Multiple Prop Projects

Humanoido

Multiple Props Projects List
Add your multiple Propeller Project here

Two Props Projects
Mindrobots 2 props, Propeller Slave attached to a QuickStart Proto Board, 2 Props running the same Forth images. Connected via 57,600 bps serial link. No channels between Propellers. Slave functioning needs a terminal session. Additional clusters built as needed.
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?139751-Multi-Propeller-configurations-with-PropForth-v-5.0&highlight=SUPERCOMPUTER
Dr_Acula 2 props http://www.smarthome.viviti.com/propellerwww.smarthome.viviti.com/propeller
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?117996-Dracblade-SBC-with-Catalina-C-PropBasic-CP-M-MP-M-TRS80-wireless-network
Bill Henning Morpheus - 2 props
http://forums.parallax.com/showthrea...le-Prop-Design
http://mikronauts.com/products/morpheus/mikronauts.com/products/morpheus/
Jazzed Propalyzer - 2 props piggyback
http://forums.parallax.com/showthrea...for-Propalyzer
Obrien 2 props on a solderless breadboard
http://www.objectivej.com/hardware/propcluster/index.html
www.objectivej.com/hardware/propcluster/index.html
Ale 2 props, communicate via 4 bit parallel bus (Beau's 4-bit sync protocol)
kuroneko 2 props, RAMBlade 104MHz on demoboard (80MHz), 5Mb/s XLINK
Electricsmith 2 props hardwired on PCB with 2 lines connected between each
http://forums.parallax.com/showthrea...l=1#post928314
Humanoido 2-Prop-Experiment, 2 props, 1 PEK, 1 on same breadboard
Humanoido Spark 2, 2 props, 1 Proto Board & one in parallel
Humanoido PIGGY-TWINS, 2 props, one piggybacked on another
Humanoido Dueling Breadboards, 2 props, one on ea., f/interface tests
Humanoido BRAIN IN A JAR, 2 props, 1 breadboard, 1 jar
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?124495-Fill-the-Big-Brain&p=1014473#post1014473
Clock Loop Prop Dual Big Boy, 2 props
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?t=124343
Harley 2 props, requiring more than 32 I/Os and 8 cogs, the master Prop talks to another pcb with keypad and 7-segment + dp LEDs at one baud rate, and comm with 2nd Prop is at a higher rate. This is an attempt to replace some 55 TTL ICs.
nickL 2-prop Forth application
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?131047-Propeller-Forth-Interest-Group

Three Props Projects
Cluso99 TriBlade - 3 props on a circuit board, props working discretely http://bluemagic.biz/cluso.htmbluemagic.biz/cluso.htm
http://forums.parallax.com/forums/default.aspx?f=25&m=329999&p=1
Obrien 3 props stacking using Parallax Proto Boards
Obrien 3 props on a solderless breadboard
Christian 3 props
drohne235 The Hive Project - 3 props
http://hive-project.dehive-project.de
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?108848-my-propeller-funproject-hive-the-retrocomputer&p=771392
Heater 3 props on a TriBlade
Clock Loop Prop BigBoy 3 props versionhttp://forums.parallax.com/forums/attach.aspx?a=45006 forums.parallax.com/forums/attach.aspx?a=45006
Duane Degn Multi Prop Laboratory – 3 props (2 wired + 1 wireless) Added new link!
http://forums.parallax.com/showthrea...l=1#post927239
http://forums.parallax.com/showthrea...inuing-Project
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?130797-Mecanum-Wheeled-Robot-with-Machine-Vision
Destructinator 3 props, 1 master + 2 slaves on a solderless breadboard
http://forums.parallax.com/forums/default.aspx?f=25&p=2&m=472019forums.parallax.com/forums/default.aspx?f=25&p=2&m=472019
Loopy Byteloose 3 Propeller Stack
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?113876-Propeller-Super-Computer
kbash & Missouri Automation - 3 props, Multipropcom three Propellers on one circuit board communicate with each other using only two pins each
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?129237-multi-Propeller-communication

Four Props Projects
Clock Loop BlackBox Sequencer - 4 props
http://forums.parallax.com/forums/default.aspx?f=25&m=364607
Obrien 4 props on a solderless breadboard
Obrien 4 props proto board stack
Humanoido Spark 4, Tiny Tim, 4 props, two proto boards w/2 props on ea
Humanoido Tiny Tim, 4 props, experimental wiring platform
Jazzed TetraProp, printed circuit board with 4 props
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?131538-50-TetraProp(tm)-Boards-now-ready-to-ship-!

