I haven't prepared any materials yet so I'll ask you first before getting/making anything.
I will make a robot for the science fair (I agreed to my partner that we're going to charge iPods with potatoes, but secretly I want to do this) and I will ask you if you have any better design ideas.
Will it be just like using PPJoy glovePIE (I got mixed up because I had to install PPJoyfor a reason)?
I have to choose from three things:
A robot that turns left or right within the proximity of an object. (Probably will use a very basic LIDAR)
A robot that maps the environment (SONAR(If you have a better idea to do this then tell me)) and uses pathfinding code to navigate.
A robot that follows my commands (via an antenna and a homemade radio controller(Wii remote is the first thing that comes to mind, given you can use it on a bluetooth device))
1 will be good (given most of my classmates have lamer science fair entries) 2 will be better, but will take more time. 3 would be the easiest in my opinion.
The problem is I am ABSOLUTELY new to Arduino and from my guesses this will have a steeeeeeeep learning curve with alot to learn, is 3 months enough?
I got my dad to teach me Visual Basic and I don't think it will be good enough a start. And for the Predator I don't think I can cope with dealing with the source code nor the size of the file (just download the demo, see that it requires another package then see the size of the package (105 MB to my memory))
Three months should be plenty if you take a few shortcuts and work fast (then again, you're in school - relish this free time you have - seriously! Adulthood sucks).
I would actually go for a combination of 1, 2, and 3 (with some modifications):
Build the robot first with sonar to map distance to whatever is in front of it (and perhaps decide which way to go)
Add the ability to map surroundings to the code (shouldn't be too difficult, once the above is done)
Then add "remote control" capability (and use the above to let the robot "override" your commands - so if you tell it to drive into a wall, it won't)
If you can purchase a pre-built toy remote controlled tank, you'll be halfway there with the chassis; otherwise, look into the Tamiya or OWI kits:
Other kits and chassis are also available; much simpler than trying to build your own in the limited time you have. Use an L298-based shield or motor controller to drive the tread motors. You might want a small servo to "scan/pan" the sonar unit around (or just swivel the whole robot). The coding will probably be a difficult aspect of this project, but if you use google, this forum, the playground, and the tons of other examples and such out there on the web, you should get a handle on it (believe me when I say this - I only -wish- I had these kinds of resources as a kid working on science fair projects - the library and a card catalog - even with inter-library-loaning and micro-fiche - has nothing on the internet).
I'm going to get my Arduino board this week (my dad agreed to it YAAAY!).
Somehow I'm thinking of recycling my old mouse and the Infrared sensitive camera on the Wii remote.
I could use the mouse failsafe in case there is a precision error when moving (Attach it on the bottom of the chassis) ex: it moved 3 meters when the robot thinks it moved 2.5 meters
And possibly remove the camera on the Wii remote (my parents will not expect me doing that alone(I don't have the tools to open the screws ^^)) and potentially attach an infrared led to something and it will constantly follow it (It can track up to four).
I seriously doubt I can get a small servo here in Saudi Arabia, I'm feel lucky I have access to integrated circuits here!
For the motors should I do analog output or digital output? Which is more effective for the ease of implementation?
I wrote this in the morning, I need to go to school now! (Will do this project with 99% perspiration 1% inspiration!)
