How do I give a radio control car autonomous control

[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

[mackrackit]

Did you order a PIC or two?

[Kenjones1935]

Dave and John,

I think the second item in this description of a Debug Express is a PIC16F887. Isn't that the micro that I need?

Features of PICkit 2 Debug Express:

* PICkit 2 Development Programmer/Debugger
* 44-pin demo board with PIC16F887 Midrange PIC microcontroller
The PIC16F887 may be debugged directly without any additional hardware.
* A series of 12 Lessons on assembly programming that cover I/O, A/D converters, timers, interrupts, and data tables (All source code files are provided)
* A Debugging Tutorial on using the PICkit 2 as a debugger with the MPLAB IDE (Ch. 4 of the PICkit 2 User’s Guide)
* Getting Started in C tutorial on developing and debugging in C with a FREE CCS PCM™ Midrange C Compiler Demo* for PIC16F887(contained on the PICkit 2 CD) *2kWord Program Limit.
* Getting Started in C tutorial on developing and debugging in C with a FREE HI-TECH PICC™ LITE C Compiler with MPLAB IDE
* FREE! Microchip’s MPLAB IDE software for a complete code development environment

----------------Yep. This should get me started--------------

This powerful yet easy-to-program (only 35 single word instructions) CMOS FLASH-based 8-bit microcontroller packs Microchip's powerful PIC® architecture into an 40- or 44-pin package.The PIC16F887 features 256 bytes of EEPROM data memory, self programming, an ICD, 2 Comparators, 14 channels of 10-bit Analog-to-Digital (A/D) converter, 1 capture/compare/PWM and 1 Enhanced capture/compare/PWM functions, a synchronous serial port that can be configured as either 3-wire Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI™) or the 2-wire Inter-Integrated Circuit (I²C™) bus and an Enhanced Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter (EUSART). All of these features make it ideal for more advanced level A/D applications in automotive, industrial, appliances or consumer applications.

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I am going to need a power supply as I would rather the PIC not share the battery that drives the motor. It is a 7.2v and has plenty of work cut out for it just making the car go fast. Initially I think the PIC gets its power off the USB cord.

I am going to need some relays and some surge eating capacitors.

I am going to need to drive the relay.

I'll need hook up wire and a soldering iron and solder and whatever the modern proto kit uses.

I'll need a light sensor and a way to give it tunnel vision.

What else??

Ken