DO things with Lynxmotion products, but on a manageable scale. While it might look like the Lynxmotion kits and other products are expensive, please do look at the quality you get with each one. You will not find toys here. The kits found here are ones you can build and have do something pretty much right away and you will learn new things at every step of the way.
The 4WD kits are being redesigned and will be available when the designs are finalized and production has started. You can find threads all about this in the Rovers section. Jim Frye (Robot Dude, and Head Honcho of Lynxmotion) shows a lot about his design processes and welcomes feedback into what users would like to see. We can and do affect Jim’s design process to various degrees.
Now you’ve gone and done it… You have asked for advice… That is GOOD!
The truth is, go for whatever type of robot you are most interested in, whether it is a hexapod type, biped, rover of a two, four, or more wheel configuration or something completely different. I do however recommend starting out with something at least similar to what somebody has already done. If you can afford it, seriously consider starting out with a Lynxmotion kit. There are complete assembly guides, tutorials, and software support for each and every one available on the main Lynxmotion site.
The assembly instructions are awesome! I have even been able to create full 3D CAD models of some of the Lynxmotion components (like the Scout biped legs, for instance) just using the assembly guide and asking questions here.
When you are ready to go with a custom design, there is the Servo Erector Set, which allows building just about anything you could want to do with robotics. You can use the SES to expand on existing kits. Even existing kits can be dismantled and rebuilt and/or designed into something new, and they actually use components available separately here.
You can actually purchase the components of each of the kits sold here and build a robot a little at a time. There is no real need to purchase an entire kit. I actually did this for the BRAT biped - I bought the brackets a little at a time and assembled them according to the online assembly guide. I did not actually finish the BRAT because I decided to go with the expanded design based somewhat on the BRAT of The BiPod. The BiPod is now awaiting purchase of 10 servos, the SEQ software, battery and charger.
My first robot is W.A.L.T.E.R. (Wheeled Autonomous Learning Terrain Exploring Rover), which is an ongoing development. I started this from a stock kit I purchased elsewhere and have continually changed and expanded it as I wanted to do new and different things. You can also read about W.A.L.T.E.R. here in the Rovers section.
Many, many others here have projects going which you can find threads on in the Projects area. There is a LOT here, including info on electronics, and custom controllers like Pete’s (sapian59) Dual PIC controller board. He has graciously made everything available to us here to create boards of our own.
I’d like to pass along some wisdom that I’ve picked up in the form of a couple vague recommendations on getting started.
Base your build around Lynxmotion Servo Erector Set (SES) brackets. They are infinitely expandable and reconfigurable, so you can always change your mind and build something else. Oh, and they are really nice, too.
Use powerful servos - don’t go cheap. The concensus no-brainer choices are HS-645MG and HS-5645MG. If you go cheaper then you’ll get what you get.
As to the microcontroller, I’m sticking with the Atoms so that I can share with the Lynxmotion community. If you are getting the current Atom Bot Board, then you should probably get the Atom 28. There is a new board coming out sometime this year that is specific to the Atom 28 Pro. The biggest difference is that the new board will support the PS2 controller without any modifications. If you don’t plan to use the PS2 controller, then just go ahead and get a Pro since it’s much more powerful, and you can always add the new board later (it’s a lot cheaper than the chip).
Good luck, and keep us up to date on your progress …
Wow, thank you for the welcome. This is my first day on the board and I honestly have to say that I feel at home. Linuxguy all I can say once I read your reply was wow. That was very cool of you thanks alot. Also thank you A-bot, I guess I might as well go with the Atom Pro then. Also thank you to the one and only Italian_guy299. You all have been very helpful. Take care everyone.
No problem thats why were here! Continueing on what A-bot was saying, SES-brackets are an amazing creation Lynxmotion came out with. if you can image Lego pieces, you will understand that the SES-brackets allow you to build and create custom platforms using servos AND motors (soon to come ) You can take them apart when your done and reconstruct something else. They are universal brackets.
