Robot - Arduino Sketches: Tools and Techniques for Programming Wizardry - page 348

Squares are basic, but Logo could create hugely complex structures and teach
students about programming. Imagine a l ower made up of eight petals. Each
petal could be one “function” and called eight times by placing the turtle in the
correct position. The results were visual, perfect for young children. A lot of us
started off with Logo, and I can remember having great fun in the classroom
with this.
One serious attempt was made to make the turtle “physical.” Created in
the form of a large half-sphere, the turtle made it into the real world, but only
for a short time. A turtle robot was made to show children just what could be
done, but it was too early for the poor turtle. It was expensive, difi cult to set
up correctly, and required an exceptionally l at surface. The poor little turtle
eventually disappeared, only a few programs exist today that still use it, either
for teaching, or for simple nostalgia. Programmers returned to the digital world
to see their little turtle. Some of us dreamed of seeing the little turtle return,
and it has. Sort of.
Arduino Robot
Your Arduino Uno will be placed on your desk and will probably live there
until your project is i nished and you install it in its i nal resting place. I have
one hidden behind my television, and it will stay there for quite some time. The
Arduino Robot is different. It is the only Arduino that most certainly will not
stay in the same place.
The Arduino Robot is an Arduino on wheels—literally. There are two large
wheels on each side and two ball casters to keep it steady. It contains an impres-
sive amount of electronics, but more important, it has enough space for you to
add electronics and all the buses and connectors needed to connect components.
The Arduino Robot is, technically, two Arduinos in one. The motor board
is controlled by an ATmega32u4 (the same microcontroller as on the Arduino
Esplora) and contains l ash memory, RAM, EEPROM, and two prototyping
areas. It does not have a large amount of I/O, but what it does have is motor
control circuits and power electronics to take standard batteries and power the
two on-board motors. The control board on top uses the same microcontroller
but has more I/O and adds a large array of electronics not seen on most other
Arduinos. It has a keypad like the Arduino Esplora, an LCD screen connector
that is compatible with the LCD module used on the Esplora, an 8-ohm speaker,
a compass, and a large amount of external EEPROM via the I 2 C protocol (in
addition to internal EEPROM). It also has four prototyping areas.
The Arduino Robot is a complex device, and care must be taken when prepar-
ing it. Unlike most Arduinos, there is some preparation required before using it