Terrain Surveyor:A Robotic Project Planningby David Avila for CS 376

IntroductionDesign CriteriaWhat is it supposed to do?What tools do I need to accomplish these goals?

Disciplines InvolvedMechanicalElectricalSoftware

What is it supposed to do?Map a terrainTerrain: my living area

Be autonomousWith option for a manual override

Features I would like to implementVideo cameraIdentify objects

What tools do I need to accomplish these goals?Mechanical:

Design using CAD SoftwarePro: Custom made to my specificationsCon: Time consuming, not my greatest interest

Kits: pre-built platform/structurePro: TimeCon: End up with parts I dont need

Example of a pre-built kitBoe Bot Kithttp://www.parallax.com/Bought online (http://www.1saleaday.com) at 1/3rd the price

Another example of pre-built kithttp://www.tamiyausa.com/Found and bought at Frys ElectronicsTamiya: Tracked vehicle chassis kit with a twin motor gearbox

What tools do I need to accomplish these goals?Electrical:CAD Circuit design tools:Orcad PSPiceElectronic Workbench (now owned by National Instrument): Multisim

Image taken from: http://www.gkcom.com.ar/Servicios/laboratorio.htm

What tools do I need to accomplish these goals?Electrical:Testing tools:OscilloscopePower SupplyDevelopment boardPart(s) to survey the terrainSonarAccelerometerMicrocontroller (PIC Microchip)

Electrical: Testing Tools

Electrical: More toolsDevelopment Board:

All in one tool

Simulate a PIC microcontroller before it goes into production.

EasyPIC 3 Development boardhttp://www.mikroe.com/

Electrical: Important PiecesSonar:

Measures distance using sonar (sound generation and reception)

Accelerometer (not pictured):

Measures tilt and dynamic acceleratingParallax Ping))) (pictured above)http://www.parallax.com/

What tools do I need to accomplish these goals?Software:IDE that can:

Simulate the software, electrical and some mechanical portion of the projectHave a built in compiler (compile from a high level code to assembly) and programming tool

Last and not least, inexpensive

Software: ToolsOshonsoft (http://www.oshonsoft.com): PIC SimulatorIDE some of the features:LCD/Graphic Display EmulatorOscilloscope8xLED BoardMicrocontroller Simulation (port toggle simulation)Memory Editor (EEPROM, Program Memory, etc)Stepper Motor Phase SimulationSerial Port Terminal EmulatorKeypad MatrixAssembler/DisassemblerCompiler (BASIC)30 Euros

Software: Tools PIC Simulator

Software: ToolsOther misc. software tools Im using or have used:

MS Visual Studio.NET 2005 using C#Serial Programming to communicate with hardware

MPLab by MicrochipAssembly programming of the PIC Microcontroller

ConclusionA Robotic Project PlanningRequires multidiscipline, but thats what makes it fun.Learn forms of control systems via mechanical, electrical and softwareTake a divide and conquer approach

Places where I got my parts, tools, and information:Jameco: http://www.jameco.comDigikey: http://www.digi-key.comRentron: http://www.rentron.com/Ebay: http://www.ebay.comMikroElektronika: http://www.mikroe.comParallax: http://www.parallax.comOshonsoft: http://www.oshonsoft.comNuts & Volts: http://www.nutsvolts.com

ConclusionQuestions?

Places where I got my parts, tools, and information:Jameco: http://www.jameco.comDigikey: http://www.digi-key.comRentron: http://www.rentron.com/Ebay: http://www.ebay.comMikroElektronika: http://www.mikroe.comParallax: http://www.parallax.comOshonsoft: http://www.oshonsoft.comNuts & Volts: http://www.nutsvolts.com

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