Five Props Projects
Obrien 5 props running off a single eeprom
kuroneko 5 props capacity, SpinStudio + 4 M-Modules + 1x1 PropMods
Clock Loop Prop BigBoy, 5 props version
http://forums.parallax.com/forums/attach.aspx?a=45021
http://forums.parallax.com/forums/default.aspx?f=25&m=473764
Humanoido Spark 5, 5 props stacked Proto Boards, Spark 6 forerunner
Brian Riley 5 props Multi-Prop PF5. PPUSB slaved to an original PP, both running EEPROM kernel, the PP has two 512 EEPROMs and the USB has one.

Six Props Projects
Cluso99 - SixBlade - 6 props with two boards
Humanoido - Spark 6, 6 props 3 proto boards 2 props on ea, led to Spark 8

Seven Props Projects
Clock Loop - Prop BigBoy, 7 props version
http://forums.parallax.com/forums/attach.aspx?a=45020
Mikediv - Quasi-Prop Tower, 7 props version
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?113876-Propeller-Super-Computer

Eight Props Projects
Obrien - 3-dimensional Hypercube, 8 props, 32 cores @ 4 per chip
http://www.objectivej.com/hardware/propcluster/index.html
http://www.leonheller.com/Propeller/KILOCORE.COM_files/a.htm
Jazzed - OctoProp 8 stacked props
Humanoido - Spark 8, Tertiary ADJUNCT, 8 props 4 proto boards 2 props on ea

Nine Props Projects
Clock Loop - Prop BigBoy, 9 props version
http://forums.parallax.com/forums/attach.aspx?a=45023

Ten Props Projects
Humanoido - Propalot - 10 props on solderless breadboard
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?120844-Propeller-Magazine-Propalot&p=890215
Humanoido - Spark 10, 10 props, 5 proto boards, 10 props total
Humanoido - TTB Test Bed of Ten, 10 props single board

Twelve Props Projects
Clock Loop 12 props, 3 black box sequencers in sync, each sequencer has 4 props
Humanoido - Twelvenator, aka Board of Twelve, 12 props on green board
DaveJenson - Test Station, 12 Props, 10 temp sensor boards talk to Master
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?t=124172&page=3

Thirteen Props Projects
BTX 13 props, one master + 12 slaves, hand assembled boards
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?93037-Multi-Propeller-board./page2
Yoichi Nagashima Shizuoka U, 13 Props, Dodeca Prop, 2 displays, 12 video monitors in SUAC

Fifteen Props Projects
Humanoido UltraSpark 15, 15 props, interrupted stack Proto Bds, photo available

Seventeen Props Projects
BTX - Multi Propeller Board 17 props, One is: Master - Keyboard - Video Out - SD card reader. And 16 slaves.
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?93037-Multi-Propeller-board./page4

TWENTY & OVER PROPS
Twenty Props Projects
Humanoido - Tertiary 20, 20 props, 15 proto boards stacked 5 props, photos
Humanoido - UltraSpark 20, 20 props stacked, photo, used for MLEPS
Humanoido - Boe-Bot Brain Project, 20 props

Twenty-One Props Projects
Humanoido - iBrain 21 Propeller boards, 168 Propeller Cogs, still growing

TWENTY-FIVE PROPS & OVER
Twenty-Five Props Projects
Humanoido - MLEPS Super Language Machine, 25 props

Twenty-Eight Props Projects
Clock Loop - Prop BigBoy, 28 props on breadboards
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?t=124343&page=3

Forty Props Projects
Humanoido - UltraSpark 40 Supermicrocontroller, 40 prop tower, 320 cores, 6,400/8,320 MIPS
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?123828-40-Props-in-a-Skyscraper&p=921524
Humanoido - Boe-Bot Largest Brain 40 props, 321 processors total
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?123909-Smartest-BoeBot&p=922262

FIFTY PROPS & OVER
FIFTY-FIVE PROPS
Clock Loop - The Perturbation Machine
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?127983-55-Parallax-Propeller-s-Parallells-Processing-of-Permanent-Perturbations55-Propeller
A machine with 1 master and 54 slaves, "432 cores, 1620 I/O, 150Kbps communication, word enumeration, 54 randomly generated IDs, To study the nature of randomness in a digital processor network using the same clock source, 54 prop chips were all connected to a master prop. I like having 1,620 I/O at my fingertips. To study the nature of randomness in a digital processor network using the same clock source, 54 prop chips were all connected to a master prop. The master prop holds the eeprom, and accepts prop plug input for memory/program download. The master prop controls the reset and clock lines for all 54 props. The master prop also sends all combinations of a word out broadcast to all 54 props that are connected bus network style.

