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Rodrigo Rodriguez (Pragmatismo) 91a6710c52 Add humanoid robotics guide, SVG diagrams, and NO ASCII rule 
- Add comprehensive humanoid robotics guide (humanoid.md) with:
  - Supported robot kits (Unitree, UBTECH, Poppy, InMoov, ROBOTIS)
  - BASIC keywords for servo/movement control
  - Computer vision integration (face, object, gesture detection)
  - LLM-driven conversational movement
  - Build guides for beginner to advanced
  - Safety considerations and complete reception robot example

- Create humanoid-architecture.svg with theme transparency

- Update PROMPT.md with NO ASCII DIAGRAMS rule

- Update devices README to include humanoid robotics section

- SVG diagrams for chapter 13 devices

- Update documentation style guide with theme transparency
2025-12-12 20:36:34 -03:00

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Beginner's Guide: Buying Your First SBC

A complete guide for beginners who want to buy a Single Board Computer (SBC) and start automating their home or workplace with General Bots.

What is an SBC?

A Single Board Computer (SBC) is a complete computer on a single circuit board. Unlike a desktop PC, it's:

  • Small - Credit card to smartphone size
  • Low power - 2-15 watts (vs 200W+ for a PC)
  • Affordable - $15-150 depending on power
  • Quiet - No fans on most models
  • GPIO equipped - Can connect to sensors and actuators

Which SBC Should I Buy?

Decision Flowchart

Hardware Budget Decision Tree

Recommended Starter Kits

🌟 Best for Beginners: Raspberry Pi 4 Kit (~$80)

What to buy:

  • Raspberry Pi 4 Model B (4GB RAM) - $55
  • Official power supply (USB-C 5V 3A) - $8
  • 32GB microSD card (Class 10) - $8
  • Case with heatsink - $10

Where to buy:

💰 Budget Option: Orange Pi Zero 3 Kit (~$35)

What to buy:

  • Orange Pi Zero 3 (1GB RAM) - $20
  • 5V 2A power supply - $5
  • 16GB microSD card - $5
  • Acrylic case - $5

🧠 Best for AI: Orange Pi 5 Kit (~$120)

What to buy:

  • Orange Pi 5 (8GB RAM) - $89
  • 12V 2A power supply - $10
  • 64GB microSD or NVMe SSD - $15
  • Cooling fan case - $10

This board has a 6 TOPS NPU for accelerated AI inference!

What Else Do I Need?

Essential Accessories

Item Purpose Price Range
microSD Card Operating system storage $8-15
Power Supply Power the board $8-15
Ethernet Cable Wired network (faster) $5
HDMI Cable Connect to monitor/TV $5-10
USB Keyboard Initial setup $10-20

For Display Projects

Item Purpose Price Range
3.5" TFT LCD Small color touchscreen $15-25
7" HDMI LCD Larger display $40-60
16x2 LCD Simple text display $5-10
0.96" OLED Tiny status display $5-8

For Home Automation

Item Purpose Price Range
Relay Module (4ch) Control lights, appliances $5-10
DHT22 Sensor Temperature & humidity $5-8
PIR Sensor Motion detection $3-5
Buzzer Alerts and notifications $2-3
Jumper Wires Connect components $3-5
Breadboard Prototyping $3-5

Sample Shopping Lists

Home Temperature Monitor ($45)

Perfect first project - monitor and log temperature!

Item Price
Orange Pi Zero 3 (1GB) $20
16GB microSD card $5
5V 2A power supply $5
DHT22 temperature sensor $6
0.96" OLED display (I2C) $6
Jumper wires (female-female) $3
Total $45

Smart Doorbell ($70)

AI-powered doorbell with notifications!

Item Price
Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W $15
Pi Camera Module $25
Push button $1
Piezo buzzer $2
LED (with resistor) $1
16GB microSD card $5
5V 2.5A power supply $8
Case $5
Jumper wires $3
Total $70

Offline AI Assistant ($150)

Run AI completely offline - no internet needed!

