Radio Shack Mobile Robot Robotics User Manual


 
About the Controller Board
25
The Controller board is the brains of ARobot. It contains circuitry to control the steering and drive mo-
tors, read the whiskers, control LEDs, speaker, buttons, etc. The controller board has a socket that ac-
cepts a Basic Stamp II control computer chip designed by Parallax Inc. www.parallaxinc.com
The Basic Stamp II is programmed with a desktop PC through the serial port in the PBasic Language
which is much like standard Basic but with some interesting additions.
Expansion
Connector
Body
Connec-
Proto Area Drive Motor
Connector
Steer Motor
Connector
LEDs
Serial Port H-Bridge
Motor Driver
5 Volt
Regula-
Battery
Connector
Power
Switch
Reset
Button
Buttons Jumpers Speaker
Coproces-
Basic
Stamp
Powerful
Output
Basic Stamp II Installation
The Basic Stamp II is the computer that controls the robot. It plugs into the controller board. When in-
stalling the Basic Stamp II, remove the battery cable from the controller, then insert the pins into the
socket noticing the pin 1 indicator. Make sure that no pins are bent. Installing the Basic Stamp II in-
correctly may damage it or the controller board. To remove the Stamp, remove the battery cable and
use a small screw driver to pry it up without bending any pins. **NOTICE PIN 1 INDICATORS!!!
Pin 1
Programming
You’ll be programming the Basic Stamp II
in a language called PBasic. Documenta-
tion for PBasic is available free from the
Parallax Inc web site at:
http://www.parallaxinc.com
Mounting
Holes