When a slave prop sees its number broadcast on the bus line, it replys with the same number. Then the slave prop runs code depending on the number broadcast. Its possible to broadcast messages to all props, or single props, after the initial enumeration is done. Repeats are possible in any system that has reduced choices and increased speeds. If repeats are a worry, then a long sized variable should be used in the random ID generation. Enumeration of the Randomly generated ID's. Every step up in variable size reduces the speed that the whole system can communicate at due to more data being sent over the same speed pipe. The communicaiton speeds of the bus network can be increased with lower value resistors, but the power draw will increase, if the props are connected to the bus with lower values, one needs to adjust all other bus resistors in relation.

Having? You take 55 props, some programming (attached), a bag of 470 ohm resistors(500) (not attached), a 3.3v regulator (2A), a huge breadboard, wire, 57 leds. Using the Real Random object in the obex created by Chip Gracey. This object generates real random numbers by stimulating and tracking CTR PLL jitter. It requires one cog and at least 20MHz. 432 cores, 1,620 I/O, 64.8 A max peak draw - 10.8A continuous, @3.3v. 150kbps - communications using the same rx/tx lines for programming all 54 props. Word location enumeration of 54 randomly generated ID's"

ONE-HUNDRED PROPS
Humanoido The Propeller Big Brain (Build time = 1 Year)
http://humanoidolabs.blogspot.tw/p/this-is-about-informatin.html
The first working massive Machine Brain with 100 Parallax Propeller chips. Reached Semi-Cognizant state in 2011. The 800-Core Big Brain is a simple fun hobby project to run experiments and play with endless possibilities. Approximately 16,000 MIPS and 3,200 I/O ports. 3 Partitions - the 3rd is a Magic Floating Partition - holds any number of props from 1 to 50, allows removal & loan to other projects. Talk, sing, dream, learn, evolve, demonstrate Life, color TV, hearing, speech recognition, keyboard, mouse, 2 LCD displays, host boards, compatibility (Stamps, Props, PCs, Macs), sound out, mic in, stomach, Brain Base, Brain Spans, Brain Stem, EXOskeleton, multiple languages, over 100 x 64K distributed RAM/ROM, LED enabled, crystal/EEPROM supported, Mac/PC support computers, 3 TeraByte hard drives, Neural Matter Injector syncs & load props in parallel. Developed ParaP, AtOnce, EnhancedChip technologies - parallel-parallel operations, loading @ once, increase p^N, inject 100,000 Simplex Neurons. Expanding Array. Created modest RTOS - handles cogs, loading, timing, neural matter distribution. Cloning. Executes all-chip-multi-enumeration in a second. Expanding Arrays. HYBRID interface (Serial Communications, Daisy Chain Token Ring Topology, Prop to Prop, Parallel), RI Reduction Interface, AE Automatic Enumerator, Waveform Reliability Filter, No Parts Technology to reduce cost. Addendum: Many Spinoffs. New Big Brain Index: http://humanoidolabs.blogspot.tw/p/index.html

[The Big Brain was upgraded to include an open Partition and was expanded with more props]

RX Propeller Supercomputer
Humanoido Supercomputer made from 100 Propeller chips. This distributed parallel machine with 800 RISC computers qualifies as a retro supercomputer circa 1990s. With 1,600 Counters, 3,200 I/O, 6,400 K Bytes RAM/ROM, 16,000 MIPS theoretical. Proposed Propeller Supercomputer Kit with Schematic Diagram, Enumerator, Parallel Loader, Operations Algorithm, Applications Outline, Instructional PDF...
RX Propeller Supercomputer

OVER ONE-HUNDRED PROPS
100+ Hybrid Parallax Propeller Supercomputer
Humanoido Upgrade to the Big Brain. The most powerful TeraFLOPS machine made by Humanoido Labs. Reached equivalent supercomputing speed in 2012 comparable to the Top 500 List. A massive design with all available props exceeding 800 Propeller RISC processors and 729 Intel and AMD processors and 100,000 VIP Processors. Currently reached the 12th level. Utilized for the Ultra Space Program, Brain Enhancement and Projects. More Specs and Information at:
http://humanoidolabs.blogspot.tw/p/specs.html
http://humanoidolabs.blogspot.tw/p/index.html
http://humanoidolabs.blogspot.tw/2012/01/big-brain-era.html
http://humanoidolabs.blogspot.tw/p/this-is-about-informatin.html

Numerous other massive Propeller based machines listed here.

