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Some missing links between programming a pic then using it. — Parallax Forums

Some missing links between programming a pic then using it.

PromagicPromagic Posts: 17
edited 2008-04-07 16:09 in Robotics
My ultimate goal is to build an "Auto-ant" or autonomous Antweight (Battle bot lingo for one pound)

Here is what I know I need:
Various sensors are needed
An electronic board to hold sensors and components
A Pic Programmer + software + Pic microcontroller

Here is what I have:
I have mastered the "What's a microcontroller" kit from radio shack
sound, touch, and light sensors

Trust me I have looked for hours trying to find answers on my own.....

There must be hundreds of programmers out there, from $10 to $150 I just want to program the dang thing, is any single programmer ok?

Ok the Pic is programmed so I stick it on a bread board..... now what? how do I wire it properly without killing the chip. I have an idea of what goes where but do I need any extra components or am I all set? .....just add 9v.....

If you teach me and I learn how to do all this stuff I will take the next newbie,
thanks,
Promagic

Comments

  • Paul Sr.Paul Sr. Posts: 435
    edited 2008-04-01 13:19
    If you "mastered the "What's a microcontroller" kit from radio shack", then you would know that it is about Basic Stamps, NOT PIC's.

    Sounds like you need to find yourself a PIC forum. Try this one: www.electro-tech-online.com/
  • allanlane5allanlane5 Posts: 3,815
    edited 2008-04-01 14:52
    A PIC circuit needs at a minimum a PIC chip and a resonator. A "resonator" is a three-pin device which contains within it an R-C network that oscillates at a particular frequency -- 20 MHz is typical for 16F876 type PIC chips.

    Now, you can use a BS2 24-pin module (which has on it a resonator, a linear regulator, a brown-out detector, an eeprom, and a 16C57 PIC chip) as your 'brain', in which case the only additional hardware you would need would be a BOE board to program the module.

    You could use an SX chip (which is a 'clone' PIC chip running at 50 MIPS) -- That has more resources, and Parallax sells a nice development kit for it.

    Oh, and MELabs has some nice PIC mounting boards, and programming hardware, and a compiler for the PIC -- but they're a little pricey ($300 or so for the compiler).
  • Larry SutherlandLarry Sutherland Posts: 77
    edited 2008-04-01 15:03
    Promagic

    When I started playing with "Whats a Microcontroller" I had all kinds of ideas/projects and quite frankly alot of questions.

    Explore this_

    http://www.parallax.com/Portals/0/Downloads/docs/prod/sic/SmartSensors-v1.0.pdf

    http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/

    Keep it simple learn with what you've got on hand.

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  • Chris SavageChris Savage Parallax Engineering Posts: 14,406
    edited 2008-04-01 16:58
    We can offer advice on BASIC Stamps, SX or Propeller Microcontrollers...If this is truly PIC-related then this thread will be tossed in the Sandbox.

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    Chris Savage
    Parallax Tech Support
  • allanlane5allanlane5 Posts: 3,815
    edited 2008-04-01 18:21
    No need to do that, I'm sure "promagic" wants an SX -- MUCH faster than a PIC, cheaper too, and Parallax sells target boards for them.
  • PromagicPromagic Posts: 17
    edited 2008-04-07 16:09
    Thank you everybody!
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