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Robots have been around for many years in industrial manufacturing, space exploration, scientific laboratories, sci-fi motion pictures, and countless other applications.

The code examples & schematics provided with each Micro-Bot are intended to introduce you to just a few of the mechanical, electronic, and problem solving solutions that are currently used in many of today's real-world robotics applications. While not on the same scale as most industrial or space exploration robotics applications, many of these same principles, methods, and sensors you will use with Micro-Bot are very similar to larger full-scale robotics applications.

With today's advanced technology simplifying almost everything, robots are quickly gaining popularity. Robots are stepping out of the sci-fi movies & laboratories into our households. As you're about to discover.

What Do I Need To Get Started?

All you really need to get started with Micro-Bot is a PIC programmer that supports the PIC16F628, a couple batteries, a soldering iron, a #1 Phillips and a small flat blade screwdriver. Micro-Bot ships with an assembled prototyping board, and experimental parts kit for the CDS photocell & infrared navigation experiments. Optional components would be the SRF04 sonar range finder, and remote control components for the remote control and sonar navigation projects. A complete list of all parts included with Micro-Bot, and optional components you may want to get can be found on the parts list page HERE.

The Micro-Bot Design Concept:

It's no big secret that technology changes fast. You build a robot, write & debug your code, he's up & running then some company releases a single new sensor that will reduce your circuits to a single component, reduce your code overhead, and the new sensor has all the bells & whistles you wanted in the first place. What do you do..?

Simple. You start with a robotics development platform that allows maximum flexibility. A development platform where rapid circuit changes can be made, and one that doesn't limit your programming options to a single compiler or language tool. See the resources page for links to download the free Hi-Tech PICC Lite compiler, and Microchips free MPASM assembler HERE.

The concept of the Micro-Bot design is to offer maximum design flexibility for the amateur robotics enthusiast. A platform for learning without restricting the process. Micro-Bots PIC prototyping board provides ample room for experimentation with various types of sensors and circuits. As new sensors are introduced, simply drop them in. You're not stuck with a limited number or hard-wired sensors, and Micro-Bot can be programmed in "C", assembler, PicBasic or any language tool supporting the PIC microcontroller.

Copying Micro-Bot Files To Your Hard Drive:

The Micro-Bot CD-ROM does not include an install program. If you install the PicBasic Pro demo or MicroCode Studio editor, these programs have their own install programs. The Micro-Bot .html [this page and others], and BASIC code examples do not require installation.

You can access all Micro-Bot files directly from the CD-ROM or use the Windows Explorer to copy all files from the CD-ROM to your hard drive. Be sure to keep the same directory names for all Micro-Bot .html files if copying everything from CD to your hard drive.

Example: Start the Windows Explorer and navigate to your CD-ROM drive with the Micro-Bot CD. Right click on the Micro-Bot directory located on the CD and select Copy. Navigate to the root directory on the hard drive you want to copy the Micro-Bot files to, and right click a white area in the drives window within Explorer. Select Paste to copy the Micro-Bot files from CD to your hard drive.

Figure #1: Copy The Micro-Bot Directory From Your CD-ROM Drive

Figure #2: Paste The Micro-Bot Directory & Files To Your Hard Drive Root Directory

Figure #3:Micro-Bot Directory & Files Are Now On Your Hard Drive

Cut & Past Code Examples:

Each project page contains the full working version of the projects raw PicBasic source code. Start MicroCode Studio, and simply cut & paste each code example directly from the project page into MicroCode Studio. Save the file with a .BAS extension to your working code directory. Micro-Bot code examples are also on the CD-ROM, and can be opened directly from the CD-ROM with MicroCode Studio.

Note: The code directory on the Micro-Bot CD-ROM contains pre-compiled source code for each Micro-Bot project in .HEX format. You do not need the full version PicBasic Pro compiler to program project code into Micro-Bot for the examples & experiments. You will need the full version compiler only if you wish to make any changes to the full version project BASIC code examples.