Multiple Prop Designs, Works in Progress
Now reporting on evidenced projects
Michael O'Brien
OBrien Labs: Distributed Parallel Processing
"80 Parallax Propeller 8-core microcontroller based parallel processing computer in progress... And now we start the process of getting an 80 propeller chip / 640 core multiprocessor working. Why 640 cores? In early 2008 i became increasingly interested in hardware based parallelism. The majority of the design and defect issues we are seeing in enterprise software tools development involve concurrent processes and how to fully utilize available cores in existing and future systems. Parallization of software is a huge problem, i decided to approach this from the additional view of "bottom-up" engineering - by designing and writing "architecture-aware" simple systems to start.

A "base-case" architecture would initially do away with microprocessors all together and design a purely parallel machine with very simple cores - like a 1-bit symbolic ALU consisting of a few logic gates. We could realize this custom machine using standard (since the 70's) TTL HSCMOS chips or even a single FPGA. The parallizable algorithm of choice is cellular automata for a symbolic machine or the Mandelbrot set for a floating point machine - we will implement the 256 function/1-dimensional/2-state Wolfram CA in hardware for our first base case parallel machine. The PCAM implements a boolean function of 3 variables (left,center and right cells on a cell array) - this function has 2^2^n states or 256. This 8 bit byte fits very nicely in the 74 TTL logic family as a single 151/251 data selector can be used as the core of each ALU.

Before I start the process of designing modular 2-8 chip boards for a near production prototype - my workspace does not fit more than 40 breadboards on a what - a whiteboard. We will be encountering issues like power/voltage loading, parasitic capacitance, TTL-HSCMOS fanout and placing at least 4000 wires. Not to mention the hardest part of the process - the software. Here is part of our 80 propeller 640 core propeller multiprocessor prototype in progress - see you in a couple months. You can follow progress of the kilocore prototype on the kilocore.blogspot.com blog."

Laser-Vector 2-props, establish wireless data link over long distance
Bigfoot computer designed physical cube of 6 SMT props - not built
Duane Degn Multi Prop Lab, 6 props (4 wired + 2 wireless), design only
http://forums.parallax.com/forums/?f=25&m=474065&g=474065#m474065
Mctrivia CAD Designed a breakaway board for 8 SMT props
http://forums.parallax.com/forums/default.aspx?f=25&m=429487
Obrien The photo at kilokore web site shows partial assembly of 68 props being wired on breadboards. We await more information and details. According to Obrien, he is using the techniques developed by Clock Loop.
http://www.kilocore.com/
http://www.objectivej.com/hardware/propcluster/_IMG_0031_pac_bboard_2_of_10_partial_completion_640h.jpg
Mctrivia propComputer, idea for 7 props on one board
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?111725-Genius-or-Insanity-7-Propellers-on-1-board.
Cluso99 - pcb, 10 x TriBlades count as 30 but never actually built. The TriBlade pcb was built as 2x5 panels of TriBlades and are broken apart later.
http://www.cluso.bluemagic.bizwww.cluso.bluemagic.biz
Cluso99 - pcb, 10 x RamBlades count as 10 but never actually operated. The RamBlade pcb was built as 2x5 panels of RamBlades and are broken apart after assembly.
http://www.cluso.bluemagic.bizwww.cluso.bluemagic.biz)
Jazzed - multiprop pcb. IIRC, 30 prop pcbs on a panel

Contributors
Ale
Bigfoot
Bill Henning
Brian Riley
BTX
Christian
Clock Loop
Cluso99
DaveJenson
Destructinator
Dr_Acula
Drohne235
Duane Degn
Electricsmith
Harley
Heater
Humanoido
Jazzed
Kbash
Kuroneko
Laser-Vector
Loopy Byteloose
Mctrivia
Mikediv
Michael O'Brien
Mindrobots
Missouri Automaton
Nglordi (nickL)
Yoichi Nagashima

Dr_Acula

40 props in one machine? Yikes! Next it will be a moon base and planning World Domination.

