How do I give a radio control car autonomous control

[mackrackit]

The PicKit does have a voltage regulator built in. The software for it even has a place to set the voltage when using the PicKit2 for a power source.

If you are not using the PicKit2 for a power source the PicKit2 can read the chips voltage and display it.

AA batteries should run all day, but if you power from the motor batteries like Adam suggested then the PIC runs when the car runs. So does it matter? Maybe the motors will make some noise on the circuit? AA batteries would help in that case.

[Pic_User]

The PicKit does have a voltage regulator built in. The software for it even has a place to set the voltage when using the PicKit2 for a power source.

It is handy to just plug in the demo board and run your development project in the early experimental troubleshooting stages, without bothering with a power supply. Then when you need to add the whole circuit you can switch over to the battery pack.

If you do use the PicKit2 for a “power source” in some of the development stages, it is a good idea to run it through a “powered” USB hub.

That way, the powered hub can take the hit when it accidently gets shorted or connected to the wrong polarity. All computers have USB protection circuits but after reading forums for years, there are many people with damaged USB ports.

Don’t ask how I know things get shorted or mis-wired. Just guessing.

-Adam-

[Kenjones1935]

Nuts! is appropriate.

A diversion. The PC into which I had installed MPLAB and PIC BASIC PRO stopped working this afternoon.

There will be a delay in my pursuit of PICkit perfection.

Ken

[Kenjones1935]

Hello everyone.

My machine is back.

I need to know where PIC assembly language is defined. In what document?

I discovered while playing with a blinking program that

LOW PORTD.0
HIGH PORTD.1

and

PORTD = %10

Do not do the same thing. In particular PORTD = %10 clears all the rest of PORTD while the LOW and the HIGH BASIC commands only affects pins 0 and 1. (see below)

Another question. Is there an available document that would provide me with the assembly language interpretation for each PICBASIC PRO command? I found my answer in the .asm code, but I was hoping for an easier all encompassing document.

----snip from COMPLICATED_BLINK.asm--------
#define _PORTD??4 PORTD, 004h
#define _PORTD??5 PORTD, 005h
#define _PORTD??6 PORTD, 006h
#define _PORTD??7 PORTD, 007h
#define _PORTD??0 PORTD, 000h
#define _PORTD??1 PORTD, 001h
INCLUDE "COMPLI~1.MAC"
INCLUDE "PBPPIC14.LIB"

MOVE?CB 0C0h, ADCON0
HIGH?T _PORTD??4
HIGH?T _PORTD??5
HIGH?T _PORTD??6
HIGH?T _PORTD??7
-------end snip------------

My two Devantech Ultrasonic Range Finder SRF05 units just arrived by Fedex.
Soldering iron - here I come.

Ken

[Byte_Butcher]

Hey, good you made it back!

I'm afraid I try and avoid .ASM as much as possible, but if I was looking for the document where PIC ASM is defined.... I'd start with the data sheet for your PIC, in the section titled "Instruction set summary".

steve

[Kenjones1935]

I have printed 300 (ran out of paper) of 384 pages of the PIC16F88x Data Sheet 41291D. On page 231 I found "15.0 INSTRUCTION SET SUMMARY". This document has no Table of Contents.

I need help getting onto hardware prototyping. I am fifty miles from the nearest well stocked electronics components store. What I need is a list of items to purchase when I make the trip. If anyone has a photo I would greatly appreciate it.

I imagine soldering onto my PICKIT 2 connection wires with plugs or sockets. (male or female depending on which wire is 'hot') One or some for A/D converters, PWM input, PWM output, various sensors (sonic range finder and visual spectrum light sensor) and whatever else I might need (suggestions please).

I imagine attaching these various items to my inline proto boards again with wire and matching plugs or sockets.

What off the shelf items would make this 100 mile round trip fruitful.

Ken

[Byte_Butcher]

Hmmm. You have a 16F887, right?

The data sheet I have for it (41291F) is 328 pages and definitely has a table of contents....
It looks like pages 233 - 241 deal with the instruction set.
http://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/e...Doc/41291F.pdf

But you've got PICBASIC PRO, right? I don't think there's too much need for you to learn ASM unless it's just for educational experience. Why make things harder for a "first project"?

Before you go on a shopping spree, you should figure out what it takes to drive your motors and servos, etc and come up with a schematic or at least a block diagram of some kind.
I assume your car has a DC motor for drive, and a servo for steering position? How much current does the motor draw? You'll probably want one or more logic level MOSFET's to drive it.
I'd get a slab of punchboard to build your circuit on. You'll want a good selection of resistors and caps... If you use CDS cells to "see" light, then you'll want resistors to form voltage dividers with the CDS cells so you can easily measure with an ADC. Of course what values you need depends on many things... including which CDS cells you get. You'll probably want some fairly high value (100K) for gate to source resistors on your MOSFETS. You'll need some caps (maybe some .01 or .1 uF ceramic) for supply bypassing at your PIC and other chips.

Errr... who knows what else you'll need! I think you need more of a game plan, and at least a rough schematic before you drive 50 miles to shop....


steve

[Kenjones1935]

First things first.
I can try to make myself a circuit diagram with a pencil. Better yet I can learn how to use CAPTURE. Then I can share it. I'll give that a shot.

Microchip seems to make many products that interface directly with the 16F887. I have a problem picking out which are appropriate.

Thanks.

Ken