How to build robots?

rtp

Am a CS students so don't know anything about electronics and stuff...

Since there are some great robot makers here, i thought i would ask.

Are there any reference book that can get me started or a particular website?
Am interesting in building a simple wireless control robot, i would be happy if i can make it move only
forward and backward.

so guys how should i start?

solo220

my favorite source SERVO MAGAZINE
http://www.servomagazine.com/

Fischer

as i said on this thread you need nxt 2.0 watch this search on youtube: nxt 2.0 tutorial or google it and you'll find plenty of tutorials

solo220

nxt 2.0 is a good choice and you can control it with your phone Bluetooth , but you have to pay at least 400$ for it.

babum

isn't NXT a bit too basic? I mean yes it's great for a beginner but he will grow it much rapidly and within 2 weeks I believe there won't be much growth potential from that particular source.

though I can't say I know any other sources of information.

rtp

well i have done some research and found .net micro framework, but am not sure how to start.
Am currently a .net developer so that was nice. My main concern is the hardware stuff of the robot.

I need a complete guide and not just hardware or software and i prefer not to pay more than $100 for start

Fischer

babum wroteisn't NXT a bit too basic? I mean yes it's great for a beginner but he will grow it much rapidly and within 2 weeks I believe there won't be much growth potential from that particular source.

though I can't say I know any other sources of information.

yes it is too basic as i said in my previous thread, does using dreamweaver or frontpage make you a web developer? does learning html and javascript make you a programmer?

nxt teaches you how to start, to be a robotic engineer you need to go to college and learn robotic engineering, you will never become an expert at anything at all if you don't learn it in college

solo220

@babum BASIC!! i don't think so , if look around on the internet you willl find amazing projects using the nxt , some of it's components include a GPS,COMPASS GYRO, TEMP SENSOR AND Lot's more , one of the projects included a visual solver for the Sudoku puzzle :-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mp8Y2yjV4fU

@rtp since you don't know any thing about electronics i think that your going to pay more than 100$ to build the robot with the capabilities you have specified , i mean the wireless capabilities.
I advise you to go to EKT and check the robotic kits that he has they will be a good start.

babum

solo220 wrote@babum BASIC!! i don't think so , if look around on the internet you willl find amazing projects using the nxt , some of it's components include a GPS,COMPASS GYRO, TEMP SENSOR AND Lot's more , one of the projects included a visual solver for the Sudoku puzzle :-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mp8Y2yjV4fU

yes, I've seen that one before, a Rubik solver also and even a printer and I do think they are amazing projects (I myself use the NXT 2.0 and find it great) but for someone aiming for a more professional development, not sure if it can be brought by it. anyhow as long as he has the budget it's worth a shot.

@fischer: why are your answer so disproportionate? I mean you can't fight everyone in the forum. Don't take it personal whenever a person says something about NXT.

Anyhow good luck with your path RTP.

Fischer

i'm not fighting anyone lol, you said it's too basic, i agreed with you and i said that if you want to be an expert go to college and learn robotic engineering!!

kim

if you wanna have a good start get usb i/o controller and a raspberry pi. the wireless thing is just a a wireless it has nothing to do with robotics

rtp

kim wroteif you wanna have a good start get usb i/o controller and a raspberry pi. the wireless thing is just a a wireless it has nothing to do with robotics

Yeah I was hoping to build one on with raspberry pi

Any tutorial I can follow or guide of some sort?

kim

well rtp unfortunately on internet i dont know where to find a complete tutorial about building a computer controlled robot, but i know how to build one its easy and there is two ways:
the normal way: you should learn about usb interface and how to control it remotely via IP
the easy way is hardware hacking, i mean you can hack an IP ready hardware like wireless router or anything like this.
since you are a cs student you should be familiar with usb and IP

J4D

Rtp, ill be back in Lebanon on the 18th of this month. We can do a little meeting and ill answer all your questions. :)

NuclearVision

I suppose you should know some "assembly", it is a basic programming language for programmable hardware, that's what I hear. Isnt that right guys?
@J4D I checked your website, and saw the bot you built. It is just amazing. But can I know what does it do?
What was your purpose when you made that mystery?

J4D

Which robot in particular? Many robots are shown on the website.

NuclearVision

The one named/titled "bot".

J4D

Well, mostly when i'm building stuff for my own, i build a platform and expand on that to acquire or practice new skills. In the "bot" i think i was trying Bluetooth control. Its not nonexistent, i destroyed it after it finished its goal in life. This is it, nothing fancy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PV5s_XPdzX0&feature=plcp

NuclearVision

You should ask for patents for that bot.
Or send it to mars! Man it is amazing. Dis you program it or just hardware configuration?

rtp

@NuclearVision Yeah i know the basic of assembly

@J4D is asking for a workshop too much? My main concern is the electronics and stuff, the software part i should be able to easily handle it. When it comes to electronics and mechanics, i don't know much.

Yet i just want to build a robot that goes forward and backward so it should be mission impossible.

Actually come to think about it maybe there are more people who are interested in building their first robot, so maybe we can get a small group for all the guys here and get a small workshop

are you free and have the 'glede' to give us lebgeeks a small beginners workshop on how to build robots, like material and best practicies and stuff like that...