INTRODUCTION TO

ROBOTICS AND
MICROCONTROLLERS

Instructors:
Tijjani “TJ” Mohammed and Tarek Abdel-Salam
 Module Overview
 A general overview of what robots are, and the
essential components embedded within

 Relevant examples of microcontroller and robot

applications to help the participants understand
contexts and applications of these technologies

 Contextual understanding makes it easier to relate

programming efforts to basic science, math, or
engineering concepts
 Student objectives
Upon completion of this module students
should be able to:
 Identify and describe key components of
microcontrollers and robots
 List typical applications of microcontrollers
 Relate number systems and conversions to
applications in robotics
 Calibrate the Boe-Bot servos prior to assembly
 Assemble and test a robot using Parallax Boe-Bot
kit
 Teacher objectives
Upon completion of this module
instructors should be able to:
 Prepare a presentation on the fundamentals
of microcontrollers and robotics
 Explain to students the basic building blocks
of microcontrollers including the CPU,
memory, and input/output.
 Explain number systems and their
usefulness in robotics and computing
 Walk students through the process of
constructing and testing a robot
 What is a
Microcontroller?
 A microcontroller is a kind of miniature computer
that found in all kinds of gizmos

 Generally speaking, if a device has buttons

and a digital display, chances are it also
has a programmable microcontroller brain.
Microcontrollers cont.

Microcontrollers are 'single chip'

computers specifically designed
to:
 Read input devices, such as buttons and
sensors
 Process data or information

 Control output devices, such as lights,

displays, motors and speakers
Embedded Control
 Microcontrollers are placed in devices, or
embedded, for operation and control.

 Can you name other devices in your life

that
have embedded control?
 Microprocessor vs.
Microcontroller
 A microprocessor is the “brain” of a
computer system
 Generally referred to as the central
processing unit (CPU), the microprocessor
by itself is practically useless
 To be useful, one must have means of
communicating with it using input and
output devices
 One must also add memory (ROM and
RAM) so that the system can be
programmed.
 Microprocessor vs. Microcontroller Cont.
 A microcontroller is a computer chip
designed for control-oriented applications
 Unlike ordinary microprocessors,
microcontrollers have built-in features that
make them operate almost independent of
additional circuitry
 This is possible because microcontrollers
contain things like
 memory (ROM, EPROM, RAM, etc)
 input and output ports
 timers
 serial and parallel communication capability
 analog-to-digital converters
Boe-Bot’s Brain: The BASIC
Stamp
 The BASIC Stamp 2 embeds a
microcontroller, the PIC16C57, on a
module to make programming and
use very simple, yet very powerful.

 Additional components on the module

provide everything needed to systems
and applications, like robotics.
 BASIC Stamp Module
Components
Serial Signal
Conditioning
Conditions voltage
signals between PC serial
connection (+/- 12V) and
BASIC Stamp (5V) for
5V Regulator
Programming.
Regulates voltage
to 5V with a supply of
EEPROM 5.5VDC to 15VDC
Stores the your
PBASIC program. Resonator
Sets the speed at which
instructions are processed.

Interpreter Chip
Reads the BASIC
program from the
EEPROM and executes
the instructions.
 So What is a Robot?
 A robot is a machine that gathers
information about its environment
(senses) and uses that information
(thinks) to follow instructions to do work
(acts)
 The “sensing” part provides input to the robot
through switches, light sensors,
 The thinking part is the microcontroller brain
 The acting part could be through lights,
motors, actuators, sounds, etc
 Robots and Applications
 Robots come in many shapes and sizes

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High-Tech and Aerospace
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Data Collection Harbor Branch Test Launch
EME Systems Institute
Fundamentals of Electricity
 Electric Current (I), measured in amperes (A)
 Resistance (R), measured in Ohms (Ω)
 Voltage (V), measured in volts (V)

 A complete path or circuit is required for

current to flow
R

V
Fundamentals of Electricity
Cont.
 Robotics requires a basic understanding of electricity
and simple wiring diagrams

 The relationship between current, voltage and resistance

is expressed by what is known as Ohm’s Law, variations
of which are expressed below:
V = IR; I = V/R; R = V/I
R +V

I R

+ -
V
 Module 1 Activities
1.1 Installing your robot’s Software (PBASIC)
1.2 Identifying key components of the Boe-Bot
System
1.3 Assembling initial Boe-Bot components
1.4 Introduction to breadboarding and circuit
construction
1.5 Testing for communication between the
Boe-Bot and the BASIC stamp editor
1.6 Calibrating the servos
1.7 Assembling the Boe-Bot
 Where We’re Heading…
 Simple programming to cause Boe-
Bot to perform basic tasks
 Adding input and output circuits
 Making sounds
 Measuring and calculating
 Distances
 Angles
 Speed
 Rotation
 Simple to Complex
 Timing and signal measurements

 Working with equations

Observe, measure,
confirm
 More Signals
Measurements
Graphical illustration of
concepts
 Analyze
different
waveforms
Use Accelerometers to
Measure
 Acceleration
 Tilt and tilt angle
 Incline
 Rotation
 Vibration
 Collision
 Gravity
Something for Everyone
STAMP Plot For Data Analyses
 Process Control Module for
Advanced Concepts
 Sensing and measurements
 Signal Conditioning
 Data logging
 Graphical analyses
 Feedback continuous control
 Resources
 Parallax Educational Resources
 http://www.parallax.com/html_pages/edu/ind

 What is a Robot?