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I'm new to programming and have just started wtih AVR. I'd like to later venture into FPGA but will have a lot of planning to do on exactly what type of system requirements i will need.
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FPGAs are a lot more complicated than an AVR :)
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I'd like to focus on Robot Vision first, and then bipedal balance later.
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Do you have any of this working with an AVR yet?
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ROS looks like it has good support for bringing sensor data together, ROS runs on LINUX.
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If you are interested in using ROS, which requires Linux, then why bother with AVRs?
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From my understanding, FPGA boards are not single board computers, but can be interfaced with PC's through the PCIe slot.
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Not all of them. The ones that come in PCIe form-factor are the FPGAs with transceivers.
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It looks like FPGA boards that have the PCIe capability are over $1000, that's definitely not for a beginner. Could anyone suggest an appropriate way for me to use ROS on Linux, and have a bunch of sensors connected to an FPGA board, and have them all talking to each other? I really wish makermedia would come out with Make: FPGA programming. because Make: AVR programming is turning out to be quite helpful.
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FPGAs can be used for pretty much any application. However, just because they *can* be used, does not mean they *should* :)
In your case, since you are new to AVRs, FPGAs, and Linux, you should take the "path of least resistance", i.e., find an existing solution that you can learn from.
If you like AVRs, then look at Arduino, and its shields, they likely have a robot shield.
If you want to use ROS and Linux, then look at the BeagleBone or Raspberry Pi, and their projects.
Once you have a solid grasp on programming and how your robots need to work, and you cannot find a solution that eg., uses an AVR controlled by a Linux box, then come back to FPGAs.
I'm not trying to put you off using FPGAs, I'm just trying to direct you down a path where you will get something working sooner, and have a sense of accomplishment. When you're bored with microprocessors and processors, then you can step up to FPGAs :)
Cheers,
Dave
Honored Contributor
