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[DPRG] ROBOBIOS
Subject: [DPRG] ROBOBIOS
From: David P. Anderson
dpa at io.isem.smu.edu
Date: Thu Sep 27 12:41:22 CDT 2001
Howdy
Great research Sluggy! Seems like this might be the intro
to a great overview-of-robot-microcontrollers article, yes?
I like the idea of being able to offer example code for reading
the home-brew pittman motor Hamamatsu encoders, single channel
and quadrature, for different CPUs. We seem to have collectively
a lot of experience on various hardware, especially PIC, HC11 and 8031.
Suppose we could come up with a simple API and have different folks code
it for different hardware. Perhaps even for different languages, though
my own preference would be C so we could use the same gcc compiler for
all platforms.
I can code the HC11 flavor. Any volunteers?
Off the top of my head the encoder API definitions might look like:
int encoder_init(); /* initialize, setup interrupts, whatever */
int encoder_deinit(); /* shut it off */
int encoder_reset(mask); /* reset an encoder count to 0 */
int encoder_read(mask); /* return a current encoder count */
If we can get a common library started, we might end up with our own
DPRG standard ROBOBIOS.
dpa
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sluggy wrote:
>
> Dan Miner wrote:
>
> > Only slightly serious: this is actually possible now with
> > the complexity of FPGAs. There were a series of articles
> > in Circuit Cellar within the last year where a guy described
> > how to do this. You could (in theory) pick your favorite
> > parts of every CPU and blend them into YOUR favorite CPU!
>
> Indeed, I have read some articles about people who made their own CPUs
> in programable logic.
>
> Along that line, I am still seeking basic information on HDL for someone
> with no exposure to it at all. It might turn out to be simple, but thus
> far, nothing I've found makes sense to me. I'm missing some key info,
> apparently.
>
> > Reality is - it's much cheaper and easier to just pick one
> > that's available that you like and go with it. Currently
> > I'm using a Motorola 68HC12 (and HC11)
>
> I have even found burglar alarm control panels that were based on
> HC11s...
>
> In a quick non-scientific survey, I have found that Motorola chips seem
> to be used most often in systems that have a lot of I/O. My PBX systems
> (mostly Mitel) use 6809, 68000, 68020, 6502, etc. and Cisco routers use
> Motorola products.
>
> Intel, namely the 8031 family, are very thick in communications gear.
> Teltrend circuit packs, Telco Systems channel bank cards, Adtran CSUs,
> etc have them. I think the Mars Sojourner Rover had Intel parts on it.
>
> Microchip and TI seem to show up more often in consumer goods. I have
> two different parallel port cameras that have Microchip parts in them
> and I remember seeing TI parts in other goods.
>
> I'm sure there are countless exceptions, but that's what it looks like
> from here :)
>
> > but the fairly new
> > Texas Inst. MSP430 family is looking more interesting as I
> > look further.
>
> Jeff Bachiochi of Circuit Cellar fame has been playing with those
> lately...
>
> Sluggy!
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