I do like the skyscraper. Very impressive. My network only has two propellers so far. But once I get some software written, who knows, maybe I will be eying off your skyscraper from my base on Mars *grin*

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www.smarthome.viviti.com/propeller

Humanoido

Dr_Acula said...
40 props in one machine? Yikes! Next it will be a moon base and planning World Domination. I do like the skyscraper. Very impressive. My network only has two propellers so far. But once I get some software written, who knows, maybe I will be eying off your skyscraper from my base on Mars *grin*

Dr_Acula, 40 props? That's the baby of the designs. Unfortunately (or fortunately, haha), I didn't get enough props to complete the big one.

The amazing DracBlade SBC is added to the list. In discovering your new web site, I didn't realize the DracBlade could do so many things. I can see you were very busy expanding it.

A lunar space program is not far fetched. BTW, when you get your Mars base set up, I have a completed Martian Weather Prediction package and a Mars map set that covers the complete surface. Let’s make a deal. [noparse]:)[/noparse]

Humanoido

heater

Does xmodem work with the time lags of communication over interplanetary distances[noparse]:)[/noparse]

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For me, the past is not over yet.

Martin Hodge

Awesome stack!

Humanoido

heater said...
Does xmodem work with the time lags of communication over interplanetary distances[noparse]:)[/noparse]

It does work, just don't shut it off. [noparse]:)[/noparse] You can data stream the signal from the Moon to Earth or from Earth to Mars. Even though a single communication burst has real time point to point delay of significance, it can come in continuously. This is likely how we'll communicate, even with recycled retro equipment to keep our costs down. It's all about timing too. Approximately every two years, Mars reaches opposition to Earth. It may be a favorable or unfavorable one, with Earth to Mars distances ranging from 35 million miles on out to 200 million. So communicating at the speed of light will have some delay, more or less, and it's wise to plan your future vacations accordingly. [noparse]:)[/noparse]

humanoido

heater

Not so easy. An xmodem receiver sends a "C" to initiate transmission of a file. If nothing is received after 3 seconds it will send anther "C" and so on.

So if your machines are separated by 140,000,000,000 meters you have a problem even getting started. The receive end will have sent 310 "C"s before it gets a packet.

If it does get stated with a packet it will soon fail again as the inter packet time out is only 1 second.

But I think Dr_A has some tweaks to xmodem to help in these cases[noparse]:)[/noparse]

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For me, the past is not over yet.

Humanoido

Forget XMODEM standards. The modem doesn't need to send anything in reply on the same channel. This is a one way communication data stream on this channel so it just listens (it picks up on markers and goes from there). If you want to transmit, another channel can do it. If part of the first message was lost (i.e. someone was not listening (fell asleep), Earth rotated, blocked by a planetary body, solar storm, antenna jilted, etc.), just listen in to the next repeating cycle during favorable conditions.

Humanoido

Cluso99

You can always try moonbounce first LOL.

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Links to other interesting threads:

· Home of the MultiBladeProps: TriBlade,·RamBlade,·SixBlade, website
· Single Board Computer:·3 Propeller ICs·and a·TriBladeProp board (ZiCog Z80 Emulator)
· Prop Tools under Development or Completed (Index)
· Emulators: CPUs Z80 etc; Micros Altair etc;· Terminals·VT100 etc; (Index) ZiCog (Z80) , MoCog (6809)·
· Prop OS: SphinxOS·, PropDos , PropCmd··· Search the Propeller forums·(uses advanced Google search)
My cruising website is: ·www.bluemagic.biz·· MultiBlade Props: www.cluso.bluemagic.biz

Humanoido

Cluso99 said...
You can always try moonbounce first LOL.

You'll need to go to the Moon and install a motorized reflector array. Unfortunately the three arrays left by the Apollo astronauts are static corner reflector arrays designed to reflect the signal back to the exact same source.


Apollo 11 left the first reflector array on the surface of the Moon.

