Page 279 - Hacking Roomba

260 Part III — More Complex Interfacing

Additionally, you’ll need the various tools described in Chapter 3. For the Basic Stamp projects,
you’ll need the USB-to-serial adapter used in the previous projects.

Quickar Electronics (http://quickar.com) is one of several small companies that specialize
in high-power LEDs and also sell in small quantities to hobbyists. Besides PC-board mount LEDs,
they stock the blindingly bright LEDs used in flashlights and traffic lights as well as a wide variety
of surplus components.

Solderless Breadboards

The previous construction projects were all interfaces of one sort or another and thus benefited
from the level of sturdiness that you get from soldering a circuit. However when prototyping,
it’s usually quicker to sketch out circuit ideas on a solderless breadboard before committing
them to solder. If you’re unfamiliar with solderless breadboards, Figure 13-2 shows a typical
one with parts plugged in and a kit of pre-cut jumper wires behind it. In a solderless bread-
board, groups of five holes are connected together. In the figure, each vertical line of five is con-
nected together, and at the top and bottom board between the red and blue strips, each
horizontal line of five is connected. The holes are like the holes of an IC socket or header in
that they have a spring-loaded metal connection that grabs a wire or part when inserted. And
like a socket, repeated insertions wear it out. If you prototype a lot using solderless bread-
boards, you eventually collect them as your old ones become flaky.

FIGURE 13-2: Medium-sized solderless breadboard with pre-cut jumper wire kit