Build Your Own Robot Kit
Authors: Myke Predko, Ben Wirz
Venue:  (2001)

:A dynamic learning platform! Pre-programmed for quick enjoyment, and comes with instructions for custom applications. Customizable, no soldering required. Learn basic skills toward advanced robot building. This incredibly simple-to-build robot will provide you with hours of enjoyment and a great platform on which to develop more sophisticated applications. The 9-volt battery-powered robot (battery not included) is driven by dual electric motors and controlled by a Microchip PIC16C505 PICmicro Microcontroller. With two light sensors and infra-red "collision detectors" the robot is pre-programmed with the following "behaviors" built in: Random Movement - change forward direction when an object is encountered "Photovore" - seek out light "Photophobe" - avoid light "Maze Solver" - follow wall These behaviors can be selected along with the ability to manually control the operation of the robot by the infra-red remote control included in the kit (two AAA batteries required). With the addition of a BASIC STAMP BS2 Microcontroller (not included) customized applications can easily be built. All of the software code for the Basic Stamp applications is included on the accompanying CD-ROM along with illustrated assembly instructions, many schematic. Block diagrams and over 100 pages of robot building basics are taken from the best-selling Robot Builder's Bonanza, 2nd edition, by Gordon McComb. To illustrate how simple it is to develop applications for the TAB Electronics Build Your Own Robot Kit consider the following application which can be programmed into the robot's BS2: ' Robot Life - Simulate an animal's existence over a 2 Minute "Day" ' { $STAMP BS2 } ' Mainline high SC ' Set the I/O Bits As O/P high SD ' and High Loop: ' Repeat from here for each "Day" RobotData = Behavior1 ' Start Day off by wandering about gosub RobotSend pause 30000 ' Wander for 30 Seconds RobotData = Behavior2 ' Now, look for "Food" (Light) gosub RobotSend pause 30000 ' Search/Feed for 30 Seconds RobotData = Behavior1 ' Wander again for a few Seconds gosub RobotSend ' after feeding pause 10000 RobotData = Behavior3 ' Find a dark spot to sleep for gosub RobotSend ' the rest of the "Day" pause 30000 ' Behavior3 stops at obstacle pause 20000 ' 50 Seconds left in "Day" goto Loop ' Start the new "Day" These 16 lines create an application which will make the robot run around the room ("Behavior1"), look for light which could be considered "food" ("Behavior 2" - "Photovore") and then look around the room for a dark place to sleep. The example application above is the basis for many of the early experiments in robotics. From this humble beginning, which can be programmed into the robot's BS2 in just a few seconds, you can conduct your own experiments into artificial intelligence. This product is designed for users aged 14 years and up. The kit includes: pre-assembled and tested PCB, robot hardware, remote control, instruction booklet, a CD-ROM containing BASIC Stamp 2 programming instructions and code. You can find out more about the TAB Electronics Build Your Own Program Kit by pointing your browser to: http://www.tabrobotkit.com.