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2026-05-18 1:54 pm
I sense a lot of hostility to using AI and perhaps a misunderstanding of how it can be used productively to learn about hardware and software.
Not really hostility. But, at least from my POV, a friendly criticism. What's coming across from your recent posts is just raw, unfiltered chatGPT replies of your exploration. Using chatGPT to explore and learn is fine. But do we really need to come along for the entire ride? Can't you summarize it? "I asked chatGPT about <blah> and discovered that <blah-blah>. I tested it and it seems to work. Here's what I got..."
Another method is, "Here's the query I gave chartGPT to find out about <blah>. What I found out was <blah-blah>." Now I can used your query and reproduce (well, probably) your results, if I want to. I just don't have to wade through the reply to get there.
IMHO, raw, unfiltered chatGPT replies aren't effective forum communication. These AI assistants are very verbose, not sufficiently focused, and not always consistent. They require curating.
Compared to an original published work by one or more respected authors, AI assistants are Cliff Notes.
Again, just a friendly criticism.
The one who has the most fun, wins!
2026-05-18 3:17 pm
I sense a lot of hostility to using AI and perhaps a misunderstanding of how it can be used productively to learn about hardware and software.
I was going to write a few words right before the wifely shout that lunch was ready (and I'd better come quick 😀). So replete and coffee in hand I return to my desk to find @tfmccarthy has taken the words right out of my mouth.
Only thing I would add is I think its fine if you want to post an article on robotBuilders adventures in AI, it may well help some folk who have not dabbled, but perhaps make it clear in the posts Title thats what the subject matter is all about.
When contributing to discussions, in my opinion, I don't really want to know where you got your thoughts on the matter from, be it from your long experience of the matter or perhaps some learning you recently undertook via a good book, a google, or an AI chat. No need to quote references. Providing links to stuff that the reader may follow for futher info is good, and for AI garnered info that you think is worth sharing, then, as tfmccarthy says, just state something like - putting xxxx into AI gives good info pertinent to xxx - is probably the best way.
Well why not ask AI. Putting "whats the best way to contribute to a discussion with information garnered from AI" in to my DuckDuck AI, which appears to be using GPT-5 mini, appears to give a pertinent response 😎
This post was modified 4 weeks ago 2 times by byron
Lee G reacted
2026-05-18 4:44 pm
@tfmccarthy, @robotbuilder, @byron
I’d like to add a comment or two, if I may. I’m currently (trying to) building a mecanum-wheeled robot car and am having trouble getting the motors/wheels to turn at the same rate, so I’ve been closely following this thread. I agree with @robotbuilder that AI (can be) is a great tool for learning about new things or to help solve problems. The main word in that sentence is that it is a tool, just like an o-scope or multimeter (well, maybe not “just like” - but you get my meaning). Like any tool, you have to learn how to use it to get good, effective results from it. Does AI make mistakes, sure! Don’t we all, sometimes? That’s why you check and sometimes double-check the results. As for quoting AI responses on the forum, I think a simple comment saying ‘I put this prompt into AI, and I learned this (any pertinent info - not necessarily the whole reply)’ from the reply is sufficient. From this thread (and my prompts to AI) I’ve decided that I need to add encoders to the wheels of my robot. But, that seems to open a new ‘can of worms’ in getting the counts to match.
Topic starter
2026-05-18 5:00 pm
It was only in the first two posts and that was the end of it showing how I was getting answers to questions I never got answers to before. I found its responses very educational but if you guys already knew what it revealed I understand it would be boring.
The third post wasn't anything to do with AI suggestions or AI printouts, it was about where I was going next and a copy of code which I painfully copied from the video as a reference if anyone was interested in the video topic.
So to sum it up it wasn't going to be my ongoing modus operandi it was only two posts given as an illustration of how I was using chatGPT. I am not using its exact code in any project but what I have learned has enabled me to write my own successful working code using the encoders.
Anyway I take your views on board and will not mention or show a chatGPT response again.
2026-05-18 5:26 pm
Anyway I take your views on board and will not mention or show a chatGPT response again
Don't go overboard. Use chatGPT, just curate the responses. Sometimes the response is the most accurate and concise reply.
The one who has the most fun, wins!
