CASPER-The line following robot

CASPER- The line following robot developed for the ROBOFERST 2012 organized by SLIIT. Developed by,
K.B.S.Chandrarathna (University of Colombo School of Computing)
A.M.D.T.Adikari (University of Colombo School of Computing)
L.D.S.S.Karunarathne (University of Colombo School of Computing)

Basic Electronics Components..

Basic Electronics Components..

Hi everybody...

In this post I hope to give some basic knowledge about basic electronics component and I think it will more important for you to develop your own robot.

Diode

A diode allows electricity to flow in one direction only and blocks the flow in the opposite direction. They may be regarded as one-way valves and they are used in various circuits, usually as a form of protection. There are different types of diode but their basic functions are the same

Voltage Regulators

Voltage regulators use to put constant voltage level in a circuit. Usually regulators having three legs convert varying input voltage and produce a constant regulated output voltage. The most common part numbers start with the numbers 78 or 79 and finish with two digits indicating the output voltage. The number 78 represents positive voltage and 79 negative one. The 78XX series of voltage regulators are designed for positive input. And the 79XX series is designed for negative input.

  Configer 7805

Most microcontroller IC and digital IC work with 5V voltage level. Therefore always we have to use 7805 regulator IC and should configure correctly.You can get sharp knowledge about 7805 and its operation by using its datasheet.

http://www.engineersgarage.com/sites/default/files/7805.pdf

Capacitor

Capacitors are components that are used to store an electrical charge and are used in timer circuits. A capacitor may be used with a resistor to produce a timer. Sometimes capacitors are used to smooth a current in a circuit as they can prevent false triggering of other components such as relays. When power is supplied to a circuit that includes a capacitor - the capacitor charges up. When power is turned off the capacitor discharges its electrical charge slowly

You can get some idea about capacitor by building following circuit

Compilers and Programmers

Compilers and Programmers..

We can store a program in the microcontroller program memory  and we can execute its command one by one. Microcontroller can execute a program that program file type must be hexa decimal (.hex extension) file. To convert our program to  .hex file we have to use the compiler. Some compilers are,

• MikroC PRO compiler
• Hightech C compiler
• Microchip C30 compiler
• CC5X C compiler
• WIZ-C compiler 

Most compilers are freely not available. I give you some download link,

•  MikroC PRO
• WIZ-C 
• C30 
• Hight-tech C

 We must buy a programmer to program the microchip

PIC KIT2

Microcontroller

Microcontroller..

A microcontroller is a single-chip computer (processor). Micro suggests that the device is

small, and controller suggests that it is used in control applications. Another term for

microcontroller is embedded controller, since most of the microcontrollers are built

into the devices they control.

                                                
Microcontroller have more features such as program memory, data memory analog to digital convertor, timers, watchdog, Serial Input-Output, LCD Drivers, Analog Comparator, USB Interface, Motor Control Interface, CAN Interface, Ethernet Interface.

All microcontrollers operate on a set of instructions or the user program stored in their memory. A microcontroller fetches the instructions from its program memory one by one, decodes these instructions, and then carries out the required operations. we can control all activities of the microcontroller by it's program.

Microcontrollers have traditionally been programmed using the assembly language of the target

device. Although the assembly language is fast, it has several disadvantages. An assembly program

consists of mnemonics and it is difficult to learn and maintain a program written using the assembly language. Therefore microcontrollers can also be programmed using a high-level language,such as BASIC, PASCAL, and C. High-level languages have the advantage that it is much easier to learn a high level language than the assembler. Also, very large and complex programs can easily be developed using a high-level language.

Start with..

Start with..

A robot is a reprogrammable, multifunctional manipulator designed to move material, parts, tools, or specialized devices through variable programmed motions for the performance of a variety of tasks

Robotic is basically a combination of  analog electronics, digital electronics, programming and mechanism.

In this field   we have to get signals from external sensors or other electronics components, then convert in to digital signal and process it using micro-controller with a program and send signal to other electronic device to control it.

 To follow this subject first you should know this tectonics. Therefore we start our course mainly two way.

• Electronics for robotics
• PIC micro-controller programming

My next post will be about this two topics and i hops to it is very use full for all robot developers. 

Introduction to Robotics

Hi every body....

Since this is my first post, i am talking to give you all and introduction to robotics to developing a robot is not an easy task but it is fun and interesting. To become a skilled technician.

 Robotics is basically electronics but it includes,

• Analog and Digital electronics
• Programming skills
• PIC Micro controller programming
• Robotics concepts
• Practical knowledge 
• Mechanic

Now i think you understand how difficult is this and my purpose is to support you with the knowledge and the resources you need to learn this subject. Robotics is not only about the knowledge most importantly it's about practice, creativity and skills. 

Now i think you all have a ruff idea about what robotics is. in my future post i am expecting to discuss about this topics widely and i am hoping the give you the knowledge you seek step by step and in the most simplest way

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