Project ideas

[ScaleRobotics]

Here are a few winning projects from a Parallax Propeller competition. Thought it might interest people here.

http://www.parallax.com/Resources/ApplicationsContests/Contests/200910PropellerContest/tabid/846/Default.aspx Winning projects page!


Winners:
http://www.parallax.com/Thumper/tabid/848/Default.aspx Harrison Pham, first place - Thumper
http://www.parallax.com/DAQPacAutomotiveDataLogger/tabid/849/Default.aspx Ryan David, second place - DAQPac
http://www.parallax.com/Sphinx/tabid/850/Default.aspx Michael Park, third place - Sphinx

Honorable Mentions:
http://www.parallax.com/PropFloppy/tabid/851/Default.aspx Sal Mustafa - Prop-Floppy
http://www.parallax.com/PropRTOS/tabid/852/Default.aspx Peter Van der Zee - Prop RTOS
http://www.parallax.com/PropellerPoweredRockBandRobot/tabid/853/Default.aspx Adam Stienecker - Propeller Powered Rock Band Robot

Special Recognition:
http://www.parallax.com/CNCMiniMillControlSystem/tabid/855/Default.aspx Ed Geckler - CNC Mill Control System
http://www.parallax.com/PropellerArcadeMachine/tabid/856/Default.aspx Jeff Ledger - Propeller Arcade Machine
http://www.parallax.com/XMSatelliteTracking/tabid/857/Default.aspx Thomas P. Sullivan - XM Satellite Tracking
http://www.parallax.com/PropEtcher/tabid/858/Default.aspx Michael Park - PropEtcher

[rsocor01]

scalerobotics,

All projects are very nice. I think the project with the "compiler" inside the propeller chip is very impressive. If I was asked to do this project with a PIC, I don't even know where to start from :).


http://www.parallax.com/Sphinx/tabid/850/Default.aspx

Robert

[ScaleRobotics]

I think the project with the "compiler" inside the propeller chip is very impressive.

If you liked that one, you might find this interesting as well. In a nutshell, this guy made his own operating system called StickOS, that allows you to program without having to worry about all the gory details. You can do this either by usb, ethernet, serial, or wireless ... and write all your code over that medium.

This guy is entertaining (at least to me), but he does talk a little fast. I had to watch all three videos. Pretty interesting stuff.

StickOS: http://www.cpustick.com/

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Product:
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=9645

[rsocor01]

Very nice. I had to watch all three videos too. It remainded me of when I used to program in QuickBasic.

Robert

[Art]

Some nice stuff there :)

[Bruce]

Anyone want to chip-in to have a couple PIC32 boards made to try StickOS? Looks pretty interesting.

I'll design the boards, and build them. We have a RoHS compliant reflow oven, and assembly station to place everything. If I can get a couple people to help split costs for boards & parts, I'll assemble them for free.

Just ordered samples for 3 x PIC32MX440F512H-80I/PT.

[ScaleRobotics]

Anyone want to chip-in to have a couple PIC32 boards made to try StickOS? Looks pretty interesting.


That sounds great!

Count me in Bruce!

Walter

[ScaleRobotics]

I got StickOS running on a Microchip Explorer 16 board with a PIC32MX360F512L chip, using the serial port. I must say, I like the simplicity of getting the analog reading from a pin. No ansel, tris, adcon .... etc

Just:



10 dim pot as pin an5 for analog input
20 print "potentiometer= ",pot


Pretty cute.

[Bruce]

Nice. I'm looking forward to goofing around with the StickOS.

Walter, looks like it's just us on the PIC32 boards so what would you prefer?

1. A small stick (BASIC Stamp) kinda board.
2. A somewhat larger board with room for prototyping circuits.

I was thinking headers around the PIC32 something like your Explorer16 PIM modules, and a prototyping area one could just run wires to for connections. With solder pads, and room for a small breadboard placed over pads.

Either one will be relatively small to keep board costs to a minimum, and be a kind of bare-bones type board with as few components as necessary for the StickOS.

[mark_s]

Bruce,

I would be interested in a board. StickOS looks interesting!

Thanks

Mark

[Bruce]

Hi Mark,

OK you're on the list..;)

Any comments on the board design questions above?

Also, I guess I should add, what kind of ICSP header?

I.E. one for a PICKit2/3, or these + say an MeLabs 10-pin U2 programmer?

That 10-pin header on a U2 takes up a lot of realestate, but we can include it if you guys want/need it.

[mackrackit]

I will get in on this if it is not to late.
I am using a PicKit2.
Something that could fit on a bread board for proto-typing would be OK for me. But it does not really matter.

[Bruce]

Hi Dave,

Done. You're in too.

Can any of you guys order more PIC32MX440F512H-80I/PT samples?

[mark_s]

Hi Mark,

OK you're on the list..;)

Any comments on the board design questions above?

Also, I guess I should add, what kind of ICSP header?

I.E. one for a PICKit2/3, or these + say an MeLabs 10-pin U2 programmer?

That 10-pin header on a U2 takes up a lot of realestate, but we can include it if you guys want/need it.

Great! As far as the ISP, I am fine with a 4 or 5 pin sip configuration. I use a MEL U2 programer with adaptors. I assume you have seen the Sparkfun StickOS board?

Best regards
Mark

[mackrackit]

Just tried ordering samples and got this


We currently do not accept orders for the selected shipping country.Thank you for your interest in Microchip.

Weird...

I can purchase some... How many do we need?

[Bruce]

I assume you have seen the Sparkfun StickOS board?
I have seen these. That's why I prefer to build my own. $39.95 for a board with not much on it is kinda steep..;)

[mackrackit]

Bruce,

I just ordered 4 and am having them shipped to your shop.


Estimated arrival date May 14.

[Bruce]

OK Dave. We'll have to factor-in your cost on the total. I have 3 samples coming, which I'm not charging anyone for.

[Bruce]

I'm taking this off-topic now. Please see the off topic area, and post whatever response you may have there.

[Bruce]

A heart-beat LED on a PIC32 processor running at 80MHz is pretty trivial stuff..;o)

But - please re-direct stuff on this topic to the new off-topic thread I just started.

[ScaleRobotics]

Here is the location of the StickOS thread that has been split:

http://www.picbasic.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=13240

[jrprogrammer]

I'm interested in this project ..Bruce, I can get 3 samples of the PIC32MX440F512H-80I/p. Let me know the cost (pm) please... Thanks,
Jim

[Bruce]

Jim,

We won't know the actual cost-per-board until the board CAD design is finished, and a complete BOM is made. I'll be making these in multiple-up panels so they break apart like crackers, so it's cheaper per board, but finished/assembled board prices won't be known until the design is completed.

If you get free engineering samples, just send them to me directly. We'll deduct the cost per controller from what you'll need to pay when the PCB design is ready, and we make the group buy.

Note: Anyone else that may be interested in this project, please submit questions, recommendations, etc to this thread; http://www.picbasic.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=13240 (http://www.picbasic.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=13240)

It's been moved to the off-topic area for a reason..:o