[Robotgroup] Divide and Conquer!

[Edwin Wise]

On 13 Sep 2007, at 3:22 PM, Gray Mack wrote:

> From my perspective, other than fewer wires and more
> modular design I don't know if it buys you much
> anymore but its a neat concept.

I like the concept myself, just because of the redundancy it implies,  
and possible protection from single-point failures... but in  
practice, one powerful controller with a boatload of I/O will do yah  
fine, be cheaper, and have less hassle.

Though, if your legs are complex, with several degrees of motion and  
a variety of sensors, it can be tough to find enough pins on one  
controller to manage it...

Perhaps splitting the difference  -- 6 legs with 2 or 3 controllers  
-- that kind of thing.

Hard to make _any_ controller decisions, though, until you have  
spec'ed out the behavior and control requirements; those can force  
expansion into multiple controllers or conversely prove that one  
controller would be plenty.

Of course, doing multiple controllers for the "nifty-neato-wowie- 
zowie" factor is fun too; and modularity is also fun.  4 legs?  6  
legs? 12?  Hah!  It all works!


Edwin!