All you need is a device programmer with support for the PIC16F628. Here are the steps --:

Step #1: Build the circuits shown for a project
Step #2: Locate & open the .HEX file for the project with your programmers software
Step #3: Program the projects .HEX file into Micro-Bot

If you have assembled each circuit correctly, Micro-Bot will execute the PicBasic code as shown on the projects page.

Important Note: Remember that all files on a CD-ROM are write protected. If you have copied the files from your Micro-Bot CD-ROM to your hard drive [recommended], then before you can make & save changes to any BASIC code files, you'll need to remove the code protection. Here's how --:

Start the Windows Explorer. Open the directory you have copied the Micro-Bot code examples into. Select all files with a .BAS extension. Right click on one of the .BAS files while all are high lighted, and select Properties as shown below in Figure #4.

Remove the check mark in the read only box as shown below in Figure #5, then click OK.

Figure #4: Select All .BAS Files, Right Click, Then Select Properties.

Figure #5: Remove Check Mark By Read-Only, Then Click OK.

The Essentials:

Unless your robot is just going to sit there collecting dust or lounge about in the dark gathering mold spores, there are a few essential items it will need to navigate through its environment, make a few intelligent decisions, do a little creative problem solving, and just plain survive. To name just a few, he will need;

The Brain:

Any intelligent robot will require some form of programmable controller to function as the central nervous system or brain. As with any intelligent life form, the brain continuously monitors feedback or input from sensors. This sensory feedback is used to make decisions & solve problems. Simple things we often take for granted such as sight, smell, touch and hearing are collectively monitored by the brain and used for problem solving, navigation, object detection and avoidance, and even survival.

For Micro-Bot we have chosen the PIC16F628 to act as the brain or central nervous system. While this tiny 18-pin PIC microcontroller may not offer the multi-tasking processing power compared to that of the human brain, it does provide some pretty impressive features, and a fair amount of intellect for our floor hugging electronic robotic life form.

At 20MHz Micro-Bots brain can execute single cycle instructions at a blazing speed of 5 MIPS. Yep. That's five million instructions per second, and that's really some impressive processing power packed into a tiny 18-pin chip. Imagine trying to read five million words per second in your favorite book..!

The Language:

All of our code examples for Micro-Bot are provided in BASIC, and written with the PIC Basic Pro compiler from MicroEngineering Labs. However, unlike many other robotics platforms out there today, Micro-Bot is not limited to a single language, compiler, or assembler. In fact, Micro-Bot is quite happy to be programmed in "C", assembler, or with BASIC. You're not limited to using only our BASIC code examples. Micro-Bot speaks any language that is compatible with the PIC microcontroller allowing incredible flexibility in an affordable experimental robotics platform. BASIC, assembler or even "C". You decide. There are no limitations.

The Teacher:

You as the teacher/programmer will be responsible for teaching Micro-Bot everything. He starts out with a very capable yet completely empty electronic brain, and relies on you to teach him everything from day #1. We have provided a sample library that we consider to be politically correct, socially acceptable, and overall decent behavior modules [code examples & schematics], to help you along the way.

As you experiment with the sample code and circuits provided with Micro-Bot, you will see ways to modify or mix behavior sub-routines, sensory input with infrared, sonar, CDS light sensors, and many other things we just didn't think of for varying situations and environments. Micro-Bot is designed for experimental robotics, and as a learning tool. As Micro-Bot learns, so will you.

Sensory Feedback:

Much the same as humans, robots rely on sensory feedback. During your experiments you'll learn to use components like infrared LEDs, the infrared detector, CDS photocells, and optionally, the SRF04 ultrasonic range finder for navigation, avoiding obstacles, measuring distances, moving towards or avoiding light sources, and even serial infrared communications between multiple robots or the PC.

Yep, that's "Loco-Motion". Micro-Bot will sometimes just flat-out disobey your commands, and wander about wildly providing you with hours of unexpected antics. Things like that lump of chewing gum in the carpet, objects with non-reflective surfaces during infrared navigation experiments, slick floors, and other unexpected alien artifacts in Micro-Bots path during his escapades will test his navigational skills, and the patience of his programmer or teacher.

That's it. You're ready to get started. To find out what's provided with the Micro-Bot package, and any additional items you may need, click HERE.

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