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