ARMBASIC(ID:8315/)

Micromanipulator language 

Extensions to BASIC to permit the manipulation of the Microbot Mini-Mover 5 educational robot
References:
  • Shore C J and Huddleston J "A facility for the evaluation of the performance of small robotic arms, and a comparison of the Colne Armdroid and Microbot Minimover-5" AERE Report 11067 view details
  • Huddleston, J. "The use of small robots for laboratory manipulations Journal of Physics E: Scientific Instruments 18(11) pp891-896 Nov 1985 view details Abstract: Over the last few years, developments in electronics have simplified the design and costs of robot control systems to the point where small-scale robotic devices can be considered for use in the laboratory for the automation of experiments. This review article describes the basic features of small-scale robots and indicates the problems and limitations of current devices. The design of robotic systems and the developments which may be expected are discussed. Extract: Armbasic and the MM-5
    Languages
    There is no standard language available for small manipulators.
    There are a variety of languages available for the larger
    industrial devices, such as AL, MCL. VAL-II and AML, but again
    there is no standard language. There is at least one per
    manufacturer. The other alternative to a formal language is a
    menu-driven system, such as is used in the Zymate chemistry
    system. The majority of languages are at the level of BASIC,
    FORTRAN or PASCAL but with specific commands relating to the
    robot, e.g. GRIPPER OPEN or MOVE X, Y. 2. For the smaller
    robots. additional commands are often grafted on to the ?first?
    language of the computer, usually BASIC. An excellent example
    of this is the ARMBASIC language extensions available for the
    Microbot Minimover-5. It is essential that the robot and control
    computer in the laboratory can interact with the environment, so
    that it can know when to operate and tell other devices that they
    may operate. Ideally the control computer should be capable of
    handling communications. interrupts and timing signals. The
    robot hardware should have built-in input/output ports that can
    be utilised by the experimenter without needing to include
    additional hardware.
  • Fuller, James "ROBOTICS: Introduction, Programming, and Projects" Prentice-Hall view details