Robots can come in all shapes and sizes and are mostly designed for highly specific and specialized jobs. They find applications in jobs that are highly repetitious and monotonous or jobs that involve working in hazardous situations, to name just two.
With the explosive growth in the processing power of microcontrollers, and in sensory devices and motors, robots can now move smoothly and sinuously and can be highly flexible. At the heart of all the functionality is the microcontroller that controls everything.
The microcontroller is a mini computer on a single chip that can have many peripherals like Analog to Digital Converters, Flash Memory, Timers and I/O Pins. They are designed to do one specific job. These microcontrollers are programmed using a language like C or C++.
Embedded Systems with AVR - AVR Atmega Microcontrollers - A Good Choice for Robotics Development
While there are a range of choices available in microcontrollers, one of the most popular is the AVR Atmega range of microcontrollers from Atmel. While choosing a microcontroller, it is a good practice to look at certain basic features, like cost, energy consumption, hardware features and the programming interface.
Atmega Microcontrollers are built on RISC based architecture and have Flash and/or EEPROM for storing data sets and instructions. They have good Hardware Interrupt features that allow the robot designer to constantly monitor the state of a pin which is vital in robotics development.
Other features like Analog to Digital Converters, Timers, Digital I/O and serial connections enable the microcontrollers to interface with other electronic components, to exercise fine motor control and get feedback from sensors. They also allow the chip to interface to higher level processing machines like a PC.
Programs can be written in a high level language like C and this can then be compiled into machine instructions specific for AVR chips, using compilers like the AVR-GCC. The code can be downloaded on to the chip using special software.
AVR microcontrollers use a memory-based architecture which makes life easier for programmers. This means that specific pieces of hardware like pins or timers are accessed and controlled using the registers or mapped memory locations, rather than having to stick to specific instruction sets for each part of the microcontroller. This also helps in keeping the code small so that it fits within the inbuilt Flash or EEPROM storage space. So, complex instructions can be written and stored for even advanced robotic systems and the code stored on board the chip.
All these features combined make Atmega microcontrollers a favorite choice among robotics designers. With their range of microcontrollers and easy programmable features, AVR microcontrollers are widely used in building robots for many specialized tasks.
Scope for Robotics Engineers
Robotics engineering as a career choice is becoming more popular each year. The huge growth in the robotics industry, its increasing application in many fields and the need for trained personnel in various industries are all making it an attractive career choice.
Robotics finds many applications. In industrial environments, robots are used, in material handling, welding, assembly and other jobs. They are used in hazardous environments where machines are better suited than humans.
Robotics also finds applications in military technology, space exploration and home automation. Reconnaissance drones are used in the military to carry out field surveillance. Space exploration is possible without the need of human presence with use of robots like the Mars probes. Robotic vacuum cleaners and fully automated washing machines are examples of robotics finding uses in domestic applications.
Robotic engineers can find work in research labs, in industries that build and design robots. They can also work on installation and maintenance of robotic systems, in testing and inspection and in programming robotic systems.
Robotics engineering encompasses so many different disciplines. It uses principles of mechanical engineering, electrical and electronic engineering, computer science and automation engineering, and programming. These can be learn by completing Robotics Training with AVR. Thus, students can choose from a lot of specializations once they enroll for Robotics Training with AVR from a reputed themselves in this field. It is an exciting career prospect that is set to see further growth in the future.
No comments:
Post a Comment