Identifying Suitable Platform/Hardware for Project

[SinonG]

Greetings all. Its a great pleasure to join this highly helpful forum on programming and robotics.

I am looking for a suitable platform for my robotics project which involves programming a robot that will memorize a provided path and will navigate said path while avoiding obstacles. My question is as such:

Can the Cytron Multifunction Mobile Robot be suitably programmed to carry out these tasks? I have access to both PIC16 and PIC18. Or would it be cheaper to get a robot base and the Mini Robot Controller Board plus sensors?

Thank you in advance for any input in this matter.

[low5545]

The Cytron Multifunction Mobile Robot should be able to handle both PIC16 and PIC18 (40 pins) but the kit comes along with a PIC16F877A microcontroller. To do precise navigation, you may need to use wheel encoders like the one on http://www.cytron.com.my/viewProduct.php?pcode=RE08A&name=Encoder%20With%20Plate for both wheels to get precise feedback from it (has the wheel spun for a full round?...) and the others all on the programming (quite complicated programming). The Cytron Multifunction Mobile Robot does not come with those sensors in the picture (refer the parts lists-- http://www.cytron.com.my/usr_attachment/PR23%20Hardware%20List.pdf ) but includes the line following sensor. ( the Mini Robot Controller Board does not ) However, the Mini Robot Controller Board does not come along with a robot platform, 2 servo motors and 2 wheels while the Cytron Multifunction Mobile Robot does. The Cytron Multifunction Mobile Robot has a 16x2 LCD but the Mini Robot Controller Board doesn't. Besides, the Mini Robot Controller Board comes with a PIC16F887 microcontroller. These are the difference of both kits, it's all up to you to choose which one suits you. Hope this helps!

[robosang]

Seem to me like micromouse, searching path and remembering the correct path, later apply the shortest known path. It can be done with PIC16 or PIC18, yet will still need to depends on the algorithm.

[SinonG]

Thank you very much on both your inputs, low and robosang. I have decided to purchase the Multifunction Mobile Robot, though I am figuring out the necessary algorithm and additional materials to work.

If by chance you're reading this again robosoang, it is possible to implement a micromouse function via PIC programming for this bot? Cheers.

[sich]

it is possible to implement a micromouse function via PIC programming for this bot?

I've never build one but i think it's possible. It depends on your algorithm as mentioned by robosang. Since I've never explore into the micromouse, I'm not sure if you need higher-end microcontroller which has better processing power with DSP capability and floating-point math library, such as the 16-bit dsPIC.

[Brian Griffin]

it is possible to implement a micromouse function via PIC programming for this bot?

I've never build one but i think it's possible. It depends on your algorithm as mentioned by robosang. Since I've never explore into the micromouse, I'm not sure if you need higher-end microcontroller which has better processing power with DSP capability and floating-point math library, such as the 16-bit dsPIC.

The PIC32 could be a better candidate too, if cost isn't a factor. Many path-finding algorithms can be very math-intensive, so a higher-end processor normally do the job well.

On top of that, some had probably used Beagle-boards (a small Single Board Computer) for bigger and complex robots.