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humanoido
*Stamp SEED Supercomputer *Basic Stamp Supercomputer *TriCore Stamp Supercomputer
*Minuscule Stamp Supercomputer *Tiny Stamp Supercomputer *Penguin with 12 Brains
*BASIC Stamp Supercomputing Book *Three Dimensional Computer *StampOne News!
*Penguin Tech *Penguin Robot Society *Humanoid Toddler Robot
*Ultimate List Prop Languages *Prop-a-Lot *Propalot Stuff *Prop SC Computer
*Prop Skyscraper *Hobby Space Program *Smart BoeBot
http://forums.parallax.com/forums/default.aspx?f=6&m=469004
*Multiprop Project List - http://forums.parallax.com/forums/default.aspx?f=25&m=472019

Martin Hodge

That photo is a hoax, you can see the strings holding it up. [noparse];)[/noparse]

Humanoido

Martin Hodge said...
That photo is a hoax, you can see the strings holding it up. [noparse];)[/noparse]

Martin, the photo is very real and so is the string. It's the string that leads back to the Earth from the Moon, so astronauts could "feel" their way back home without becoming lost if something failed on the LEM. [noparse]:)[/noparse]

Humanoido

Ok, has anyone put together a project with 2 or more props who is not on the list (see the first post)? I feel like we are missing some people and their projects.

humanoido

heater

Three Props here on a TriBlade. All used at some time but never at the same time working together so I don't think it counts yet.

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For me, the past is not over yet.

Ale

humanoido:

Yes I have a project with 2 props, they communicate via a 4 bit parallel bus (Beau's 4-bit sync protocol).

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Visit some of my articles at Propeller Wiki:
MATH on the propeller propeller.wikispaces.com/MATH
pPropQL: propeller.wikispaces.com/pPropQL
pPropQL020: propeller.wikispaces.com/pPropQL020
OMU for the pPropQL/020 propeller.wikispaces.com/OMU
pPropellerSim - A propeller simulator for ASM development sourceforge.net/projects/ppropellersim

Cluso99

You don't need a reflector on the moon - moonbounce was conducted by amateurs (hams) in the late 60's before we landed on the moon. They just bounce microwaves off the moons surface - a bit of hit-and-miss really.

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Links to other interesting threads:

· Home of the MultiBladeProps: TriBlade,·RamBlade,·SixBlade, website
· Single Board Computer:·3 Propeller ICs·and a·TriBladeProp board (ZiCog Z80 Emulator)
· Prop Tools under Development or Completed (Index)
· Emulators: CPUs Z80 etc; Micros Altair etc;· Terminals·VT100 etc; (Index) ZiCog (Z80) , MoCog (6809)·
· Prop OS: SphinxOS·, PropDos , PropCmd··· Search the Propeller forums·(uses advanced Google search)
My cruising website is: ·www.bluemagic.biz·· MultiBlade Props: www.cluso.bluemagic.biz

Harley

@Humanoido,

I must have missed this thread. I have a design using two Props due to needing more than 32 I/Os and 8 cogs. The master Prop talks to another pcb with keypad and 7-segment + dp LEDs at one baud rate, and comm with 2nd Prop is at a higher rate. This is an attempt to replace some 55 TTL ICs; it is now down to about 18 ICs.

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Harley Shanko

Humanoido

The multiple props project list is being updated. (see the 1st post on page 1)

Distinct classes are now made for built projects and designed only projects.
The divisions for the number of props are now very clear.
Also included now are projects built from connecting together board variants,
like a RAMBlade and Demo board.. more on this later.

If you know of a multiple prop project, and it's not on the list yet, please
let us know!

Humanoido

Humanoido

Added another division for above 40 props projects.. These are currently "designed" projects in various stages of construction but not yet completed. The concept of recycling all smaller machines into the next larger machine is being adapted to minimize the requirement for the number of prop chips. Comments on this approach are welcomed. Currently the largest completed machine is the UltraSpark 40 which used all the previous prop projects.

humanoido

Humanoido

added kuroneko's projects.

kuroneko takes a SpinStudio mainboard which already has one prop and adds four M-Module connectors to add on four PropMods for a potential capacity of 5 props. The project is at the experimental parts stage only.

More information about SpinStudio and the connector:
propeller.wikispaces.com/SpinStudio
ucontroller.com/documentation/mainboarddoc.pdf
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?p=892643
For more information about the PropMod
propmodule.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=58
Photo here
http://forums.parallax.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=0

humanoido

Post Edited (Humanoido) : 8/1/2010 6:29:50 AM GMT

Humanoido

Added the Prop BigBoy project series by Clook Loop.
Allows programming of multiple props at the same time.
Great job!

