In case you didn't notice, I found the camera. I took some photos this morning and spent some time updating my website so that I can add easy thumbnails (I don't have to have separate images, they are resized with code). I'm trying to add photos next to previous information that talked about a particular subject, like the sketch of the prototype I did and putting the parts on the small breadboard.

Well, I ended up solving the problem with the DIP switches not being read. Apparently for PORT A (and some of PORT B), you have to set the pins to digital through the ADCON registers. After that, it worked pretty good. I still need to get the servo code working, but there's lots of examples so that should be easy. Then I'll test it with remote control input, and then I'll try using the Ping ultrasonic sensor (there's code for that too) and write a small program for the car to back away if something is in front of it.

[img posts.jpg||right]I was trying to figure out what would work best to mount the boards. I had some old gray plastic spaces, but only had 3 of those. I decided to take some posts out of an old RadioShack project box that I used for some kind of speaker thing when I was like 10. The next step with the posts will be to drill completely through with a 9/64" drill bit (to accomodate a 1/8" bolt) and then slice the tube into little spacers I can use. Another option would be to not drill it, leave the posts somewhere between 1/2" and 3/4" long and feed a screw in each end.

When it comes to making things, I tend to have a few rules I like to go by that really make things go smoothly:

1. Start by making something that works and improve it after that.
2. Wait until as long as possible before doing anything that would be difficult to undo.
3. Make use of materials that you already have. Anything is up for grabs and sometimes a trash can will be a treasure trove of raw materials (just be sure to clean them first).
4. The internet is full of ideas. If you don't know the answer, it's very likely somebody else will (and has probably asked it with a nice answer sitting next to it.)
5. If you don't have the right tool for the job, you can often make it.