Re: gEDA-user: FIRST robotics...
On Feb 17, 2010, at 5:39 PM, Mike Bushroe wrote: But since most are running Windoze or MAC, most of the time went to just configuring a KNOPPIX live CD loaded with gEDA Installing geda on a MAC is rather painless. Use mac ports to install geda. it includes geda 1.6.0 pcb is outdated in macports, so get the source from git and build it from source. You'll teach the kids about source control, and that's really important if they are making software for their robots! The developer tools are free, after registering a developer.apple.com ___ geda-user mailing list geda-user@moria.seul.org http://www.seul.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/geda-user
gEDA-user: FIRST robotics...
Some of you know I've been working with the local high school's FIRST robotics team. Here's a status update: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_VfT5_mEn0 At 0:49 there's a photo of me teaching one of the freshman how to assemble a circuit board full of 0603's and PTH parts. The board was designed with gEDA/PCB, etched in my basement, built my him, and works like a charm. And no, I did not have to fix *any* of his soldering. The board is a manual servo controller, or servo tool. Since I didn't have any 555's kicking around, it instead has a 16-bit microcontroller that makes the pulses and drives an LED array. ___ geda-user mailing list geda-user@moria.seul.org http://www.seul.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/geda-user
Re: gEDA-user: FIRST robotics...
On Wednesday 17 February 2010, DJ Delorie wrote: Some of you know I've been working with the local high school's FIRST robotics team. Here's a status update: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_VfT5_mEn0 At 0:49 there's a photo of me teaching one of the freshman how to assemble a circuit board full of 0603's and PTH parts. The board was designed with gEDA/PCB, etched in my basement, built my him, and works like a charm. And no, I did not have to fix *any* of his soldering. The board is a manual servo controller, or servo tool. Since I didn't have any 555's kicking around, it instead has a 16-bit microcontroller that makes the pulses and drives an LED array. D.J.D.; The rating I would apply to any teaching effort is whether or not the project works. It looks like you have succeeded very well. I believe this makes a lie out of the old saw about 'those who can't, teach'. For instilling in these young folks, a sense of pride in laying it out and doing it right, we need a squad of cheerleaders to put on a show but I'm fresh out of those. But, if you are anything at all like me, having the project work at all, let alone look that professionally built, would make me very proud of myself as well as giving me some better ideas for the next years classes. And proud is what I think you should be. Pride in what one has done well is a reward in and of itself. But I suspect you already knew that. Congratulations are in order, and here are mine. Thank you for posting the link. -- Cheers, Gene There are four boxes to be used in defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that order. -Ed Howdershelt (Author) I didn't order any WOO-WOO ... Maybe a YUBBA ... But no WOO-WOO! ___ geda-user mailing list geda-user@moria.seul.org http://www.seul.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/geda-user
Re: gEDA-user: FIRST robotics...
I am also mentoring a FIRST Robotics team. We have already had one session on trying to learn gEDA/PCB and have them etch their own boards using the PCB-in-a-box kit. But since most are running Windoze or MAC, most of the time went to just configuring a KNOPPIX live CD loaded with gEDA. I am hoping to resume the training once we ship, and have them teach others during the Arizona Regionals. I also want to have a simple kit for them to do a manual servo/Victor controller that they can use next year to test servo and motor drive parts without having the whole robot powered up or the main software running. I am planning on using an ATTiny24 to read 2 1-turn pots and an analog joystick to generate 4 PWM outputs. Do you have LEDs for both directions on every channel? That would push the pin out to 16, and require the next larger ATTiny, or maybe even an ATMega to handle that many LEDs, along with 4 analog inputs and 4 PWM outputs. Mike ___ geda-user mailing list geda-user@moria.seul.org http://www.seul.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/geda-user
Re: gEDA-user: FIRST robotics...
D.J.D.; For those who don't know - DJ is my name, not my initials. For instilling in these young folks, a sense of pride in laying it out and doing it right, we need a squad of cheerleaders to put on a show but I'm fresh out of those. I think that's the whole point of FIRST - For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology. We mentors are now starting to think about what to do in the off season to (1) keep the kids interested, and (2) show the rest of the school what we're up to. I've suggested robot mascots at the football games :-) ___ geda-user mailing list geda-user@moria.seul.org http://www.seul.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/geda-user
Re: gEDA-user: FIRST robotics...
I also want to have a simple kit for them to do a manual servo/Victor controller that they can use next year to test servo and motor drive parts without having the whole robot powered up or the main software running. I am planning on using an ATTiny24 to read 2 1-turn pots and an analog joystick to generate 4 PWM outputs. Do you have LEDs for both directions on every channel? That would push the pin out to 16, and require the next larger ATTiny, or maybe even an ATMega to handle that many LEDs, along with 4 analog inputs and 4 PWM outputs. I'm using an R8C/1b (pillar's adapter, amusingly enough) which has 20 pins. It controls one servo (if we need more, we use the computer), so it has one ADC input from the potentiometer, one timer output (conveniently, it's connected in hardware, not software) and the rest of the pins (11) are connected to LEDs. The center LED is yellow, all red on the left, all green on the right. This corresponds to the Jaguar status LED. Alternately, use a single red/green LED for each channel, with two pins per LED. I use a PWM-like algorithm to programmatically dim the LEDs anyway, so you can smoothly transition from red to yellow to green, or blink them like the speed controllers do. Still four pins per channel, though. Check into the 32-pin R8C's - they're $5-7 each but have built-in three phase motor control, which gives you a bunch of PWM outputs to play with. ___ geda-user mailing list geda-user@moria.seul.org http://www.seul.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/geda-user
Re: gEDA-user: FIRST robotics...
On Wednesday 17 February 2010, DJ Delorie wrote: D.J.D.; For those who don't know - DJ is my name, not my initials. Oops, sorry. I didn't do that intentionally, I just assumed that the DJ was for David James or some such. My apologies. For instilling in these young folks, a sense of pride in laying it out and doing it right, we need a squad of cheerleaders to put on a show but I'm fresh out of those. I think that's the whole point of FIRST - For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology. We mentors are now starting to think about what to do in the off season to (1) keep the kids interested, and (2) show the rest of the school what we're up to. I've suggested robot mascots at the football games :-) I think that's a jolly idea. Not only does the programming and inevitable maintenance teach them even more, but it shows off the talents of both you and the kids, in front of a whole grandstand full of frogs. There will be those who downplay it as wasting the schools money, but those same people have probably voted against any excess school tax levies since they were old enough to buy beer. Hell, I may be 75 and fading, but dammit folks that's the best tax money I ever paid. If it makes the diff between a productive adult, and one who is so poorly trained to do anything that he's a regular customer at the county jail, it is worth it. Same scene, if it heads off one bored troublemaker, that is another point of pride. -- Cheers, Gene There are four boxes to be used in defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that order. -Ed Howdershelt (Author) The trouble with heart disease is that the first symptom is often hard to deal with: death. -- Michael Phelps ___ geda-user mailing list geda-user@moria.seul.org http://www.seul.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/geda-user
