MicroCamp2.0 Microprocessor based robot kit. It's so easy to build a robot and learn about robotics and technology!

The MicroCamp2.0 kit incorporates a set of activities for learning about microcontroller operation by robotic application and using the C programming language.

Age group: 12 years and up.

What you will learn about:

Learn about microcontrollers and simple microcontroller operations. Learn how to interface with simple components used in real world applications. The microcontroller in this kit is the popular ATMega8 from Atmel. Learn an industry standard controller. Once you have worked through the activities you will have a greater understanding about the microntroller and applying it. Learn to write programs using the C programming language.

What is most significant about the C language? C (pronounced see) is a general purpose programming language widely used in industry for implementing system software as well as portable application software.  Developed in 1972 it became one of the most popular programming languages and has influenced many other popular languages such as C++. The language was designed to encourage machine-independent programming. Many hardware architectures have tools and compilers that support the C language or a subset of it. Knowing C is an advantage and not difficult to learn. (Reference)

Intermediate and high school teachers, home schooling parents:

This is a good kit to integrate into your technology curriculum. The parts provided give you the means to expose your students to many different technologies. Technologies such as microcontrollers, programming, dc motors, light sensors, displays, switches, ir remote control and mechanical parts are incorporated in the parts of this kit.

Exposing your students to this type of kit also provides other benefits such as fine motor development, improving hand eye co-ordination, improving spacial concepts and planning, problem solving, developing construction skills, use of mechanical materials and team work. The student also learns the importance of follwing instructions and develop their own thinking by applying intitiative for a new set of actions for the robot. The importance of reading with comprehension shows clearly in the success acheived with the behavior and quality of construction of the robot. We have seen positive development in the behaviour of individuals when assigned tasks within a team of three to four students challenged to build and program a robot. Students exposed to these different technologies can make more informed decisions for future careers.

The manual gives all the information you need to make using this kit a success. All programs are provided in the text and are well documented (Comments are provided for most lines of code that tell you what that line does). Non-technical teaching professionala should not fear using this kit as part of their technology curriculum as the manual is very straight forward. This kit is a good solution as an aid when teaching technology and science.

No soldering is required, all the parts are provided and just screw together using nuts, bolts and spacers or plug in. A philips screw driver is included with this kit.

Activities include:

• Build a basic robot using the Microcamp2.0 kit.
• Learn to control the robots two dc motors.
• Learn about object detection using switches.
• Write a program to display text on a LCD. (Liquid Crystal Display)
• Use the remote control that comes with the kit to remote control your robot.
• Measure distance and give your robot 'eyes' to avoid objects.
• Learn about line following and line crossing detection.

Features of the controller board (brain) include:

• Crystal controlled 16MHz clock rate
• +5V Switching power supply
• Requires 4 AA size batteries. (Not included-rechargeable recommended)
• Supports in-system programming using PX-4000 programmer (Included)
• Comes with simple sensors and robot parts to support the construction of mobile robot projects.
• DC motor drivers
• 2 x LEDs
• 5 x Analog/digital ports for connecting sensors
• 1 x Serial communication port

Parts included in the kit:

• 1 x MicroCamp2.0 board with Battery holder
• 1 x PX-4000 Programmer (USB)
• 2x ZX-Switch
• 2 x ZX-IR reflector
• 1 x GP2D120 distance sensor
• 1x 16x2 character LCD display
• 1 x Ir-Sensor for remote control
• 1 x ER4 IR 4 button remote control
• Mechanical parts
• Documentation and software on CD-ROM

New - Now ships with a USB PX-4000 programmer which is able to program other Atmel family devices.

(The kit images may vary slightly from the actual product, the PX400 is replaced with the USB PX-4000 programmer)