[chbot] APC Magazine Arduino Article

Tue Aug 4 08:00:07 BST 2009

Thank you Jimmy and Morris for taking the time to reply and I will keep your
advice in mind as the article develops in my mind and finally is vomited
onto paper (or keyboard).
Any other suggestions/feedback are very welcome and very much appreciated.

Tim
MindKits Chief Ninja

On Tue, Aug 4, 2009 at 4:43 PM, jimmy allen <jimmy1248 at gmail.com> wrote:

> I would say that I your target audience.
> I only started programming at the beginning of last year in QBasic.
> Only been working with micros for a half a year.AVRs for a few
> months(not very much though)
>
> A 7 segment display is fairly cool.That was one of my first thing that
> I did on my ATTiny2313
> I didn't take too much work ,mainly creating a bit table(assigning the
> digital outputs into variables kind of like a library) then calling a
> procedure and passing a number or letter(the one you want to
> display)through to it.
>
> A good thing to add would be links to more information so that if you
> get people interested they can easily follow on.
>
> I have been looking into Arduino and building one for myself (there is
> some stuff under the bootloader(AVR) mail listing.But i will repeat
> the more relevant stuff .
> On their site they have instructions on how to build an Arduino
> http://arduino.cc/en/Main/ArduinoBoardSerialSingleSided3 which could
> be added.
>
> The flashing LED is good one as it is very easy to get going
> Maybe taking a push button in(getting a response from the user)
> 7 seven segment dislpay flashing out H E L L O simple but fairly
> cool(more than flashing LED).
>
> As I am still learning the basics you could always try some of you
> ideas on me and could give you some feed back on how good they are if
> you want
>
> Good luck
> Jimmy
>
>
> On 8/4/09, Morris <skibear at gmail.com> wrote:
> > Tim
> >
> > Programming an Arduino is hard and has many show-stopper problems for
> > the novice. I think your articles will have to dedicate a large amount
> > of space to the basics of the development environment and how to program
> > the Arduino ... complex stuff for a novice who just wants to achieve
> > some project using an Arduino.
> >
> > One alternative worth considering is to install python, pyserial and
> > pyduino on a PC, and Standard_Firmata sketch on the Arduino (I
> > personally would have loved to have just a hex file for the Duemilanove
> > with instructions for using avrdude).
> >
> > Benefits:
> >
> > 1) For an article series, there are lots of fantastic things you can do
> > with a PC that has a hardware interface. PC's are traditionally
> > difficult to interface with real hardware - the Arduino is a great
> > solution to that problem!
> >
> > 2) Python: Python is brilliant for novices. Python programming at the PC
> > allows you to quickly try different programs, with debugging "print"
> > statements. You can assume a novice will just "get" Python with little
> > explanation, whereas C is an advanced topic (types anyone!?). I have
> > very little experience with Python but it has been a pleasure to use
> > (and it is well known to be a great language for novices and experts
> > alike).
> >
> > 3) Avoiding getting depressed by C/IDE frustrations (I have experience
> > in those areas and I still find them to be a huge timesink). The
> > electronics interfacing is where most of my time goes and I reserve my
> > frustrations for that area!
> >
> > 4) You can presume a lot about a user's knowledge of PCs.
> >
> > My idea of a good series of articles is one that gives some excellent
> > examples of fun things to do, where it is obvious how to modify those
> > examples to do something else I want to do.
> >
> > The main downside is that the Standard Firmata does not have servo
> > control and I agree servos would be fantastic for your articles (there
> > is a servo firmata but it is very limited). I love servos and want to
> > control them from my PC (I intend to integrate
> > http://www.arduino.cc/playground/ComponentLib/Servo into the Standard
> > Firmata but am away for a month so not going to happen soon!).
> >
> > Disclaimer: I am a programmer by trade, have an EE degree, and have
> > worked in embedded design so I am not your target audience!
> >
> > I do think it is a great topic for a series of articles!
> >
> > Cheers
> >
> > Morris
> >
> > On Mon, 2009-08-03 at 23:00 +1200, Tim Carr wrote:
> >
> >> Hi all, I'm hoping I may be able to help me with some ideas. I've been
> >> asked by APC Magazine in Australia to write a series of articles
> >> related to getting started with Arduino. APC have picked up on the
> >> growing popularity of the platform and I've been tasks with writing a
> >> complete beginners article that gives them an interesting grounding in
> >> Arduino in just 2-3 magazine pages and followed on by one or two more
> >> advanced articles.
> >>
> >> The challenge I see is not so much in the technology but in picking an
> >> interesting first project that leaves them with the desire to
> >> experiment and extend their knowledge. As a result I'm loath to start
> >> with the blinking light 'hello world' as I imagine there must be
> >> better options that haven't been thrashed. I must admit though, at
> >> this point it really does seem to be the best fit. Please prove me
> >> wrong....please.
> >>
> >> So, my question is this: When you started building robots, what really
> >> took your fancy and what do you feel may be a good starting
> >> 'micro-project' for others to start with?
> >>
> >> One aim (that may be asking too much) is to develop the howto in such
> >> a way that the initial article demonstrates the key essential elements
> >> of Arduino setup and use while being easily extended in the second
> >> article to produce something fun and functional. So perhaps the first
> >> may be setting up a servo to move and the second may make it follow
> >> the light (I'm not sure if that's too hard for newbies but you get my
> >> drift).
> >>
> >> Thanks in advance for any thought you can share on this.
> >>
> >> --
> >> Regards,
> >> Tim
> >> MindKits Chief Ninja
> >>
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-- 
Regards,
Tim
MindKits Chief Ninja
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