Good Advice from Migs:

There are lots of times when you don't know the answer to something or how to do something. The internet is the best resource for information, so you have to learn how to find that information. One of the best sources I have found are forums. Do a Google search for XX forum where XX is the topic you are interested in figuring out. Join the forum and post your question. You are bound to get some useful information! You will be amazed at how many people are out there that can and want to help you. I am a member of at least a dozen forums. Just remember to put back what you take, and by this I mean that if you get help, try and help someone else too.

One of Einstein's blackboards.

This page is meant to help others in their path towards learning about electronics and robotics. I initially set out to learn about microprocessors and physical computing as a hobby, but learned a few things on the way which I would like to share with you. In following some of my steps you will save time and some money (maybe) by getting straight to the mother lode rather than bouncing off some unnecessary walls. Robotics is a lot of fun, and it will teach you lots about electronics along the way. First subscribe to these three magazines: Robot, Servo, and Nuts &Volts. These always have the best information and make great reading.

A good place to start is with Parallax’s basic stamp. It is not the fastest or most advanced, but it is just what you need to begin. It has the best documentation, market penetration and a great forum where to ask your questions. Many people have followed their path and now have moved on to other platforms, but for robotics the way is simple:

Start with the Basic Stamp Discovery Kit where you will learn lots of electronics and how to run them through microprocessor control. By the time you finish this you will have a good base. You will have played with more than just LED's and made them dance to the control of a Basic Stamp 2:

http://www.parallax.com/html_pages/products/kits/starter_kits.asp

Next do the BoeBot robot (Actually buy the Competition Kit because you will need two robots to fight each other so you learn to tweak them) and you will learn more subtle concepts like servo control and calibration. Servos are the muscles of robots. You will also learn about pulse widths and how they control motion.

http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=910-28132

At this point you should be well versed in the game, and already looking towards other frontiers that are the special areas in robotics which interest you. It might be Sumo robot competition or it might be humanoid robot.

You will need some tools like a soldering station and if you plan to scavenge parts off old printers a rework station, which blows air so hot a a circuit board it allwos you to unsolder components at a time. Get these here:

http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=85

and

http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=74

Following are some interesting and useful resources I have found. I wouldn’t invest in anything other than that which I’ve recommended thus far before this point. One of the things you have to ask yourself at this point is "What do I want to do with my robot?" Answer this question before you sped too much money. But from here on out the sky is the limit and these are your stomping grounds:

Servo City: Here you can order servos and they even "hack" them for you into continuous rotation for driving robots:

http://servocity.com/

Solarbotics has a nice SumoBot callled the Sumovore which can be brain powered by the Atmel chips. Atmel is a good next step from the PIC based controllers like the Basic Stamp. You dont want to go here first because you have to LEARN first, and no one does it better than Parallax.

http://www.solarbotics.com/products/index.php?scdfa-250100084-viewDetail-productzq3728zq4categoryzq31=true

Next you are ready to venture out on your own. I recommend havong a look at these sites:

Crust Crawler, who also makes kits and parts for robots

Lynxmotion, great legged bots and arms. They sell motors and components too. They also have a great forum at Lynxmotion.net

Trossen Robotics, makers of kits and components

Pololu Robotics, makers of great motor controllers and robot parts

Team Whyachi, makers of great tires and components

Robots Dreams for news on what is happening in the robotics world

Chart from JPL's Mars Rover Opportunity (Consider all aspects!)

Parallax SumoBot - Highly recommended kit to start with!

Lynxmotion Johnny 5 - Look at some of his YouTube videos. Cool stuff

Solarbotics Sumovore - After the Parallax build this one.

Essential Tools
One of the things you will need and should get are a soldering station and if possible a hot air rework station. These will allow you to solder circuits, and with the air station to take them apart when you goof or simply just need to scavenge parts from some discarded electronic device. Make sure to get the tip for your soldering station very thin. Sparkfun.com sells some Ayoue stations fairly cheap. They are what I use, and they work very well.

Robogames
If youre ever in San Francisco, CA in June you HAVE to go to Robot Games and see all this stuff. Visit http://robogames.net/

Magazines
If you followed me this far, then you HAVE to subscribe to these three magazines:
Robot
Servo
Nuts & Volts

Rook's Pawn, (Robot Magazine foto), started life as a stock Robonova-1 humanoid robot, but has evolved rapidly. At this point over 90% of the robot's parts have been redesigned or heavily modified. I wonder where he got the super cool head for the robot!

Rook's Pawn taking a ride on I-Wei's steam powered beetle. (Robot Magazine foto)