Prop BigBoy three props version
http://forums.parallax.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=72078

Prop BigBoy five props version.
http://forums.parallax.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=72088
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?p=926934

Prop BigBoy seven prop version
http://forums.parallax.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=72087

Prop BigBoy nine props version
http://forums.parallax.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=72089

Clock Loop said...
I made a program and schematic that shows a single propeller that can program 2 or more propeller chips at the same time on the same RX, TX, RESET, CLOCK lines. I structured it around the Locomotive "BigBoy" because the parallel programming makes some redundancy possible. The propeller loader can be used to program propeller chips in parallel. I do not know the accuracy of how "parallel" the internal programs are really running, but because all props run from a single clock, the difference if present, could be calculated and accounted for. The clocks of each prop could even be modulated to align prop chips internal programs. (each prop would then need its own clock line)

Humanoido

Cluso99 said...
You don't need a reflector on the moon - moonbounce was conducted by amateurs (hams) in the late 60's before we landed on the moon. They just bounce microwaves off the moons surface - a bit of hit-and-miss really.

It looks like EME Moonbounce systems are still popular today.

www.nitehawk.com/rasmit/ws1_1.html
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EME_%28communications%29

Earth to Moon is approximately 270,000 miles, so the angles are steep and more direct. One can compensate for significant Dopper at maximum during sunrise and sunset. It could take some really large antenna and powerful transmitter to use a planetary body (Mars, Mercury, Venus, or asteroid) as a tertiary high angled reflector, over 80 million miles away. The angle will come into effect as glancing angles are too weak for a proper signal light-up for communications and at some point the Doppler will limit out. A proposed computer program could data base the bodies and do the calculations to "hop" to find the best planetary/asteroid communications node, at which point the antenna could lock on and beam the signal. The signal will also slide with time, so a Calculus derivative sliding frequency compensator is necessary to adjust the frequency rate of change, or some electronics buff can create a a lock-on signal board version.

"Earth-Moon-Earth, also known as moon bounce, is a radio communications technique which relies on the propagation of radio waves from an Earth-based transmitter directed via reflection from the surface of the Moon back to an Earth-based receiver."

humanoido

Duane Degn

Humanoido,

I start discribing my multi Prop project but it got so long I decide to start a new thread rather than take over this one.

Here's the link.

If wireless counts I'm up to six Props.

Duane

Humanoido

Duane:

Updated the list to include your two remarkable multiple Propeller projects. These are two of the first wireless prop projects!

Duane Degn Multi Prop Laboratory – 3 props (2 wired and 1 wireless)
http://forums.parallax.com/forums/default.aspx?f=25&m=472019
http://forums.parallax.com/forums/?f=25&m=474065&g=474065#m474065
Duane Degn Multi Prop Laboratory – 6 props (4 wired and 2 wireless), design only
http://forums.parallax.com/forums/?f=25&m=474065&g=474065#m474065

Humanoido

Duane Degn said...
How does wireless communication Props fit into this? I have a two Props working together with a wired communication line (TTL). One of the Props is mainly used to drive a 1280 x 1024 VGA display with a secondary task of driving an Emic module. The display board is a slave to a master board monitoring two balances, a spectrometer and a barcode reader. The master board records the data on a USB datalogger and also transmits the data wirelessly across the room where the data is backed up on a SD card with an added timestamp. The data is also displayed on a TV from the SD backup Prop board. So if wireless Props are counted, I have a three Prop system. If only wired connections count, I presently use a two Prop system. Most of the boards mentioned are Prop Proto Boards. I lost a voltage regulator on my SD backup board so I'm now using a PPDB to temporarily replace the Prop Proto board.

If you're also keeping track of planned projects, I'm in the midst of upgrading my system to four wired Props and two wireless Props. The additional wireless Prop (on board F) is attached to a second barcode reader so we (myself and employees) won't have to be tethered to the Prop master datalogging board. The master datalogger (board A) and slave VGA (board C) will be changed to a four Prop (wired) system. There will two Prop Proto boards (boards A & C) joined together (physically and electrically) by a third board with a Prop. This third board (board is small (2" x 2") and doesn't have its own voltage regulators. It will share board A's power. Board C might also share board A's power. I'm adding memory (Winbond 2MByte flash) to board A and I will be logging data on another SD card instead of the USB datalogger (I don't really like the USB datalogger). The additional memory will be used as part of a primitive database so the Propeller (hopefully) will be able to find mistakes in data entry as they occur. Board A will also have a XBee (replacing a Nordic tranceiver). Board B will take on most of the data collecting tasks. I'll add a serial connection that will monitor pH and I'll likely have additional data (analog) from the spectrometer to record. Board B will format the data collected and relay it to board A. Board A will send record (with a time stamp) the data received to a SD card and transmit the data via XBee to the backup logger (board E). Board A will also send the data to board C for display and will also send items to be outputed audiably from the Emic (warnings, errors, etc.).

