Hi all, new member. I’ll try to make this very short. I’ve had a robot idea for a few years now and have compiled many of the components over time. I finally got around to the build and chose the BBB because of all I’d read about it. I’ve found that it is not a simple interface and haven’t had luck with most tutorials. I’m not a programmer but have experience with linux distros, it just seems like I’m going in circles with this thing.
Let me back up and tell you what I have and what I want to accomplish: 2 jazzy wheelchair motors with brakes removed, one sabertooth 2x 25 motor controller, a bbb.
Most of the actions I want to make the robot do are fairly straight forward:
Tank drive with a third un-motorized balancing wheel on a custom frame
Ability to send an rf/ir signal
Follow a set path and return (through a map or similar not a line) at set times.
Would be nice if it could plug itself in to recharge.
I thought the bbb would have some simple interface commands like arduino seems to and yet offer more processing and open source options. I’ve bought some books and am not making progress, I just want to build this robot. What would you recommend? I hate to not use this bbb since I bought if I can’t make it work it isn’t going to be of use.
Hope this makes sense. I appreciate any advice on the easiest way to accomplish this.
Regards
Check adafruit’s BBB python coverage.
Python isn’t arduino, but, it is a fairly simple language to pick up on, as soon as you understand that whitespace is IMPORTANT. 
C/C++/arudino has {} and python has whitespace.
As was noted, you will need to start small and work your way up. Break your goal in to individual objectives. Solve each one. Bring them together when it is feasible to do so. TEST EVERYTHING.
"A five ounce bird could not carry a one pound coconut…"
Thanks all.
Actually I was reading several of Ladvien’s trials with the BBB before purchase but I figured the tutorials out there would’ve advanced some. It is a powerful platform for sure but so far most of the repositories have been down. I am a novice at Python but enjoy learning what little I know (same with linux), it’s just that getting the BBB set up has been more of a challenge than I anticipated for instance the repositories i’ve needed have all been down since I got the board. Since i’d like to proceed with the build I think i’ll get another board (thank god for (relatively) inexpensive micro controllers!). I’ve seen very similar robots made with arduino or similar different tutorials that I can refer to.
I did have some luck utilizing the sabertooth with the motors and an ez-b board I have , and I plan to continue the project since I have the motors and the controller already and they work well.
Do you like a particular Arduino board for this idea or any other controller? I’ve seen some older tutorials using a Uno and the Tre is supposed to come out any day now though i’ve not heard much of late. I just need to head in the right direction so I can break down those goals.
Thanks again, I really appreciate the input.
C/C++/arudino has {} and python has whitespace.