Also, when choosing a first-bot project don’t get discouraged by how hard it looks and how much effort you will have to put into it. Thats the fun part! If you get a “beginner’s” package, you may not be satisfied with it and get bored very quickly because of its simplicity. I encourage people to do something that fascinates them even if it is harder or is going to cost them a little more. It will keep you entertained and you will enjoy learning new things and how far you can go with it. Ask Linuxguy, his project is very interesting and expandable and has taken him from a two wheel experimental chassis to a full-blow 4WD chassis.
And myself, I am now on my third robot, the Military Artillery Reconaissance Combat Robot (MARC Robot). Its fascinating to have a plan, build, and test it and complete what you are trying to achieve.
Go for it, Lynxmotion and the Lynxmotion.net community will be there to help you! The customer support is 2nd to none and well…all of us here at the forums know our stuff
The new board doesn’t require modifications to support the PS2? What modifications are required to support the PS2 on the older boards?
I’m trying to talk to the PS2 from my C code. Not a peep out of the PS2! I’m familiar with SPI (done it before), but maybe I’m missing something, like a MOD?
A 1k pullup resistor on one of the pins (can’t remember which one, but there is a totorial on the LM website) to allow the PS2 controller to work. This is only neccessary if you are using the ABB and Atom pro 28. The new ABB will allow the atom pro to control the PS2 controller without modification.
Ah yes, I’ve been looking for that resistor. As the outputs on the PS2 “bus” are open collector, the data will need a pullup. I tried both a 10K pullup, and the internal RBPU “weak pullup” of the PIC. I don’t see any data on the 'scope. So I’m guessing the PS2 doesn’t like what I’m saying to it, … yet. I need to SEE some valid data from the PS2, and then I think I can adjust my read code if needed to read the data.
I do have PIC BASIC PRO, so maybe the PS2 code of the Atom BASIC code will run enough on my PIC such that I can get it to talk to the PS2. I might need to do that.
The first link is in the PS2 threads already, and on the website. The second may be new to some.
My advice is what Linuxguy said; its best to start out with something that has been done and has examples to get you going. Once you can successfully complete a project, chances are you would have learned a lot. Sometimes even the simplest designs can have things go wrong, such as wiring things wrong, figuring out how to hook everything to the electronics to writing code as a few examples.
After getting everything up and running, you can experiment with this or that and seeing what the results are for an even greater learning experience. It’s likely you will gain new ideas as to what you want to do next after you have completed the first project.
Great to see a new member, you came to the right place.
Too slow? That could be. I’ll change to a 1K then.
Just changed the resistor, and I’ve been trying out your PS2 demo (Jim Frey Demo). I added an include and a define:
include “modedefs.bas”
DEFINE OSC 48 '18F4550 @ 48Mhz
And changed the defines for the port pins:
dat var PORTB.0
cmd var PORTB.1
att var PORTB.2
clk var PORTB.3
I compiled with PIC BASIC PRO which advertises as being basically compatible with the BASIC Stamp. I’m not all that familiar with PBP, but it compiled OK and I programmed an 18F4550 PIC with the hex code generated.
I can see the clk, att and cmd signals on the 'scope, but still no data. The data (dat) trace is low until I attach the pull-up, which is reasonable do to the open-collector output.
Receiver has left LED solid, right blinking until I turn on the PS2, at which time the right goes solid. PS2 flashes a time or two, but I never see any data. I’m beginning to think the receiver/PS2 has a problem!
5v to middle (yel) pin. NO 7.2V, as I understand it, this is for the vibrators (and hard wired?).
Clock low is right at 2uS, High about 1.8uS
Cmd bits change on the neg-going edge of the clock.
Takes about 350 uS for the 9 bytes (cmd/data clocks).
20 uS rest on att before next “frame”.
7 uS between groups of clocks.
ALL textbook!
Any ideas?
Alan KM6VV
P.S. How does one get the name of the quoted person in the quote?
) robot platforms which from what I understand will be roughly the same price, but will deliver more power/versitility and style. I agree, these are deffinately a good way to go if you are a beginner. If you have the patience, you can wait until they are released to order one. You will be glad you did! 
