Introduction

Building a robot is fun... you'll have to remind yourself of that several thousand times before you actually produce an operational robot. A robot accomplishes a task, that is, it solves a problem. Be very sure that you have a clear problem definition in mind before you start to build a robot which can solve that problem. But what ever the problem to be solved, a robot will have to act out it's program. That means you will have to program it. And thus it necessarily follows, you will need both a programmable controller (target system) and a way to program that controller (development system).

So go get your self a Miniboard and start! I mean, you could buy other developed controller boards, or design your own, or use a development board from Motorolla or Intel, but the Miniboard is the cheapest thing going. All persons who have won the Cal Poly Computer Society's Robot Competition to date (three competitions so far) have been Miniboard users.

Building a robot takes multidiscipline skill (Electronic, Computer, and Mechanical) so go find some team members before you start. What this document covers is how to program a Miniboard and we will dive deep into the architecture of the 6811 microcontroller chip on the Miniboard. (So have the computer guy/gal of your team read this document).

Look at the date on your watch now. In one year (or three months with 5 caffinated drinks per night) you should have a robot! So begin the mantra: "Building a robot is fun... Building a robot is fun... Building a robot is fun... Building a robot is fun... Building a robot is fun...

ieeecs@hal.elee.calpoly.edu
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