inserting into with an incrementing value - sql

Question

The best way I can think to explain this is: I'm trying to give each robot a unique id. Then, when I run the procedure, I only have to give the robot a name and id. The status are generated for me.
However, I am reaching a total roadblock because I can't find out the proper way to do this. I've tried counting the rows and putting it into tempid. That doesn't work. A new row is made every time I run it. So, I should always get a new id. I might have done it wrong though.
I get this error:
Error(23,44): PL/SQL: ORA-00984: column not allowed here
Here is the procedure:
CREATE OR replace PROCEDURE Checkbot
(nameinput IN VARCHAR2)
IS
partfound NUMBER(4);
foundall BOOLEAN;
tempid NUMBER;
BEGIN
--Where I am having issues:
SELECT Count(*)
INTO tempid
FROM robotinventory;
INSERT INTO robotinventory VALUES (tempid, nameinput, NULL);
foundall := TRUE;
FOR i IN 1..8 LOOP
partfound := 0;
SELECT Max(prtserial)
INTO partfound
FROM partinventory
WHERE parttypeid = i;
IF partfound > 0 THEN
DELETE FROM partinventory
WHERE prtserial = partfound;
INSERT INTO robotprt VALUES (tempid, idinput, i);
ELSE
foundall := FALSE;
END IF;
END LOOP;
IF foundall THEN
UPDATE robotinventory
SET status = 'ready for assembly'
WHERE robotid = tempid;
ELSE
UPDATE robotinventory
SET status = 'waiting on parts'
WHERE robotid = tempid;
END IF;
END;/
robot inventory table:
CREATE TABLE RobotInventory
(RobotID Number(4) PRIMARY KEY,
RobotName VARCHAR2(24),
Status VARCHAR2(64));
Previous version of my code, took out what I did wrong in mine, my goal is to replace idInput with an auto incrementing number:
create or replace procedure checkbot
(idInput in number, nameInput in varchar2)
is
partFound number(4);
foundAll boolean;
begin
insert into robotInventory values (idInput, nameInput, null);
foundAll := true;
for i in 1..8 loop
partFound := 0;
select max(prtSerial)
into partFound
from partInventory
where ParttypeID = i;
if partFound > 0 then
delete from partInventory
where prtSerial = partFound;
insert into robotPrt values (partFound, idInput, i);
else
foundAll := false;
end if;
end loop;
if foundAll then
update robotInventory
set status = 'ready for assembly'
where robotID = idInput;
else
update robotInventory
set status = 'waiting on parts'
where robotID = idInput;
end if;
END;
/

Answer 1

Create a sequence (called seq below) and use it in your INSERT SQL to populate robot_id.
INSERT INTO robotinventory VALUES (seq.nextval, nameinput, NULL);
Look at Oracle docs on how to create a sequence in more detail. Here is an example that you can change to fit your needs.
create sequence seq
start with 1
increment by 1
maxvalue 9999;
HTH