RESEARCH: DFRobot Romeo - Robot Control Board with Motor Driver based on Arduino

Romeo is an All-in-One Arduino compatible microcontroller especially designed for robotics applications. Its All-in-One design allows for smaller footprint by eliminating the need for additional motor drivers. This may be very useful in the implementation with a smaller rover robots that has limited space within the chassis. On-board buttons maybe very useful as I/O for driving menu functions on a small robot.

• Based on Arduino Uno & two 2A DC motor drivers & socket for bluetooth - allows for a robotic project without a need for additional DC motor driver and bluetooth shield

• Integrated sensor shield - access to Arduino-compatible shields with additional sensors

• Arduino open source platform - access to existing Arduino open source codes

Specifications

• This version of the board is based on ATmega328 microcontroller.

• Analog inputs x8, PWM x6; I2C x3, 32 KB memory

• Note: this version of the board is using a large USB port found in the Arduino Uno

  • v2.0 board supports Micro USB; 12x analog inputs; 7x PWM

Description (version 1.3 - based on Arduino Uno)

https://www.amazon.com/DFRobot-Romeo-Control-Driver-Arduino/dp/B0096LNFEM/ref=sr_1_8?dchild=1&keywords=robot+controller&qid=1588976815&sr=8-8

Description (version 2.0 - based on Arduino Leonardo)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C9NWTQE/ref=emc_b_5_t

Product Wiki

https://wiki.dfrobot.com/DFRduino_Romeo-All_in_one_Controller_V1.1_SKU_DFR0004_

Additional References -user review of the v2.0

• https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/RZJH4K3WF1Y09/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B00C9NWTQE

  • PRO: Row of three male pins for each female pin from D0 through D13 - makes it very easy to plug female connection wires into the board

  • PRO: Six programmable buttons and external power for the servo motors

  • PRO: Built in motor control - uses only two pins per motor to manage

  • Work Around: Lacks customer support - contact directly to the RF Robot via email and/or forum

  • User Choice: For the field use, Micro USB may be too fragile - however, Micro USB offer smaller footprint and common cable

  • Word Around: There may be an issue with uploading the sketch due to flaky programmer - (this issue may not exist in the v1.3 board)

  • CON: Pins used to drive the motor clash with the pins used to power the DF Robot LCD Keyboard Shield - not able to use the shield to display data on the status of the system (may not be an issue for the v1.3 board and/or work around)