OT: Robotics or embedded or hardware programming... what is this called?

[Warren Block]

On Mon, 25 Jun 2012, Ian Smith wrote:

> On Fri, 22 Jun 2012 06:47:48 -0600 (MDT), Warren Block wrote:
> > On Fri, 22 Jun 2012, Ian Smith wrote:
> >
> > Well, there is devel/arduino.  It's not emdedded Linux, but an IDE for
> > writing and downloading code.  The Arduino is a small embedded controller
> > based on the Atmel AVR microcontrollers.  They are quite powerful, easy to
> > program, and accessible for experimenters.  You can skip the Arduino
> > environment if you like, using the same lower-level tools like avr-gcc
> > directly.  And the Arduino board can be used as a programmer, downloading
> > code to plain AVR chips and avoiding the need for more Arduino boards.  Talk
> > about the Arduino on FreeBSD is generally on the freebsd-embedded mailing
> > list.
>
> Thanks Warren.  I got the wrong idea that Arduino ran an embedded Linux
> from a friend, a Linux-using Electrical Engineer, but not a programmer.
> I'd also (too) briefly glanced at www.arduino.cc and noted Windows, Mac
> and Linux references, and Linux binaries, but had no idea you had ported
> the GUI.  Could you perhaps try pushing the FreeBSD port upstream to
> Arduino, so people can find out that it exists from there?

There was an updated entry mentioning the port in the Playground, which 
now seems to have reverted back to the old not-yet-working procedure for 
FreeBSD 6.1.  And I see that 1.0.1 is out, so now the port needs to be 
updated.  There doesn't appear to be a way for me to edit that.  I can 
send mail to the site about mentioning the FreeBSD port on the downloads 
page.  Or you can, if you like.

Something I forgot to mention earlier is that it may now be possible to 
buy Arduinos or compatibles at Radio Shack stores in the US.