Mr.Robot

I am a complete new comer to programming but have been building robots for years. The reason I am here is to ask what programming language would be best for simple "commands and responses" to different factors decided by external sensers.Preferably, I would like it to run on windows.

Just to be specific about what I need it to do:

ex1. -3 steps forward
-if encounter wall 90d clockwise, 2 step back

ex2. -clockwise till view red, go in that direction

Thanks for any help,
Tristan B

Rory

Well first of all how are you intending to connect the robot to your computer?
There are plenty of commercial break-out box systems for connecting to circuits, as used in schools, which come prepackaged with their own software, though that can be a disadvantage - CASIO Basic is a horrible mutation of BASIC and LOGO.
If you're seeking to wire up directly to a parallel port device, you'd need a language capable of working at a low hardware level like ASM or C.

OpenLoop

what microcontroller are you using to controll the robot?
I've used Motorolla HC11 which has an Assembler and a C++ compiler so that you can create a program, compile it, download it to the controller, and run it in an endless loop. HC11 is a very powerfull controller however programming it can get a little complicated sometimes.

foxcity911

C!!!!!

Nuticulus

I'd agree with rory here. If you can get a prepackaged system (normally intended for educational purposes) then it could make your simple programming a lot easier. Bear in mind how simple this gets -- I was taught about robots (the turtle!) and basic LOGO programming at primary school. I can't remember the specifics of the language now, but I remember it did the kind of things you describe.

If you don't have the option of such a commerical system, you'd probably want to use a microcontroller like the one OpenLoop mentioned. I have very little experience here, but I know there are quite a few controllers out there with compilers available. Learning C would probably be useful here -- all the ones I've seen have at least a C compiler.

If you're controlling it directly via a parallel port, then you will want to use some low level language (my advice is C), but there are libraries available in other languages for controlling parallel ports. If you're on windows, I know there is part of the Windows API which allows you to control COM ports. Don't know about *nix, but I'm sure some googlging would help. My advice for this is to use C.

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Infinite Recursion

C, Assembly or both.

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skuinders

C is the way to go. I've used the BASIC Stamp microcontroller before... not cool. BASIC is evil.

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nnxion

Not as evil as VISUAL BASIC

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DaWei

IR might be worth thinking about. I wouldn't choose a controller until I had a high level design so I could get one with the appropriate amounts of the right kinds of on-board memory and I/O. Variations are pretty thick on the ground.

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skuinders

indeed... of course we would have to stretch to call VB a programming language :p

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