Microcontroller
The brain of the robot
Last updated
The brain of the robot
Last updated
Like our brain, a microcontroller is responsible for processing loads of information it receives from inputs, stores away data in its memory, and tells different outputs what to do. However, a microcontroller refers to only the computer that makes up a small part of a larger . A fully fledged microcontroller board that will support connections to all of our sensors, motors, motor drivers, and all other hardware interfaces is what our robot needs.
STM32
ESP32
Arduino
Teensy
These are among a few of the most popular brands used for robot sumo and robotics projects in general. The microcontroller boards sold out there are generally very diverse and specialized for a variety of purposes, so the specs of your board should meet the requirements of your robot. We could really go on endlessly about this subject. In general, these are a few things you should consider when selecting a board: size, number of input/output pins, clock speed, peripherals, and cost.
This will never not be a consideration for our sumo bot. Ideally, choose a board that is small enough while leaving room for other parts that will eventually go on your PCB (more on this in later sections).
Consider the number of sensors, motors, and other devices you plan to attach to the microcontroller. A board like the Arduino MEGA R3 is absolute overkill for a mini sumo bot (Not to mention too large).
Clock speed
When starting out, this isn't a huge consideration. Arduino works just fine for a sumo bot. Of course, a microcontroller with very clock speeds like Teensy will allow for faster response times and technical movements.
In addition to the number of I/O pins you want, peripherals are another consideration. Peripherals include other parts in microcontroller that help perform a specific task such as pulse width modulation (PWM), , , , , etc.
As always consider cost in your budget. Microcontroller boards usually range from $10-$30. Typically, higher end microcontrollers support better performance and other hardware requirements.