Item Price
Orange Pi 5 (8GB RAM) $89
128GB NVMe SSD $20
12V 3A power supply $12
7" HDMI touchscreen $45
USB microphone $10
Case with fan $15
Jumper wires $3
Total ~$195

Voice-Controlled Lights ($55)

Control your lights by talking!

Item Price
Raspberry Pi 4 (2GB) $35
4-channel relay module $6
USB microphone $8
16GB microSD card $5
5V 3A power supply $8
Jumper wires $3
Total ~$65

Where to Buy (By Region)

United States

  • Amazon - Fast shipping, good returns
  • Adafruit - Quality accessories, great tutorials
  • SparkFun - Sensors and components
  • Micro Center - If you have one nearby!

Europe

  • The Pi Hut (UK) - Official Pi reseller
  • Pimoroni (UK) - Creative accessories
  • Amazon.de/.fr/.es - Local shipping
  • Conrad (Germany) - Electronics store

Asia

  • AliExpress - Cheapest, 2-4 week shipping
  • Taobao (China) - Even cheaper if you read Chinese
  • Amazon.co.jp (Japan)

South America

  • MercadoLivre (Brazil) - Local marketplace
  • FilipeFlop (Brazil) - Arduino/Pi specialist
  • Amazon.com.br - Limited selection

Tips for AliExpress

  • Check seller ratings (97%+ is good)
  • Read reviews with photos
  • Expect 2-4 weeks shipping
  • Buy from China Direct for best prices
  • Consider "Choice" items for faster shipping

First-Time Setup Guide

Step 1: Flash the OS

  1. Download Raspberry Pi Imager
  2. Insert your microSD card
  3. Select:
    • Device: Your board
    • OS: Raspberry Pi OS Lite (64-bit)
    • Storage: Your microSD
  4. Click EDIT SETTINGS:
    • Set hostname: mybot
    • Enable SSH
    • Set username/password
    • Configure WiFi
  5. Click WRITE

Step 2: First Boot

  1. Insert microSD into your SBC
  2. Connect power
  3. Wait 2 minutes for first boot
  4. Find your device: 
    # On your computer
ping mybot.local
# or check your router's device list

Step 3: Connect via SSH

ssh pi@mybot.local
# Enter your password

Step 4: Install General Bots

# Quick install
curl -fsSL https://get.generalbots.com | bash

# Or use the deploy script
git clone https://github.com/GeneralBots/botserver.git
cd botserver
./scripts/deploy-embedded.sh --local --with-ui

Step 5: Access the Interface

Open in your browser:

http://mybot.local:8088

Common Beginner Mistakes

❌ Wrong Power Supply

Problem: Board keeps rebooting or won't start

Solution:

  • Raspberry Pi 4/5: Use official 5V 3A USB-C PSU
  • Orange Pi 5: Use 12V 2A, not 5V!
  • Don't use phone chargers - they can't supply enough current

❌ Cheap/Slow microSD Card

Problem: Slow boot, random crashes, data corruption

Solution:

  • Buy Class 10 or A1/A2 rated cards
  • Good brands: SanDisk, Samsung, Kingston
  • Avoid no-name cards from AliExpress

❌ No Heatsink/Cooling

Problem: Board throttles or overheats

Solution:

  • Always use heatsinks on the CPU
  • Consider a fan for Pi 4/5 or Orange Pi 5
  • Use a case with ventilation

❌ Connecting to Wrong Voltage

Problem: Fried components, magic smoke

Solution:

  • Raspberry Pi GPIO is 3.3V only!
  • Never connect 5V to GPIO pins
  • Use level shifters for 5V sensors

Getting Help

Community Resources

Recommended YouTube Channels

  • ExplainingComputers - Great SBC reviews
  • Jeff Geerling - Deep Pi tutorials
  • Andreas Spiess - IoT and sensors
  • DroneBot Workshop - Beginner friendly

Books

  • "Getting Started with Raspberry Pi" - Matt Richardson
  • "Make: Electronics" - Charles Platt

Next Steps

Once you have your SBC:

  1. Quick Start Guide - Get GB running in 5 minutes
  2. GPIO Keywords - Control hardware with BASIC
  3. Templates - Ready-made automation projects
  4. Local LLM - Add offline AI capabilities

Happy building! 🤖