DPRG mailing list archives: [DPRG] New robot design

Wed Oct 25 11:25:48 CDT 2006

Rick,

Why not use an ATmega128.  Most of the ATmega8 boards have been replaced in 
favor of the ATmaga16 and 32.  The ATmega 128 would give you six 16 bit 
hardware PWMs plus extra code space. The ATmega8 only has two 16 bit PWMs 
and two 8 bit.  I have never bothered to try using the 8 bit PWMs because I 
always use timer0 for a ms timer.  I would also be good to see a couple of 
I2C connections or busses with pull-ups. Lots of cool I2C stuff to be added 
like PWM motor controllers, LCDs, temp sensors, ultrasonic ranging sensor 
and more.

Jim
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Rick Bickle" <rbickle at intconsys.com>
To: <dprglist at dprg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, October 25, 2006 11:35 AM
Subject: [DPRG] New robot design

Hello all,

I was thinking of designing a circuit board for use as a simple robot
controller for SUMO robot or other applications to make things easier
for those people who may not be skilled in the art of the mechanics of
robot construction, or just don't want to go to the trouble. I am
planning to make provisions on the board for the most frequently used
sensors and outputs used in SUMO or other simple robots. So far, this is
the list of devices I have come up with.

1. Atmel AVR ATMEGA 88 (Could also use the 48 or 168 in the same
footprint here) There are about $3 each.
This uC can be programmed in Basic or C, and I understand that
the compilers are easy to set up and use, although I have never done it.

2. Standard servo outputs. Using continuous rotation servos eliminates
the need for H-Bridges and such, making things easier, simpler, and
cheaper. There would be 4 outputs for the servos.

3. Encoder inputs (4 circuits). In case you want to encode your wheels.

4. Sharp GP2D12 Inexpensive analog IR sensor reports distance from 4" to
30" as an analog voltage. (4 circuits)

5. Sharp GP2YODO2YK Digital IR sensor 31.5" inexpensive digital object
sensor (4 circuits)

6. Devantech SRF05 ultrasonic ranging sensor (2 circuits)

7. Line detecting IR sensors. (4 circuits) simple IR reflective sensor
interface with adjustable threshold. (Let me know if you have
suggestions here.)

8. Sharp 15471F proximity sensor (4 circuits) Can be used for detecting
the close presence of another robot in SUMO.

9. Small breadboarding area with all microcontroller pins broken out to
single row headers.

If you have any other suggestions for commonly used sensors or outputs,
let me know. If we had several people using the same platform for
diffrerent robots, things would be easy as we could post code examples
for various interfaces and behaviors.

Rick

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