Cool project, well done. I'd suggest that instead of instructing users to clone your Github project and then detailing how to adapt the RPi code to the CHIP computer, rather create a Github branch that has the CHIP-specific diffs, and link to that branch for users to clone instead of the original branch. That way, your tutorial is also more condensed (a good thing, imho).
Yes, I'd echo that. I teach for a living, and it's amazing the number of different ways people can come up with when interpreting what you think is a straightforward instruction. When I read the "delete lines ...." bit, it didn't seem completely explicit, and in addition, I'd think that alone would put a LOT of people off having a go. Much of this kind of thing is generating confidence in people, and if they fall at the first hurdle, it's game over; possibly for their entire lifetime if it happens at the wrong point!
Love getting people into robotics. The problem is that this kit has two motors and some sensors that go into a car, for $199. Not much you can do other than drive or program the car. With starter kits like this one http://www.vexrobotics.com/starter-kit-with-controller.html
you get parts to build a number of different robots. Granted, it's $280, but the extra $80 gets you a lot more learning.
A side note on the chassis. It's similar - not the same - to the ones I've been using in high school classes for a few years. I've bought mine off amazon/ebay for 15$ and while they're good enough to get started they have several weak points: motors are undersized, power supply is too low for 5V boards, assembly is not so good with parts not fitting well. They're certainly not an example of good design. Unfortunately I couldn't find any better option in the sub 100$ range with two DC motors so I understand why OP chose something similar. Does anybody know of a better chassis for these kind of projets?
I got this Arduino bot for $70. Has its own battery for sufficient power. The motor gearing is a bit fast, so it's better to use PWM to slow down the motors, except the default pinout disables PWM on the drive gpios when the servo is enabled. The build quality is ok, except there are no spacers for the bolts between the PCBs and acrylic base, so I worry about damaging the PCB during assembly.
Disclaimer up front: I have a significant interest in this company and product, so I'm definitely pimpin' my own sauces. :)
With that said, we[0] build a product called MRK-1 which is a programmable autonomous robot built using a custom board we developed using similar technology to Arduino. Our kits are around $100, very simple to build an operate, and we have a sweet textbook written by some awesome guy named blister[1]. :D
We're geared more towards selling to individual schools and school districts, but if you're interested, I can hook you up with a kit and a digital copy of the programming book.
Does anyone have any experience running some sort of real-time OS on cheap hardware like this? Seems like more high speed control applications could maybe benefit from a really cheap platform to prototype on.
I received two C.H.I.P last week, wanted to take that as an opportunity to learn as well as teach my girlfriend about this kind of stuff. I was looking for an easy project to start with, but couldn't find anything.
This is a Raspberry Pi robot kit called GoPiGo[1]. And this is the biggest problem I've found with the C.H.I.P. - everything you do with the C.H.I.P. is something that can be done more easily on a Raspberry Pi.
It's not an indictment of the C.H.I.P., which is a massive effort (although having played around a bit with two I'm sad to say it has too many problems for me to stick with), but more a testament to the Pi.
The C.H.I.P. has three features I absolutely love compared to the Pi Zero: built-in WiFi, built-in flash, and USB serial console.
Steps to set up a Raspberry Pi Zero on WiFi:
1. buy the Pi Zero ($5), MicroSD card ($5), USB WiFi adapter ($10), and USB OTG adapter ($1) (total = ~$21)
2. flash the MicroSD card
3. either:
a. mount the SD card on your computer and figure out which WiFi configuration files to edit
b. buy a serial cable, open a serial console, configure WiFi
c. buy a mini HDMI adapter + mouse/keyboard, connect to a monitor, configure WiFi
Steps to set up a C.H.I.P. on WiFi:
1. buy C.H.I.P ($9)
2. connect to USB, open serial console, configure WiFi
Further to other people's posts (and again, I don't want to spend time ragging on this, it's got some really good ideas, the PocketCHIP is definitely an innovative concept and I do want to see this go well), someone posted a thread in the CHIP forum that accurately reflects what I think will be the experience of many people here: https://bbs.nextthing.co/t/a-constant-struggle/12141
[+] [-] jnbiche|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] djaychela|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] johncole|9 years ago|reply
I wrote this, just documenting what I was doing as I went along, but you're absolutely right, it could use a branch and install script.
[+] [-] AstroJetson|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] panglott|9 years ago|reply
Still, this is a very useful tutorial on how to adapt a RaspPi robotics kit to the CHIP computer.
[+] [-] johncole|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] pryelluw|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] geppetto|9 years ago|reply
A side note on the chassis. It's similar - not the same - to the ones I've been using in high school classes for a few years. I've bought mine off amazon/ebay for 15$ and while they're good enough to get started they have several weak points: motors are undersized, power supply is too low for 5V boards, assembly is not so good with parts not fitting well. They're certainly not an example of good design. Unfortunately I couldn't find any better option in the sub 100$ range with two DC motors so I understand why OP chose something similar. Does anybody know of a better chassis for these kind of projets?
[+] [-] protopete|9 years ago|reply
https://www.amazon.com/Elegoo-Four-wheel-Ultrasonic-Intellig...
[+] [-] blister|9 years ago|reply
With that said, we[0] build a product called MRK-1 which is a programmable autonomous robot built using a custom board we developed using similar technology to Arduino. Our kits are around $100, very simple to build an operate, and we have a sweet textbook written by some awesome guy named blister[1]. :D
We're geared more towards selling to individual schools and school districts, but if you're interested, I can hook you up with a kit and a digital copy of the programming book.
0: http://sumorobotleague.com
1: https://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Robot-Programming-Robots...
[+] [-] captaindiego|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] plaes|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] baby|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] troygoode|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] johncole|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] _b8r0|9 years ago|reply
It's not an indictment of the C.H.I.P., which is a massive effort (although having played around a bit with two I'm sad to say it has too many problems for me to stick with), but more a testament to the Pi.
[1] - https://github.com/DexterInd/GoPiGo
[+] [-] tlrobinson|9 years ago|reply
Steps to set up a Raspberry Pi Zero on WiFi:
Steps to set up a C.H.I.P. on WiFi:[+] [-] _b8r0|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] wiradikusuma|9 years ago|reply