Chapter 1 - Robotics Hardware Fundamentals
The Brain of the Robot
The main control system is the brain of the robot, responsible for processing data, making decisions, and coordinating subsystems.
1.1 Central Processing Unit (CPU) / Microcontroller / Embedded Computer
• The core computing unit executes programs that process data from sensors, and controls actuators.
• Examples: Raspberry Pi, NVIDIA Jetson, ARM and Intel Core processors.
1.2 Real-Time Control System
• A Real-Time Operating System (RTOS) manages tasks that require a guaranteed response time. Often, an RTOS is run on a dedicated microcontroller such as an Arduino or STM32.
• Examples: Arduino or STM32.
1.3 Communication Interfaces
• Enables data transfer between subsystems.
• Types:
• Wired: I2C, SPI, UART, CAN bus, Ethernet.
• Wireless: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, 5G.
Photo courtesy of NVIDIA Developer Portal (NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano DevKit)