Jason and I are Currently collaborating about coming up with some inexpensive robotic modules that could be made for under $40-$80 depending on components. One point of discussion we have had is the brain component.

Here is a link to the poll: What controller would you like to have in an under $60 Robot Brain?

For some background information here are some links and commentary:

FPGA's: Field Programmable Gate Array, Some might ask what does this mean, well it means you have a programmable logic device that can have an embedded microcontroller as well as descrete logic to help do some functions, You might hear the term "System on a Chip". They get programmed in Verilog or VHDL Languages, although the emebedded microcontroller is programmed in C and can function up to 300 MHz. They get more expensive as they go up in gate count, the target is a XC3S400-4PQ208C it is the largest one that can still be soldered by hand. I would consider these to be for the person who wants to get a little deeper into the hardware or want to program the entire robot with logic and not a computer.

• http://www.xilinx.com/products/silicon_solutions/fpgas/spartan_series/spartan3_fpgas/index.htm
• http://www.opencores.com/

PIC Microcontrollers: PIC microcontollers come in many different flavors from the standard ones to the DS versions, some with built in PWM outputs for motor control. thier native language is assembly but a C compiler is available. PICs can run from 1-40 MHz and are relatively inexpensive. These are for the slightly intermediate Hobbiest

• http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=74
• http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=75

Basic Stamps: Are Microcontrollers in disguise they have a basic interpreter built around a PIC or a Ubicom SX48UC. They can run up to 50 MHz. They are programmed in a basic language and have limited data ram. These These are about the same cost as the FPGA solution. This is the solution for the novice robotic hobbiest.

• http://www.parallax.com/html_pages/products/basicstamps/basic_stamps.asp
• http://www.parallax.com/dl/docs/prod/stamps/stampscomparison.pdf

Gumstix(tm): Are small Linux Platforms that run with a 200 or 400MHz Clock, Programmed using GNU linux tools. would require add on cards to allow motor control. Most expensive solution listed at $99+, this solution is for the software programmer turned robotics.

• http://www.gumstix.com/

I would like feedback because we will be designing some boards here in the near future, so I know where I should be focusing my efforts.

Robogeek

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