Adafruit has introduced a new robotics shield to their range of development boards with the launch of the PhoBot robotics shield for Photon, which is now available to purchase for $19.95.
The Particle Photon board, formerly known as Spark, is equipped with a PhoBot Robotics shield created by Simon Monk to make controlling small robots a breeze. This innovative shield is designed to simplify the process of building and programming robots, making it accessible even for beginners.
Technical Specifications and Features
The board measures just 51 x 51 x 12.0mm in size, making it compact and easy to integrate into various projects. It comes with an accompanying C library to support the SparkCore or Photon in controlling robots, which significantly reduces the complexity of programming.
The board features bi-directional motor control using a TB6612 dual H-bridge, so it can control one stepper motor or two brushed DC motors with 4.5-13VDC power and about 1A current draw per motor. There are also two open drain 2A MOSFET outputs for things like solenoids or large LEDs.
There’s a socket for an HC-SR04 sonar sensor, and a socket breakout available to use with 5V i2c interface sensors. The board provides 5V regulated power to Photon or Core with a max input voltage of 12V.
The TB6612 dual H-bridge motor driver is a key feature, allowing for precise control of motors, which is essential for robotics applications. The inclusion of MOSFET outputs expands the board’s versatility, enabling it to control a variety of high-power components such as solenoids and large LEDs. This makes the PhoBot shield not only suitable for simple robotic projects but also for more complex automation tasks.
Applications and Use Cases
The PhoBot Robotics shield is ideal for a wide range of applications. For instance, hobbyists can use it to build small robots for educational purposes, such as line-following robots or obstacle-avoiding robots. The shield’s compatibility with the HC-SR04 sonar sensor makes it perfect for projects that require distance measurement and object detection.
In addition to educational projects, the PhoBot shield can be used in more advanced applications. For example, it can be integrated into home automation systems to control motorized curtains or automated pet feeders. The ability to control stepper motors and brushed DC motors with precision opens up possibilities for creating custom CNC machines or 3D printers.
For more information on the new PhoBot Robotics shield, jump over to the Adafruit website for details.
Source: Adafruit
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