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Geek Culture / Any Robotics \ Advanced Electronics Fellas here?

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That Guy John
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Posted: 19th Jun 2012 06:53
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Messing with some ideas in my head for a new project having to do with a car and looking for direction.

In simplest terms, I am looking for a way to interact with relays (simply open and close relays) using an interface on a PC.

I am currently looking into Microsoft Robotics (I figured that would be a good place to at least start), but I am having a hard time finding information relevant to what I want to do.

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Dark Java Dude 64
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Posted: 19th Jun 2012 07:14
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I haven't any experience itch that but I have the basic ideas for that stuff though... USB, serial, or parallel ports sound like they would provide a promising way to connect the device to the computer... Then of course a micro controller at the center of it all shall help.

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That Guy John
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Posted: 19th Jun 2012 07:38
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Right, I found http://www.trossenrobotics.com/ and have ran into some of those "words" ...

I hate it when I get interested in something new and find myself uncontrollably digging for resources and trying to learn.. I will lose some sleep over this tonight. lol

At this point I am finding that most micro controllers run off of either some proprietary program language or C.. I'm not shooting for AI I just need "ON" and "OFF" lol

Think I should have gotten a little more buddy buddy with some of the robotics guys at college this past semester.

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Dark Java Dude 64
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Posted: 19th Jun 2012 08:15
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Haha well if you are willing to learn assembly then you won't be bound to C++ anymore...

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Neuro Fuzzy
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Posted: 19th Jun 2012 09:12 Edited at: 19th Jun 2012 09:13
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Quote: "At this point I am finding that most micro controllers run off of either some proprietary program language or C.. I'm not shooting for AI I just need "ON" and "OFF" lol"


C, not C++, you don't have to know half as much!

Though I'd recommend the arduino. I haven't used it myself, but a friend has. It's way simpler than alternatives

[edit]
I only have experience with the alternatives. Command line compiling, fiddling, googling, crazy breadboarding with lots of annoying wiring ("output pin 1 to chip pin 23, output pin 2 to chip pin 5")

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BatVink
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Posted: 19th Jun 2012 09:20
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Perfect timing...You will find an article here later today regarding robotics and interfacing to DarkGDK. The article includes information on libraries used to make the interface to the hardware.

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That Guy John
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Posted: 19th Jun 2012 10:48 Edited at: 19th Jun 2012 10:49
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@ Neuro Fuzzy
Thank you for mentioning arduino !

I am finding a load of useful resources now. Here is a video I found that pretty much does what I want. I still need to look into the coding for it, but I think I found enough so that I can sleep now knowing it is possible. lol



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bitJericho
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Posted: 19th Jun 2012 13:46
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What about lego robotics? I've heard it's quite good.

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BatVink
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Posted: 21st Jun 2012 22:26
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Here's the DarkGDK / Robotics article...

http://www.thegamecreators.com/news/2012/06/hackeneering-a-thing-o-matic/

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That Guy John
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Posted: 22nd Jun 2012 02:45
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Thanks for the link BatVink.

@ Jerico2day
Hadn't thought about that, I will look into it. But arduino, from everything I have found might be the perfect solution. Been looking at some of the components and kits I can use with it. Currently digging to find cheap components to do a mock-up.

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PAGAN_old
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Posted: 22nd Jun 2012 12:01
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i wish i could be good at robotics robots are so cool, I wanna build myself a robot to do my bidding, Like bringing me somethng from the fridge so i dont have to get up and do it myself


dont hate people who rip you off,cheat and get away with it, learn from them
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That Guy John
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Posted: 22nd Jun 2012 16:50
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Pagan, you can be good at anything. It's about getting interested and being willing to learn. I've never touched robotics before.

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That Guy John
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Posted: 27th Jun 2012 02:40
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[ Sorry for the double post ]

Just an update: I got my "Getting started with Arduino" kit last night and ran through the first couple basic examples to try and grasp the concept. Making another run to RadioShack in a bit to grab a couple things suggested on some other forums and sites in order to keep learning.

It's cool watching code do physical things, this is a hobby I can see myself getting hooked on and blowing money on.

I know this isn't a micro controller forum, so I won't waste a bunch of space here ranting about it. (Too often lol)

But... Two final projects I have in mind.
Autonomous Car and an Autonomous Quadricopter, both from scratch not using any kits. That is a ways down the road though.
For now, tinker tinker tinker.

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