Programming a Robot with C

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Hi,

I am a Post-grad Computer Science Conversion Course (had a degree in another discipline and now studying computing) student at the University of Bristol (UK)

Our Mini project before the end of December is to develop a prototype Robot that encourages 13 -14 year olds to learn about computing. The Robot itself should be programmed in C

I have just started out with C, and its quite challenging, this project at the moment seems way over my head especially with the fact that I have no solid background in C

Can anyone advise me on what to start looking at like resources and materials, links that can help me have an idea of the level of programming that is required for the robot, or what it entails

I have been with the CodeProject for over a year now, and read interesting newsletters and articles relevant to Software Engineering, and Product reviews. I believe that coming to this site with my question is targeted as I believe that there is the right kind of mindset here to help

Looking forward to any and all response
Much regard
Victoria

Posted 22-Oct-11 4:04am

Victoria27

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theanil 22-Oct-11 10:59am

What kind of robot you are trying to design?

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Jonathan Davies · Answer 1 · 2011-10-23T13:02:00

There's a Wrox book: Microsoft Robotics Developer Studio, that the back cover says "offers a exciting new way to program robots in the windows environment" that might be woth a look. However it does say the code examples are in C# rather than C.

At the other (introductory) end of the scale a 'minimal' robot might be something built using a few stepper motors and controlled by a PIC processor for which code can be written in C. There are a few books on PIC programming that are probably a good bet.

I agree that the brief doesn't pin down exactly what it is you have to do concerning the actual robot or much else for that matter.

Richard MacCutchan · Answer 2 · 2011-10-22T06:15:00

Solution 1

... to develop a prototype Robot that encourages 13 -14 year olds to learn about computing.

That's a pretty vague description for anyone to be able to offer much to help you. The first thing to do is to define your problem in real world terms before you start trying to write any code.

For example:
What is the function of the robot?
Is this a physical robot, and if so, mechanical, electrical, ...?
What information do you expect to feed into the robot?
What information do you expect to come out?
...

As you can see there are lots of issues to consider before you turn your first line of code.

If you have some answers to the above you can use Google to help you find articles, tutorials etc.

Posted 22-Oct-11 6:15am

Richard MacCutchan

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Victoria27 22-Oct-11 16:50pm

Hi,

Thanks for your comments, the brief as an assignment was just as vague as my statement.

What I really needed was resources and materials, links that can help me have an idea of the level of programming that is required for a robot. I found this book "Robot Programming in C" by Tak Auyeung 2006

Richard MacCutchan 23-Oct-11 3:39am

Well, I doubt that anyone can make any useful suggestions from the information you have been given. The only thing I can do is repeat my earlier advice to use Google, and look at the articles here on CodeProject for anything that may help you. To be honest this sounds like a fairly impossible task given the specifications you have, your skills and the timetable.

RaviRanjanKr 23-Oct-11 9:55am

Nice suggestion Richard, My 5+

Jonathan Davies · Answer 3 · 2011-10-23T22:15:00

Solution 3

Also have a look at the Lego robot stuff
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lego_Mindstorms[^] - that's probably one amongst many solution to the brief of your assignment.

Posted 23-Oct-11 22:15pm

Jonathan Davies

Updated 24-Oct-11 9:21am

v2

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Richard MacCutchan 24-Oct-11 5:10am

If you are going to offer suggestions like this then you should add a link so the questioner can find the information.

Jonathan Davies 24-Oct-11 14:46pm

See, for example: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lego_Mindstorms

Richard MacCutchan 24-Oct-11 14:49pm

And make it clickable!

Victoria27 24-Oct-11 16:24pm

Thanks having a look at the link and PIC programming

Programming a Robot with C

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