This year is my first year ever doing robotics or using Boe-Bots. My teacher assigned me this project where I have to somehow attach a writing utensil to the Boe-Bot and then when the teacher puts a word into the program the robot writes the word on a piece of paper.
I have many questions about this project. I think I have a good way to attach the pen to the very center of the two wheels, so that when the Boe-Bot turns and then moves forward the pen doesn't move until it starts moving foreward. Next, I measured all the angles on all the letters so that I could know how much the Boe-Bot will have to turn in degrees.
I have zero experience in coding, so does anybody know how to make a Boe-Bot turn a certain number of degrees? Also, does anybody know any better way to do this project? I really need some advice because I am completely clueless about this whole thing, and my teacher won't help me through it at all because "I need to figure it out on my own". Please help!
Boe-Bot USB:
Boe-Bot USB: https://www.robotshop.com/en/parallax-boe-bot-robot-kit-usb-version.html
Boe-Bot (Arduino): https://www.robotshop.com/en/parallax-boe-bot-robotics-shield-kit-arduino.html
The good thing about the Boe-Bot is there there is an entire manual to teach you how to program. If you don’t have the printed version, it’s available on their site. If you have the Arduino version, there’s a ton of sample code available.
In either case, to address your question, the Boe-Bot uses continuous rotation RC servo motors. These do NOT have position feedback, so in order to rotate (or move) a specific angle, you need to time the move. For accuracy, yuo need to ensure there’s no slip. To control the motors, you treat them as normal RC servos (knowing this will allow you to more easily find and use sample code). You should use a third RC servo to raise and lower the pen / marker.
To turn on the spot, you set one motor to reverse, and the other to forward. For simplicity, have it create block letters and write on paper which is pulled tight (so no slipping).
