[Coco] COCO Robot update.

[Frank Pittel]

Steve,

My understanding was that the robot control was to be built "in parts"
and that the OP was looking for a way to "blink" leds at random rates.
While that can be done with "discrete" electronics I've come to the conclusion
that these types of things are better done with microcontrollers (not microprocessors),
pics, etc. Let's face it $3 for an 8pin DIP microcontroller is going to be able
to do a lot more then $3 in 555 timers, resistors, caps, etc!

While the larger PICs are capable of doing a lot on there own they are by definition
intended to work under the control of a more capable processor. When I first started
working with them a year or so ago that fact went against the grain for me. I kept trying
to do everything with a single controller. Then it dawned on me that I'm better off using
2,3 chips of lower capability under the control of something more powerful then trying to
do it all from one very powerful chip.

Currently I'm working with the parallax "propeller" (an 8 "core" controller) and their discontinued
"SX" pics. Both can be programmed in Basic as well as assembly. The propeller can also be programmed
in forth and C!! As soon as I'm done with my current project I'm going to look into the picax. I think
it can be used for a number projects I have in mind. Unfortunately none involve the coco. :-(

The Other Frank


On Sat, Apr 07, 2012 at 08:28:56PM -0700, Steve Bjork wrote:
> I was not going to jump in this because there was very limited
> details to what he wants the eyes to look like and do.
> 
> But the Picaxe 08m2 only costs about $3.00.  (I've even see it for
> $2.50) and it will do everything the old Basic  stamp did and more.
> That about the same cost as a few 555 timers and do a lot more.
> 
> As for getting setup with the Picaxe system, it's basically free.
> You can build a programming cable out of your parts draw and hook up
> to a RS-232 port on a Linux, Mac or Windows system .  (The Windows
> software is still the best version.)  They do sell an USB programmer
> for those that don't have an Rs-232 port.
> 
> I just about done with a LED Thunder and Lightning device for my
> Halloween prop builders club with the $5 Picaxe 18m2+ chip and their
> $11 Power driver board.  Add an $10 MP3 player modules and it will
> Drive high power 12 volt LED lights for the Lightning and plays the
> thunder via the MP3 player.  The device even flickers LED flood
> lamps to light up the haunted scene with background fire light.
> 
> The program only uses about 800 byte of the total 2,048 on the chip.
> That's with both manual trigger and story mode in place.  I will use
> the extra code space for system setup for the dimming factor of the
> flickering LED lights.
> 
> These chips just don't have the code space for a full robot. But
> they can run little Robo-Bugs and other simple hacker projects.
> 
> Steve
> 
> 
> 
> On 4/7/2012 2:17 PM, Frank Pittel wrote:
> >You may want to look at the "picaxe" that Steve B. mentioned here on the list a while back.
> >Like the basic stamp they're programmed in basic. Although most models are limited in terms of
> >the number of IO pins they have the advantage of being VERY cheap to buy. As memory serves
> >their price starts at ~$3!! I'm sure we'll hear from Steve with more details! :-)
> >
> >The Other Frank
> >
> >
> >On Fri, Apr 06, 2012 at 11:27:43PM -0400, haywire666 at aol.com wrote:
> >>Coco powered robot has stalled. I have the mobile base going, head is almost done and basic frame good.
> >>
> >>
> >>I have some led eyes, does anyone know a simple circuit to ramdonly blink them?
> >>
> >>
> >>I may use a basic stamp for this but it seems like overkill. Just want to randomly blink the led eyes off then
> >>back on again. A stand alone animation that will operate independanty of the coco I suppose.
> >>
> >>
> >>I should say I don't want a stanard blinking rate, I want the blinks to vary. A turn signal flasher won't do.
> >>
> >>
> >>If I have to I'll use the basic stamp... But seems there must be a simpler way I'm not thinking of.
> >>
> >>
> >>Any thoughts?
> >>
> >>All ears,
> >>
> >>
> >>Steven
> >>
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