Linux robots

[david at cassinc.com (David Cass)]

I am new to the list, and I am NOT very good with hardware (I do software), 
so I apologize if this information is not appropriate.  I know the people 
who make this product (http://www.makingthings.com ) that allows a computer 
(LINUX, PC, or MAC) to control and sense real world events and motors, etc.

David Cass


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Kramer" <david at thekramers.net>
To: <discuss at blu.org>
Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2005 7:21 AM
Subject: Re: Linux robots


> markw at mohawksoft.com wrote:
>>>Yes.  Rip open a $5 serial mouse and use its encoder.  I've seen this
>>>outlined in an old Circuit Cellar article, though I doubt I still have 
>>>it.
>>>You should get pulses at the mouse's 300DPI.  You might even be able to
>>>just mount the mouse pushing up against your wheel without modifications.
>>
>> Hmm, that has some interesting prospects I hadn't considered. The one
>> problem I have is that I need two: I have a diametrically opposed wheel
>> setup.
>
> OK, $10  ;)
>
>
>> I very much like the idea of an interrupt driven and kernel buffered
>> system that I don't have to write or debug. If I rip apart the mouse, I
>> could use an axis for each wheel and the buttons for contact sensors. I
>> could use select to wait on the serial port. Since the encoders are read
>> at the same time, maybe the relational movement will also be more
>> accurate.
>>
>> I need to think about this, it is a very good concept. Very good inded.
>> Thanks.
>
> OK, here's another one, making even less work for you:  gpm has a -D debug 
> option that will spew mouse events out to stderr.  Call that and read its 
> output and you don't even have to write the serial mouse interface code. 
> And, depending on what mechanism you use, the events will be buffered so 
> you don't miss any.
>
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