Swarm Robotics Prototype 1.0: Why prototype 0.0 will fail...

Hi all. I hope you tried out the last project i suggested to get some insight into swarm robotics. Now all those who did mostly know why I am writing this post. The swarm robotics algorithm that we discussed in the last post fails because of a very practical reason. The second robot that was following the first does not have to turn when the first does, it has to turn a 'little later' And this is where we come across a very important aspect of robotics, that of calibration.

Swarm Robotics Prototype 0.0

Now that we have done some basic electronics...little bit of interfacing and we 'say' that we make robots, let us go on to one of the latest advances in robot technology: Swarm Robotics.

Should I use a Development Board ???

One of the questions I have heard a lot of people talk about is should they be using a development board for the project they are working on. For those who are not aware, a development board is a pcb that you get in the market that has the interfacing pins brought out using burg strips. These boards, produced by companies dedicated to hobby electronics or by the chip companies themselves make the interfacing a LOT easier. Things like programming the controller or testing the algorithms is a lot faster.

A brief look at interfacing...

Hi ppl...so far I have written a little about some simple robots. The similarity in all of those projects was that we took a controller, some sensors and put them together to make a robot move according to some pre-planned algorithm.

Towards a Photopopper...following light !

So far we have had a discussion on a simple line follower robot. Approached by many at a beginner level, the line follower provides a lot of practical working knowledge in the field of robotics. Now I am thinking that you have taken you shot at a line follower, and would like to mention another well known robot, the photopopper. Though not really difficult to make, the photopopper provides little more inroads to what we call biologically inspired intelligence.

Easy Steps to make a Line Follower Robot

Of the different kinds of robots people take interest in making, the most basic one is an autonomous robot capable of following a line.
Even though a relatively simple task to achieve, it involves using hardware and interfacing it that is necessary for almost any robot. Hence, this particular robot is great for beginners in the field of robotics.

The First Robot

So after writing some random posts that mostly only I may understand, lets get down to some serious discussion on robotics. Now you need to understand that I am no expert in the field, I just love to work in it. And this I believe may help those who are interested to start working in robotics as I will usually write about the basic things that I come across.

BITS Annual Magazine Sizzling Sands release !!!

This post is particularly for any BITSIANS here.
Being a member of the annual magazine team of BITS Goa, I am happy to say that Sizzling Sands 2010 is FINALLY to release :) The magazine covers articles and interviews and flashback at last years festivals to say a few. Follow this link to know more !
http://www.bits-goa.ac.in/BITSAM/sizz_sands.html

Why 'Segmented Minds'...

Hello World !!!

Segmented Minds is a blog that aims to become a platform for enthusiasts to read about the experience of a budding engineer at things that most of the times do not work. Not the best opening line you may say, but it is the thrill of sitting down solving those problems and finally cracking them that makes it so very interesting.