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1. Download reference manuals/owners guides from the iRobot Website

Read the owners manual to get acquainted with basic operation of the Create. You may want to browse through the Open Interface spec to get an idea of the capabilities of the OI. Save the Command Module manual for later; it will be helpful when you start programming in C, and is the basis for some of the documentation we have created.

2. Download RealTerm Terminal Communication Software and Documentation

This free program provides more functionality than basic terminal programs like HyperTerminal. The documentation we wrote will demonstrate how to configure RealTerm for use with the Create. The Open Interface spec also contains setup information.

3. Use the OI

Playing with the Create using the OI will be a good introduction to the basic capabilities of the robot. Homework 3 has an OI worksheet. Labs 1 and 2 should also be good exercises. The students have also filled in the CreateBase, which has also has information regarding RealTerm and OI. You will not need to use the Command Module; in fact, if the Command Module is on, the robot will not be able to communicate over the iRobot serial cable.

4. Download WinAVR Programming Environment and Documentation

Software

Download WinAVR (Use version 20070525 - May 25th 2007)
Command Module USB Drivers: Driver 1, Driver 2
Create Template Files (last updated 1/2/08)

WinAVR Installation Note: libusb0.dll

This version of WinAVR has an install bug which causes a required file to be misplaced, and makes WinAVR unable to load your programs to the Command Module. The required file is called libusb0.dll, and it is installed to the \winavr-20070525\utils\libusb\bin\ directory. It should be in the \winavr-20070525\bin\ directory. Simply copy and paste it to the correct directory, and WinAVR should work as expected.

Documentation

Related Assignments

WinAVR is a program we use to edit, compile, and download programs into the robot. Installation is fairly simple, just be sure to follow the installation note in red. Make sure to download and install both drivers for the Command Module as well. You'll also need to download the Create Template package, which includes all the files necessary for a Create programming project. If your computer can't extract the files from the package, the individual files are available under the Links page, in the Robotics section of the wiki. Read the Guide to Using WinAVR to get acquainted with the program. The Beginner's C Programming Reference quickly goes over some of the basics of C programming, using Create programming as a platform. The Create API lists all of the functions and data variables for controlling the robot and polling it's sensors. Labs 3 and 4 (including a pre-lab assignment) involved using C programs in the Command Module to control the basic Create platform.

You may also want to check out the Documentation section. There are some general help pages and code examples from lectures. Spend time playing around with the Create API, and try to think of problems to solve, and then solve them. Be sure to read the debugging guide.

5. External Sensors and Actuators

Documentation

Related Assignments

Based on what you know from programming the Create with it's internal sensors, extend the capability of the platform by attaching additional sensors. The documentation explains connecting and using the sensors step by step. Have fun with the Egg Hunt!