In our second look at using the I2C bus we will build our own I2C sensor, one that has four ultrasonic distance sensors.
We’ll also learn about the protocol used by I2C communications
I2C Part 2 – Build an I2C Sensor
Build a Real Robot – Part 7 – Motor Test
In part 7 of the Build a REAL Robot series I will finish wiring the robot. After connecting power to the robot via its rear connector I will test the motors and motor drivers.
Then, at long last, it’s time for a test drive!
Programming the Arduino Pro Mini
Learn how to use and program the Arduino Pro Mini, using an FTDI adapter and the Arduino IDE.
We will also use a 3.3-volt Pro Mini to build a battery-powered robot arm controller for the MeArm
Build a Real Robot – Part 6 – Power Distribution
In part 6 of the Build a Real Robot series, I will show you how to distribute 12-volt and 5-volt power throughout the chassis of the DB1 robot.
We will look at the schematic for the wiring and then examine some of the components used to hook everything up.
Build a Real Robot – Part 5 – Base Electronics
In part 5 of the “Build a Real Robot” series I will show you the electronic modules that are mounted on the base unit of DB1.
One of the modules, a Raspberry Pi 3B+, may not be exactly perfect for the job! I will explain why we are using it now, and why it might get replaced with another microcomputer at a later date.
I2C Communications Part 1 – Arduino to Arduino
This is the first of a series of articles about using I2C. Today I will explain what I2C is and show you the Arduino Wire Library
We will run two demonstrations. The first demo will show you how to exchange data between two Arduinos using I2C. The second demo will describe how to control an LED on a slave Arduino with a potentiometer on a master.
Build a Real Robot – Part 4 – Selecting Wheels
In the fourth installment of the Build a REAL Robot series I will discuss wheels. While it may not seem like the most thrilling subject, selecting wheels for your robot is a very important task.
I will discuss some of the specifications you will need to know when selecting robot wheels and I’ll also go over the different types of wheels you can use for your robot.
Using Rotary Encoders with Arduino
Rotary encoders are versatile devices that can be used both as controls and as measurement tools.
Today I will show you two ways of using rotary encoders – as a control for a servo motor and to measure RPM on a gear motor
Build a Real Robot – Part 3 – Selecting Motors
In the third installment of the “Build a REAL Robot” series I will show you how to select DC gearmotors for your robot. I’ll also show you the motors that I used in the DB1 design, and how I mounted them to the chassis.
In addition, I’ll introduce you to a very useful online tool for selecting robot motors
SD Card Experiments with Arduino
SD and microSD cards are a simple way to add huge amounts of non-volatile storage to your Arduino designs. In this article, I will show you how to use SD card modules with the Arduino.
I will also show you how to record and playback the motion of a servo motor.