How do I give a radio control car autonomous control

[Kenjones1935]

I have on my computer screen the 101 page PICaxe Manual1.

I don't think I have enough ink to print all 101 pages. I am too old to be comfortable with reading a whole manual on screen. Sigh...

Ken

[John_Mac]

No perfect solution....

PICAxe are MicrChip CPUs that have a bootloader installed so you don't need a programmer to program them. You can't buy any old PIC and make it work, but apparently there are PICAxe chips that look like PIC family. Also don't know their availability, nor cost. The nice thing is that the PICAxe kit comes with the power supply, proto board etc, much like the Basic Stamp which makes prototyping easy. Also looks like it works with MPLAB IDE (free) and the free MicroChip compilers.

To go with the standard PIC route (which is what I do), you will need a programmer like the PICKIT2 on the MicroChip site (not the dev kit, just tthe programmer and USB cable). Then you would need to build up a proto board. Many places sell these in various sizes as well as the jumper cables to hook up your project. You will need to provide a regulated +5 VDC to the board using something like a 7805 regulator and caps. You will need a 5 pin 0.1" header to connect the PICKIT2 programmer to the board to program the PIC. Buy a few PIC's, caps, resistors etc. You download the free MPLAB IDE and C compiler (or buy the PICBASIC compiler to use BASIC. This gets you to a point you can start wiring up a circuit and debug some code.

Unless you start making PCBs, you might keep your project on a proto board with all the components and get another proto board for the next project. Places like Radio Shack and Fry's Electronics sell these boards for a few bucks.

If you go to the MicroChip site, you can get a list of what chips have what capabilities. Might look at 8 bit processors. On of the chips I use is the 16F88. It has 7K of program space, 1 PWM/Capture hardware port, 7 channels of ADC, 3 timers, and 2 comparators. Plenty of capability to get started.

I have already discussed the Basic Stamp system.

So all depends on how much "ready to go" or "DIY" you want. I think people learn a lot more in the end with the DIY approach, but for people that are easily frustrated, not so good.

As you can see, I went the PIC route (although I used a different programmer).

So now you get to decide. Good luck.

John

[Kenjones1935]

John,

You suggested that I use a PICaxe kit that contains a power supply and a proto board etc.

Trouble is I have been trying to figure out which one that is.

Would you be willing to suggest a PICaxe kit model number.

Ken

[John_Mac]

Hmmmm

Don't think I recommended PICAxe...Dave wrote something on it. I just noted that you need special PICs.

Maybe you didn't read my last post.

I'm reluctant to recommend a specific approach, since it depends on what your really want to do. I tried to give the pros and cons of the various systems. For my own personal likes/needs, I went with the PIC route (not PICaxe) described in my last post.

Once you choose which approach you want to take, I can provide specifics.

Best,

John

[mackrackit]

Don't think I recommended PICAxe...Dave wrote something on it. I just noted that you need special PICs.

not me.
I say get a PIC and a PicKit2 and be done with it.
I never have used a picaxe and do not have any plans to.
Get the real thing and pick a language and get started!

[John_Mac]

My mistake Dave///not sure how PICaxe came up come to think of it.


Git er done!

[Kenjones1935]

I did it. I am not sure what I did, but it will get me started. In addition there is a local Radio Shack just a couple miles down the road.
The Microchip Store WEB page said:
DV164121 - PICkit 2 Debug Express

23-Nov-2009 25-Nov-2009 49.99 1
I will need more, but at least I will have something.

Ken