2026-05-18 5:42 pm
That gave me the inspiration. But, I got the Sunfounder Zeus car as a present a couple of years ago, so I’m using that chassis. The Sunfounder version is based on the Arduino, I’m working to change that to a Raspberry Pi Pico for motor control and will add a Raspberry Pi for vision and some other things. I’m following McWhorther’s AI course, so voice commands are in the car’s future. I’m wondering if upgrading the TT motors to some of those Pololu motors with the metal gear boxes and encoders would be worth it? Regards
Topic starter
2026-05-18 6:28 pm
2026-05-18 7:25 pm
Yup, that's the one. I've got it mostly put together (with the Pico2W). The car is moving, but it doesn't have the smooth movement that you see in their (Sunfounder's) video. Everything I've read (and Claude has been telling me) is that the motors have to be moving at the same rate (synced) So, I'm thinking about better motors (they're kinda expensive though). I hadn't thought of using the IMU that Tim is talking about.
Topic starter
2026-05-18 10:38 pm
Anyway I take your views on board and will not mention or show a chatGPT response again
Don't go overboard. Use chatGPT, just curate the responses. Sometimes the response is the most accurate and concise reply.
Of course I will be using chatGPT as it has been a most useful and educational tool. It was the whole point of the first two posts to show how it enabled me to get the encoders working successfully but I will not post its responses anymore. Now the encoders are working properly I will be going back to working on my visually controlled robot base.
2026-05-19 7:45 pm
I got the Sunfounder Zeus car as a present a couple of years ago
@lee-g I just looked up your bot to see whats what, but then strayed to have a peruse of other stuff on their site and I spied a sunfounder picar-x which intrigued me as it appear to have front wheel steering instead of the usual skid steer.
So out of curiosity I had a check on the price on one here in the UK. Oh dear me the bstars are showing a 'limit time special offer'. Finger hovering over the buy now button..... But does it have encoders.... I hope to resist but...
Were you swapping out the arduino for a rpi pico to program it in micropython? I hope the motor driver and other peripherals on your bot are ok with the 3.3v logic level of the pico. Do keep us updated on your progress.
@robotbuilder, the wooden bot rolls again, and its seems right on target. Does it randomly wander about the room until it spots the target and then proceeds to stop just before the drawer furniture? Have you rigged up collision avoidance sensors yet? What was the bot called, I seem to remember the last time I saw it roaming around it had a name or did that get the chop and this is another bot? 😀
Topic starter
2026-05-20 9:15 pm
@robotbuilder, the wooden bot rolls again, and its seems right on target. Does it randomly wander about the room until it spots the target and then proceeds to stop just before the drawer furniture? Have you rigged up collision avoidance sensors yet? What was the bot called, I seem to remember the last time I saw it roaming around it had a name or did that get the chop and this is another bot? 😀
It doesn't wander about randomly. It is a platform for visual control experimentation. Last time I was playing with the code I was getting it to rotate to orientate to targets and estimate its position and direction and move to a particular location in the room. I have not gotten it navigating the house from point to point yet.
It is simple electronically when it comes to computer power using a laptop for which the software tools are easy to use including wifi if needed. It is probably a poor fit for these forums as it isn't about using the latest ESP32 clone or AI camera which, from reading other posts, appears to be a lot of hard work to get to work and with limited expansion.
The boards covered by Bill and used by forum members are better suited for cheap small special purpose projects where their power makes for amazing little electronic projects including little robots. I find them interesting as electronics is another interest and was my first interest before concentrating on software solutions. So I like reading about them but for time poor reasons don't actually play with anymore beyond using the Arduino board to interface the PC to hardware and low level control actions and sensory input.
No I haven't fitted any collision avoidance sensors to this particular robot base. I am always there with an abort button! It does have remote control using a wireless keyboard. It does monitor the state of the motors and if they cease to turn or draw excessive power due to physical contact the robot will stop and take whatever programmed actions I might implement.
2026-05-20 9:32 pm
Its a good fit for this forum IMHO. An interesting take on indoor bot navigation. Size does not matter, but if your laptop trundling bot gets into an argument with a passing cat, it probably wont share the same fate as a dinky bot, heck it may well give said beast a right old scare.
Topic starter
2026-05-20 11:19 pm
Cats have different relationships with robot vacuum cleaners as you can see with many online videos depending on their personality profile with the big five traits neuroticism, extraversion, openness to experience, conscientiousness, and agreeableness.
If you have an indoor pet you can interact with via your mobile phone and you are on holiday (vacation) using the internet to watch and if your bot is up to it feed the animal. Maybe a fun/useful project to add to your robot.
Another thing you might add to your little robot is emotions. How it behaves can depend on its emotional state. Anger, Happy, Fear, Depressed ...