Learning mechatronics - Learning resources?
Hi Prusa community.
I've decided I want to learn DIY mechatronics, everything from automatically turning off my air filter fan when the print is finished to designing and building my own robot arm. I realize this is a pretty wide span, but it'll be achievable in due time and I'm okay not getting to robot-arm competence in a long while.
I'm a bit stuck on finding good learning resources though. Assuming I'm a complete beginner, do you have any suggestions for learning resources? I don't want to end up in a situation where I spend more time finding a good learning resource as opposed to actually learning.
Thank you in advance for any suggestions.
RE: Learning mechatronics - Learning resources?
I don't know of any resources however, things to look up and youtube, would topics related to motion and forces such as Dynamics and and Statics. Now nearing the end of my degree I've designed and printed my own robot arm and these where the most important concepts to understand.
RE: Learning mechatronics - Learning resources?
...maybe not the kind of resources you are looking for...but maybe a starting point:
https://www.sweepdynamics.com/
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=armold+6-dof
Core One L
RE: Learning mechatronics - Learning resources?
If I were you, and in a way I am because I do the same as you want, start with an Arduino and some simple coding. you can build a miniature robotarm with just an Arduino and a few servos.
https://projecthub.arduino.cc/
Just start very simple and then move on.
RE: Learning mechatronics - Learning resources?
Borreltje responded before I could and I agree. As a full beginner, look for an Arduino starter kit. There are many different ones that come with all the parts from sensors and motors as well as controllers. Arduino is the easiest starting platform I have ever used. A starter kit is a great learning tool since it covers many aspects of the Arduino line. Once you learn the basic Arduino, there are different avenues that still use the Arduino IDE for programming. You learn both the coding and the hardware that goes with the coding.
Even after decades of work, I find that the Arduino, even an UNO are a great starting point for a big project.
My biggest suggestion is take time and learn and make notes. I have turned so many electronic parts to trash by rushing and not taking my time.
And also look at the Raspberry Pico line which are very capable and for which there are a lot of learning projects published - mostly for school/college level students but the Pico can do far more especially where blazingly fast responses matter. They can run Arduino code too with the appropriate initialisation - but don't plan to run both Pico and Arduino code in the same project
Absolute beginner level: https://projects.raspberrypi.org/en/pathways/pico-intro?ref=refind
Getting started with robotics: https://roboticcoding.com/what-are-some-beginner-friendly-robotic-projects-that-can-be-built-using-the-raspberry-pi-pico-and-coding/
Depending where you are Adafruit and Pimoroni are the suppliers of beginner to intermediate level projects and add-ons to ease you from beginner to design-your-own-from-scratch level. They also supply Arduino projects and add-on boards.
If you are at a complete beginner level, the Microbit might be of interest - it is intended as a first microcontroller for children's experiments so there are a range of elementary learning resources for skills that you can transfer to other microcontrollers later. If you take this option don't buy one, get at least two so you can experiment with the built in radio comms - control one from another across the room...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/microbit/articles/zysnb7h
Cheerio,
RE: Learning mechatronics - Learning resources?
One tidbit of information: A relatively recent product are UART-controlled servos, Waveshare ST3215-HS for example. I've got one here running via a MT3608 step module on 12.6 V from a 4 x 1.2V NiMH battery pack, and, when I forget to turn it on, USB power (a horrible hack but convenient ...) It's surprisingly capable for the money, e.g. both absolute angular positioning and rotation mode.
Just mentioning this as "robot arm" was mentioned. There is an affordable ESP32 board, too, where it can be simply plugged in (from a generic board it needs minimal external circuitry because of duplexed UART)
It's absolutely not a first step but maybe an interesting perspective, between RC servos (very limited) and NEMA steppers (quite a bit of learning curve).
RE: Learning mechatronics - Learning resources?
Thank you all for the tips.
After doing some research, it seems to me like the Arduino and Raspberry Pi Pico are both good choices, with the Arduino being more established / having more tutorials, but the Raspberry Pi Pico being more capable of a microcontroller.
I think I'll go with the Pico, it seems more future proof and seeing as you can use C on the Pico I can use Arduino projects and components as well (?). I can also fall back to Python with the Pico in case I find C programming too tricky.
Now the next step is to figure out which components I'll need to start experimenting. The website that I'm purchasing from (electrokit.com in Sweden) doesn't seem to have a starter pack for specifically Pico, so I'll have to do some research. Probably just looking at some projects and getting all the components needed in those projects.
PS: Thank you @mnentwig as well, but the only thing I understood from your post was "USB". 😄 Maybe I should return to this comment in like a year.
RE: Learning mechatronics - Learning resources?
Sweden? that's just across the pond... check out https://www.berrybase.de/ they also stock the ("FYI only") Waveshare servo.
RE:
Don't forget the Teensy- Teensy - https://www.sparkfun.com/teensy and there's also the classic Basic Stamp, much used for robotic projects https://www.parallax.com/product-category/basic-stamp/ .
RE:
Don't forget the Teensy- Teensy - https://www.sparkfun.com/teensy and there's also the classic Basic Stamp, much used for robotic projects https://www.parallax.com/product-category/basic-stamp/ .
Yup, serious piece of hardware.
As a crude guide, minimal boards / modules:
- Raspberry Pico (no WLAN): €4
- ESP32 (devkit v1): $7
- Teensy (latest) ~ $40
- Raspberry Pi 4 ~ $80
Honorary mention, CMOD A7 at $90. Compared with above, the softcore microblaze processor is nothing to write home about but it's an FPGA. Much more complex, though.
For a learning tool, price doesn't matter but it gets interesting when it goes into a project permanently. The Pico is awesome in this regard, basically disposable.
RE:
... just for laughs, here's the whole gang.
Top:
- Raspberry Pico WLAN version (would pick the regular one unless I really want to use wireless)
- ESP32 (a newer S3 with camera, the "budget" devkit-v1 next to it
- Teensy 4.1
- Raspberry Pi 4 (-5 might be preferable to work on it, -4 to put into a box with cooling requirements)
- CMOD A7
RE: Learning mechatronics - Learning resources?
There are many good suggestions here. It can be very overwhelming and scary.
I will still recommend a training kit for what ever system you decide. It saves much of the time to figure out what to buy for sensors and other things when you are still learning. Even after decades of electronics and computer work, I still like the idea of a training kit for a new system. It does leave me with many duplicated parts but it also keeps the provided tutorials aligned with the device. Today, I would look at a ESP32 or associated kit.
I found that doing Arduino tutorials were the best thing for learning to program with C. A simple little device with so many different examples to learn from. Add in a slew of sensors or motors as stepping stones to where you want to go.
As for boards, I don't focus on any end product until I get a working design in the direction. Why use a system that is over powered or have features you will never use in the end product. Size and mass are other issues for robotics. As others have shown, they have a collection for their usage.
This leads to learning how to do electronic circuits, schematics and finally circuit boards. A simple tool for this is Fritzing for beginners or simple circuits. More advanced I look at KiCaD. This way you can just use a processor, micro-controller or computer to handle some of the workload and a more powerful computer for the thinking.
Search other shops for learning kits. I have even found old kits in surplus stores. I have seen some great deals on Amazon or AliExpress for different kits. You may even find a robotic kit so start with.
Just have fun doing it. 🙂