14-08-2012, 03:20 PM
1 Day Robot Building (MC40A + Aluminum Base) for Edubot 2.0
[attachment=31519]
Introduction
Cytron launched 1 Day Robot Challenge (1DRC) during MURoC 2011 in UniMAP. Ten finalists
selected from Cytron’s facebook fans successfully built their line following robot within the time
limitation. From the photos below, we can see that the participants were using scrapped PCB board as
their robot base. They were required to use a hand drill to make holes to mount the main controller
board and motors. This took quite some time and might endanger the user if not handled it carefully.
How to Assemble?
Before you start assembling a mobile robot, it is always good to plan ahead so that you have a rough
idea how your robot is going to operate. Base on your idea, come out with a sketch or design of your
robot. Next, prepare the components and materials that are needed. After that, start building the robot
from the base to the top and of course from the basic to the details. Cytron calls it Robot. Head to Toe.
As for this mobile robot, there are a few components that we need to prepare such as MC40A Mini
Mobile Robot Controller, the new aluminium base, LSS05 Auto-calibrating Line Sensor, spacers (or
PCB stands), screws, SPG-10 micro metal geared motor and WL-POL-4610 wheel.
Line Following Coding
Yes! I’ve assembled my robot but why is it still not moving? Ever heard this question before? It’s
commonly asked by beginners. A robot is a machine which consists of hardware and software
components. We have completed the hardware part, so now we need to work on the software. Why?
Well, besides building the hardware, we also need to program the software as the robot needs a
“BRAIN” to think. Programming is a way to give the robot the instructions or commands to do the task
we required. A robot needs both hardware and software components to function. Now that we already
have the hardware, let’s move on to the robot’s “brain”, i.e. the programming.
Cytron provides the line following sample code for MC40A Mini Mobile Robot and this code can be
downloaded for FREE! Please log on to http://www.cytron.com.my/viewProduct.php?pcode=MC40A
and download MC40A Sample Source Code 10Nov 2010 for your reference.
Calibrating Line Following Sensor LSS05
Why does my robot not run according to line although I have already programmed it? This is because
the line sensor may not giving the correct value. So how do we calibrate it? Let’s see how to deal with
it. I guarantee you are going to love it.
Check for the RED circle in the following figure. This is the external push button on MC40A that we
are going to use to calibrate the LSS05 line sensor. To calibrate the line sensor, you only need to push it
ONCE, then swing your LSS05 sensor left and right repeatedly with the sensor facing the line. Please
keep the distance between robot and floor constant during calibration. Do not lift the base. The sensor
is automatically calibrated so there is no need for us to worry about the calibration procedure. The
indicator LEDs will blink while calibrating. After the indicator LEDs stop blinking, it’s DONE. Now it
has learned to ‘see’.
[attachment=31519]
Introduction
Cytron launched 1 Day Robot Challenge (1DRC) during MURoC 2011 in UniMAP. Ten finalists
selected from Cytron’s facebook fans successfully built their line following robot within the time
limitation. From the photos below, we can see that the participants were using scrapped PCB board as
their robot base. They were required to use a hand drill to make holes to mount the main controller
board and motors. This took quite some time and might endanger the user if not handled it carefully.
How to Assemble?
Before you start assembling a mobile robot, it is always good to plan ahead so that you have a rough
idea how your robot is going to operate. Base on your idea, come out with a sketch or design of your
robot. Next, prepare the components and materials that are needed. After that, start building the robot
from the base to the top and of course from the basic to the details. Cytron calls it Robot. Head to Toe.
As for this mobile robot, there are a few components that we need to prepare such as MC40A Mini
Mobile Robot Controller, the new aluminium base, LSS05 Auto-calibrating Line Sensor, spacers (or
PCB stands), screws, SPG-10 micro metal geared motor and WL-POL-4610 wheel.
Line Following Coding
Yes! I’ve assembled my robot but why is it still not moving? Ever heard this question before? It’s
commonly asked by beginners. A robot is a machine which consists of hardware and software
components. We have completed the hardware part, so now we need to work on the software. Why?
Well, besides building the hardware, we also need to program the software as the robot needs a
“BRAIN” to think. Programming is a way to give the robot the instructions or commands to do the task
we required. A robot needs both hardware and software components to function. Now that we already
have the hardware, let’s move on to the robot’s “brain”, i.e. the programming.
Cytron provides the line following sample code for MC40A Mini Mobile Robot and this code can be
downloaded for FREE! Please log on to http://www.cytron.com.my/viewProduct.php?pcode=MC40A
and download MC40A Sample Source Code 10Nov 2010 for your reference.
Calibrating Line Following Sensor LSS05
Why does my robot not run according to line although I have already programmed it? This is because
the line sensor may not giving the correct value. So how do we calibrate it? Let’s see how to deal with
it. I guarantee you are going to love it.
Check for the RED circle in the following figure. This is the external push button on MC40A that we
are going to use to calibrate the LSS05 line sensor. To calibrate the line sensor, you only need to push it
ONCE, then swing your LSS05 sensor left and right repeatedly with the sensor facing the line. Please
keep the distance between robot and floor constant during calibration. Do not lift the base. The sensor
is automatically calibrated so there is no need for us to worry about the calibration procedure. The
indicator LEDs will blink while calibrating. After the indicator LEDs stop blinking, it’s DONE. Now it
has learned to ‘see’.