A no-vice robotic arm for novices
Original article date: February 2000
Are you considering using robotics for the first time, but don’t know where to start? Tommy Miller suggests one possibility: Edubot
Taking the first steps towards using robotics can be a very daunting prospect for many people. The fear of the unknown, along with the possibility of spending thousands of pounds on equipment that no-one can operate, let alone understand, often discourages companies from investing in technology that could lead to long-term time and cost savings.
To address this problem, Robotica has designed a programmable robotic arm for use in the teaching of robotics technology. The Edubot is a six-axis open kinematic robotic arm that can be supplied pre-assembled or in kit form, and is controlled through a PC via Robotica’s control software. At under (UK pounds)500, Edubot allows the building, programming and operation of a robot to be learned in an entertaining, cost-effective way.
As well as performing simple pick-and-place tasks, the robotic arm can be interfaced with other devices to complete a sophisticated robotic system. Analogue and digital inputs allow limit switches, pressure sensors, infrared sensors and ultrasonic distance sensors to be connected, and digital outputs enable relays, motors, conveyors, solenoids and LEDs to be controlled from the computer. The software and electronics are suitable for radio-modem communication, so Edubot may be used in wireless mobile robotics applications.
Servo controller
At the heart of Edubot is the Robotica R/C servo controller II, with two analogue inputs, four digital inputs and three digital outputs, connected via an RS232 connector to the computer serial port. Up to four robots can be controlled from one serial port.
The control software supplied with the Edubot includes the following:
- Mouse and/or joystick control.
- R/C servomotors can be controlled either manually or through a program sequence.
- All input and output states can be observed constantly, and they can also be controlled through a mouse click on the screen.
- Different configuration settings can be created for immediate recall, such as servo limits, park position, labels and operational mode.
Programming the unit to perform various tasks is simple thanks to easy-to-use, efficient single character commands, and a comprehensive ‘Help’ menu that is incorporated within the software.
- Robotica
February 2000