[ale] semi [OT] running a robot with linux

[Charles Shapiro]

Gee whiz, I'd think a lotta processor power is overkill for most
'bots.  My 3d printer is capable of quite complex behaviors on a
couple of Arduino ( http://www.arduino.cc/ ) boards loaded with simple
software in ROM.   The trouble with those kewl speedy processors is
that they tend to want more power and support circuitry.  If all
you're doing with that stuff is processing more LOC (Lines of Code),
what's the point of inviting all that extra design and debugging pain
into it?   Especially if you're talking a moving robot, power and
weight become critical, yes?

I've also been thinking about robots recently, 'specially now I've got
a device that'll make, like, motor mounts in any shape I want. But I'm
leaning toward simple software and interesting hardware 'stead of
something as relatively heavy as linux / C++. Seems like a simple fast
scheduler and some routines are all you really need here, 'stead of
all that multi-user control, file system interface, cron(8) and other
hoo-hah.  Heck, if it were 20 years ago I'd be talking FORTH.  Maybe
that's still a good way to go.

Hey, I'm thinkin' about making my first visit to AHRC this month.
Maybe we can argue about this there?

-- CHS


On Fri, Jan 21, 2011 at 10:49 AM, Ron Frazier
<atllinuxenthinfo at c3energy.com> wrote:
> One of my interests, other than Linux, is robotics (actual moving
> machines, not computer bots).  I sometimes visit the Atlanta Hobby Robot
> Club ( http://botlanta.org/ ).  My ultimate goal is to build a moving
> robot which is run with a Linux based platform for a brain, and probably
> programmed in C++, which I'm starting to learn.  I think it would be
> really cool to run a robot using an Android phone or tablet, or possibly
> one of those little embedded computers.  However, I think the embedded
> computer market is behind because a phone or tablet has much more
> computer power, memory, built in screen, wireless, network interface,
> usb, etc.  I specifically want to use C++, rather than C, where
> functions exist to do a task in both languages.  Lots of embedded
> computers can be programmed in C, but not C++.  I also want the robot to
> be able to do more complex tasks than just following a line, etc.
> That's why I'm leaning toward a more sophisticated controller.  I'd
> appreciate any pointers toward resources for this type of project.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Ron
>
> --
>
> (PS - If you email me and don't get a quick response, you might want to
> call on the phone.  I get about 300 emails per day from alternate energy
> mailing lists and such.  I don't always see new messages very quickly.)
>
> Ron Frazier
>
> 770-205-9422 (O)   Leave a message.
> linuxdude AT c3energy.com
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Ale mailing list
> Ale at ale.org
> http://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale
> See JOBS, ANNOUNCE and SCHOOLS lists at
> http://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo
>