TrikiBoard is microcontroller based board to control hobby-robots.
However, besides robotics, these board designs can also be used by EDL students as reference designs for their EDP.
I used to get emails from many robot-builders for Yantriki, that they can build the mechanics of the robot but they need an electronic controller for their robot. Such control boards can be bought off-the-shelf in US and from some websites (like Basic-Stamp, BrainStem from www.acroname.com, and many others). However, these are very expensive, and also inaccessible to an average hobbyist in India.
The name TrikiBoard comes from Yantriki.
Now here are 2 kinds of Triki-board Designs. Both are for beginners with some background in electronics & soldering who would like to get started in electronic control of their robot.
First-year students, with some soldering and EE skills had made their Triki-Boards.
If you are not a beginner, I would suggest to look at the design, but not limit your control-board design to what is given, because much more complex features and circuits can be included to improve the performance of the robot.
Comparison and Features of the 2 Triki-Boards:
| Feature | TrikiBoard 1 | TrikiBoard 2 |
| MCU | AT89C52 | PIC 16F877 |
| MCU memory |
8K Flash for Code, 256Bytes RAM |
8K Flash, 368Bytes RAM, 256Bytes EEPROM |
| ADC | none | 8-channels. 10Bit ADC in MCU |
| External Memory |
32K RAM |
none |
| H-bridges for DC motors | 2 H-bridges for 2 DC-motors (using IC L298D). Motor current up to 1.5A (with heatsink) | |
| PWM generation | by Software |
Hardware built-in the Microcontroller |
| RS232 Link to PC | yes |
yes |
| IO lines | 14 Digital | 15 Digital (or 8 Analog included) |
| Open Collector Outputs | none | 8pins (using ULN2803) (for high-current or Stepper motor drive) |
| Battery Voltage |
12V max recommended, 8V min (See Trikiboard tips for 6V operation) |
|
| On-Board 5V regulator | Yes | Yes |
| Board Size | 5" x 3" | 3.3" x 2.9" |
| On-Board Programming of MCU | No | Yes (using JDM programmer on ICSP port) |
It is evident that TrikiBoard-2 offers much more features and is smaller in size. However, It does not have the large RAM as in TrikiBoard-1. But if the user makes an efficient algorithm to solve the maze, 368Byte RAM + 256Bytes of EEPROM is sufficient.
TrikiBoard-2 uses PIC microcontroller which is not taught commonly in engineering colleges, hence Trikiboard-1 can be better sometimes, as it is based on an 8051 family Microcontroller, and the instruction set is familiar to most.
Design Considerations of the Triki-Boards
Both the Boards are double-sided PCBs. Though I thought of making single sided design, but the Size was more important.
The Track-Width and Track-Spacing in both the Boards is what any cheap PCB maker would be able to achieve. Many PCB makers in India cannot make a PCB which has Track-Width or Spacing less than 10mils. (esp. for small orders).
All components used are locally & commonly available in India. (though I would have liked to design using SMD components, they are not commonly available except in Metro cities)
There is no Sensor-interface and electronics on both the boards, but enough prototyping space is provided for the user to add his own electronics (Op-Amps etc.)
8051 and PIC MCUs where chosen because their programming is known to many, and lots of support for both is available on web. (8051-programming books are very popular in all engineering book-shops). (Though none of the above 2 MCUs are my favorite).
The pages TrikiBoard-1 and TrikiBoard-2 give full technical details on How to make your TrikiBoard, and the PCB files etc.
Vivek Vaid
vivekvaid<|a-t|>iitb_ac_in
(for email address: replace <|a-t|> by @ above and _ by . )