From HBRC WIki

Contents 1 Resources 1.1 Software 1.1.1 CAD Software 1.1.1.1 Mechanical CAD 1.1.1.2 Electronic CAD 1.1.2 Embedded Software Compilers and Interpreters 1.1.2.1 For Atmel AVR processors 1.2 Hardware 1.2.1 Batteries 1.2.2 Sensors 1.2.2.1 Infrared 1.2.2.2 Ultra Sonic 1.2.2.3 Vision 1.2.3 Actuators 1.2.3.1 Rotary 1.2.3.1.1 Brushed DC Motors 1.2.3.2 Linear 1.2.4 Fasteners 1.2.5 Surplus Parts 1.2.5.1 Santa Clara Valley Surplus Electronics Dealers: 1.2.6 PCB Fabrication 1.3 Robotics Papers

Resources

Software

CAD Software

Mechanical CAD

QCadis a cross-platform 2D drafting package. The free community edition is available for Linux and OS X, and a low cost Windows version is also available. The non-free version supports splines and scripts. HBRC members that use QCAD include: Chris Palmer, Dave Curtis.

Electronic CAD

gEDA is the Gnu EDA suite. Licensed under the GPL, versions for *NIX and OS X are available. It includes gschem for schematic editing, pcb for pcb design, the Gerber viewer gerbv, simulators for Spice and Verilog, and associated tools. HBRC members that use gEDA include: Dave Curtis.

Embedded Software Compilers and Interpreters

For Atmel AVR processors

The GNU tool chain for AVR's includes avr-gcc, avr-libc, avrdude, and avarice. The AVR architecture is well supported by avr-gcc. Avrdude is host software that supports a wide variety of programmers for downloading code to AVR's. Avarice is a debug server that allows source level debugging using gdb. HBRC members that are users include: Dave Curtis.

Hardware

Batteries

see also Batteries from the Builders Book

  Tenergy Corporation, Sunnyvale, CA - Batteries, cables and connectors

Sensors

see also Sensors from the Builders Book

Infrared

Ultra Sonic

PING))) Ultrasonic sensor from Parallax: PING))) As simple as it gets... just two commands with the Stamp. Pulsout and Pulsin... the Pulsin variable contains the raw time-of-flight. The sensor handles all the timing details. HBRC members who use the BASIC Stamp and Ping Sensor include: Camp Peavy.

Vision

Actuators

see also Motors from the Builders Book

Rotary

Brushed DC Motors

Linear

Fasteners

The Olander Company at 144 Commercial Street in Sunnyvale stocks over 10,000 types of fasteners and related hardware. They fulfill small quantity orders by credit card through their web site. If you are in the Bay Area, you can pick up your order in person the same day (M-F, 9am-5pm). You will find all sizes of screws, nuts, bolts, adhesives, knobs, hinges, locks, spacers, shafting, and springs.

Surplus Parts

Santa Clara Valley Surplus Electronics Dealers:

  Advanced Electronics
  1810 Oakland Rd, Suite C
  San Jose, CA, 95131

  Excess Solutions
  156 S. Milpitas Blvd. 
  Milpitas, CA 95035

  Weird Stuff
  384 West Caribbean Drive
  Sunnyvale, CA 94089

  HSC (Halted)
  3500 Ryder Street
  Santa Clara, Ca 95051

  San Jose State Links 
  Mechatronic Components Suppliers

PCB Fabrication

Getting professional quality PCB's in prototype quantities has never been easier. You upload your file, and a few days later boards come back. Prices, features, and design rules vary among vendors. Here are some prototyping services that have been used by HBRC members:

AP Circuits Quick.

BatchPCB Minimum order 1 square inch! Great for one-off.

PCB Express/Sunstone Quick. Fine line design rules.

Olimex Fill a panel for best price, you can do multiple designs in your panel.

See Dave's common drill rack for a table of drill sizes that will give you the same result from several PCB vendors.

Robotics Papers

  NASA Papers on AI 
  by Dave Wyland 
  Autonomy Without Independence: Animal Training as a Model for Robot Design 
  Reasonable Machines: Analogical Reasoning in Autonomous Agent Design 

  Fuzzy Logic Solutions in Robotics 
  by Ed Katz, Ph.D.
  Extending the Teleo-Reactive Paradigm for Robotic Agent Task Control Using Zadehan (Fuzzy) Logic