One of the things I have always wanted is a more complex “construction” type project. It should be:
- Sufficiently complex that it will hold my interest for longer than 15 minutes.
- Something with significant learning opportunities.
- Something with a community of like-minded people that I can both share with and learn from.
- Not insanely expensive, but something i could build on in simple, inexpensive, steps.
This robot fills those needs. It is sufficiently complex that I can chew on it, but not so complicated that I get frustrated. (Ok, sometimes I get frustrated. 
)
Since most of the people working with this 'bot are far and away more expert with software than I am, there is a lot of opportunity for me to learn and grow.
Since I have an extensive background in hardware and hardware design, I have something valuable to contribute too.
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Why I call the 'bot “Charlie”:
When I originally built the 'bot, the bundle of wires leading down from the distance sensor, (with the googly eyes), reminded me of an insect’s schnozz so I “just had to” give it a pair of antennae - and I was going to call it “The Bug-Mobile”.
One of the long-time contributors suggested that my 'bot had sufficient “character” to have a name. I had no idea what to name the beastie, so I shrugged my shoulders on-line and continued.
(Side topic)
I am absolutely certain that the advertisements in the model railroading magazines make it seam that all you need is a few sections of track, a few cars, a loco, some wire, bubblegum, electricity, and - BLAMMO! - you’re on the cover of Model Railroader!
Spoiler: Nope, it doesn’t work that way.
So it is with robotics.
You’d think all you need to do is assemble the 'bot, add batteries, do some trivial programming, and - BLAMMO! - you have a 'bot that will bring you a cold beer from the 'fridge and then go wash the dishes.
Spoiler: Nope, it doesn’t work that way.
Robotics is much more complex.
(End side topic.)
After a number of false starts, smashing the thing into walls, (which is why it now has a bumper), running it off tables, and doing things I never imagined, I decided to name the beastie “Charlie” after Charlie the Tuna from the old Chicken of the Sea commercials.
Poor Charlie, he always wanted to be a Chicken of the Sea tuna, so he tried to show off how cultured he was - dressing in fancy suits, going to the opera or museum, or listening to classical music.
The result was always the same: “Sorry Charlie, we don’t want tuna with good taste, we want tuna that tastes good!”
So it is with my 'bot.
Like the hapless Charlie the Tuna, my 'bot tried and tried again, always coming up short of the mark.
So I decided to name it Charlie.
