machine-learning-gearbots-jer

GearBots Machine Learning Engineering Design STEM Class

GearbotsBC Registration for invited students is at https://www.gearbots.org/academy-tuition/

Must have the following, contact Mr Dirom if this is going to be a problem

roboCar1

RC-Pro SHREDDER $189.99 CDN

(Do not get the more expensive brushless version of the Shredder car as the coding is much more difficult)

In Abbotsford, BC this store has the above RC Shreder, phone first
Order from Canadian Collectors Club:
Located at #1 - 33232 South Fraser Way
(t) 1.800.332.1373 or (t) 604.870.9271

Must also have

Everone needs the
Big VNH5019 Motor Driver Carrier $44.95 USD

And these plugs WSD1302 plug set $2.99 USD

You only need 2 female bullet connectors: Amazon.ca https://www.amazon.ca/Hocansen-Pieces-connectors-Connector-Terminals/dp/B0C3YLBXPS/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=3BOYMJQPUH9AR&keywords=bullet%2Bconnectors%2Bairic&qid=1694043661&sprefix=bullet%2Bconnectors%2Bairic%2Caps%2C163&sr=8-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1 this is a set of 100 for $12.97 CAN. We will probably have some at the course.

Note:

You must get an extra servo motor as this makes coding much eaiser than the orginal car above, which uses a DC motor for turning and a potentiometer to determine what angle the motor is at.

Extra 3 wire Servo $24.99 CDN

Note that Microcontrollers improve rapidly.

Here is the changing list.

2023-2024 Microcontroller Price List

IF you have the Portenta with Vision Shield then keep it. It analyses faster, but it is bigger, much more expensive, only grayscale and more fragile as it is much easier to brick than the following.

  1. XIAO-Esp32S3-sense XIAO-Esp32S3-sense from seedstudio only $13.99 USD

  2. Recent update and we are still working on it. Grove Vision AI V2 with RPI )V5647 camera Grove-Vision-AI-Module-V2 $28.88 USD. This comes with a XIAO probably best to order the XIAO-ESP32S3-Sense with it although there are some reasons for getting the other XIAO. (The main issues are ease of use)

  3. XIAO Round Display XIAO Round Display from seedstudio only $18.00 USD

Even past students may want to get the new equipment as it is so cheap compared to the PortentaH7

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——————————————- Nothing below this line is needed for 2023-2024 ————————————————————-

2021 Microcontroller Price List

When we combine the PortentaH7 with the LoRa vision shield we have a great Machine Learning duo. But it is expensive.

Arduino PortentaH7 $103.40 USD The base MCU and best Arduino

Arduino LoRa Vision Shield $63.25 USD Allows the Portenta to See and hear and use the LoRaWan networks

The Portenta Might need female headers if you don’t want to solder wires directly onto it. Mr. Ellis should be able to provide those. Here is a link if you want them. The male headers are good to attach the Portenta to a breadboard. Note: The female headers are attached to come up out of the board.

10 pack of 40 pin male female headers

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Also to view what you are working on a screen is a good idea

Seeedstudio Grove 128x64 MonoChrome “black or white” OLED Display $19.10 CDN Needed to see what the Portenta sees

OR the much better 16 levels of Grayscale OLED

1.5inch OLED Display Module 128x128 16 Gray Scale SPI/I2C Interface SSD1327 Driver Raspberry Pi/Arduino/STM32 $23 CDN

I do have a TFT V2 touchscreen but the refresh rate is too slow.

Note: If you didn’t get the 3 wire servo for turning then you need this:

If you don’t get the 3 wire servo you need this DRV8835 Dual Motor Driver Carrier https://www.pololu.com/product/2135 from Pololu $9.95 USD

As a group we decided not to use this method as the coding was much more confusing and turning was unreliable and slow.

Note: A few of the advanced students are working with RF modules and receivers, but this is only for students who know what they are doing. Any student at the course can find out more about this process.

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Optional 2021:

Charmed Labs Pixy2 Machine Learning Color cam $76.97 CDN This already has Machine Learning in it and detects different shades, (black and white are not a shade). Can really easily do very complex things, and it is fast.

2020 Microcontroller Price List

Arduino-nano-33-ble-sense-with-headers $33.40 USD

This board made around 2018 has Machine Learning ability and an accelerometer. A great starting choice for Machine Learning, however it is lacking when using the color camera below since the resolution size can only be 48 x 48 pixels.

ov7670 Camera $13.29 USD

2019 Microcontroller Price List

Particle Photon $19.65 USD This board made in 2015 is still a great microcontroller today, but only with limited Machine Learning capability .

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Optional: Any year:

Arduino Starter Kit: Everything you need to get going building things with Arduino $35.26 CDN Elecrow Starter Kit for Raspberry Pi & Arduino

Sensor Kit: Consider getting one of the many Arduino style sensor kits on the market. Here is one for $35 CDN that looks very good Kuman 37-in-1 Sensor Kit Compatible with Arduino Raspberry Pi Mega 2560 Kits Compatible K5

Basic Solder kit: Not really needed as we use breadboards and snap connectors but good to have CAD $24.21

Plusivo Soldering Kit for Electronics (US Plug)

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Final Product

This is what it looks like when it is all finished. A robot controlled or app controlled Toy Car.

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List of suggested first time purchase:

  1. RC-Pro SHREDDER $189.99 CDN
  2. WSD1302 plug set $2.99 USD
  3. Big VNH5019 Motor Driver Carrier $44.95 USD
  4. DRV8835 Dual Motor Driver Carrie from Pololu $9.95 USD
  5. Arduino PortentaH7 $103.40 USD
  6. Arduino LoRa Vision Shield $63.25 USD
  7. Seeedstudio Grove 128x64 OLED Display $19.10 CDN
  8. Elecrow Starter Kit for Raspberry Pi & Arduino 35.26 CDN

roboCar2

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