You might have noticed I skipped board D. Board D with receive commands from board A, either directly or via board C, and display data (or when there isn't new data, the time) on a six digit seven-segment 6.5" tall (the digits) display (this looks so cool). Board D (perf board with a DIP Prop) is physically connected to a larger circuit board with and array of 36 (6 x 6) high power LEDs. There are also 18 smaller LEDs around the sides and front of the array. A rack of 36 cuvettes (optical test tubes) will be placed on top of this LED array so cuvettes needing to be filled with a sample of inserted into the spectrometer will be identified faster and more reliably (this LED array looks cool too). Board D has nine, one meter, wires running to the previously mentioned seven-segment display. One the back of the display is a circiut board with six high power shift registers (the digits are common anode). Six of the nine wires control the shift registers and the remain wires are 12V, 5V and ground connections (it's strange not having 3.3V on a board but this board doesn't have its own Propeller chip).

The backup board (E) and wireless barcode board (F) both have XBees to communicate with board A and each other. Board E will have a GPS unit attached to update the time occasionally since the real time clocks I'm using aren't particularly accurate. Board C, which drives a 19" 1280 x 1024 VGA monitor, breaks the screen into eight vertical columns of 9 characters each (with one unused character between columns). I double space the rows so 16 rows can be displayed per column. I didn't want the newest data to appear in the bottom right corner of the screen once the display filled with data so programmed the display to push old data down and display the newest data in the top left corner. Data progresses from top to bottom of the far left column and once data reaches the bottom of the first column it then progresses to the top of the second column and so forth. This allows 128 data elements to remain on the screen at once with the most recent data in the top left corner of the screen and the oldest data in the bottom right corner of the screen. Board C also has two PS/2 ports (boards E (backup) and F (wireless barcode) each have a single PS/2 port). I haven't used any of the PS/2 ports yet.

All of the hardware is complete on these boards but I still ave ways to go with the software. The data base programming will be the most difficult. I might have to connect a PC to the system to program a useful data base. So additional plans for the future: (I have most the hardware for these) Use a Hydra XPort (or other ethernet device) to send automatically generated emails reporting the results of the tests performed. Use stepper motors attached to each of the four spectrometer nobs to automatically adjust and calibrate the spectrometer. Use stepper motors to maneuver a platform above a lab table. A robot arm will be suspended from the platform and the robot arm will pickup a vial, place in the balance, wait for the mass to be recorded and then return the vial to an appropriate place and continue with the next vial.

Humanoido

Heater said...
Three Props here on a TriBlade. All used at some time but never at the same time working together so I don't think it counts yet.

All three props are working, if not connected, and have their assigned lot in life. It's a bit technical as to what applies and what does not apply. Though, you could add a simple wire and connect the props. Plus, they are on the same board in the same design and assembly. While not exactly parallel in the hardware sense, they are multiple props computing at the same time, in parallel. Plus, they have 3*8=24 tiny RISC processors that perform work at the same time to achieve various functions. I have included your project.

humanoido

Cluso99

humaniodo: RamBlade was designed primarily as a 2 prop solution. It is the memory prop and was designed to plug into another prop pcb such as the Prop ProtoBoard. While it can standalone, that was not it's initial design criteria.

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Links to other interesting threads:

· Home of the MultiBladeProps: TriBlade,·RamBlade,·SixBlade, website
· Single Board Computer:·3 Propeller ICs·and a·TriBladeProp board (ZiCog Z80 Emulator)
· Prop Tools under Development or Completed (Index)
· Emulators: CPUs Z80 etc; Micros Altair etc;· Terminals·VT100 etc; (Index) ZiCog (Z80) , MoCog (6809)·
· Prop OS: SphinxOS·, PropDos , PropCmd··· Search the Propeller forums·(uses advanced Google search)
My cruising website is: ·www.bluemagic.biz·· MultiBlade Props: www.cluso.bluemagic.biz

Humanoido

Cluso99 said...
humaniodo: RamBlade was designed primarily as a 2 prop solution. It is the memory prop and was designed to plug into another prop pcb such as the Prop ProtoBoard. While it can standalone, that was not it's initial design criteria.

Cluso99: thank you for the RAMBlade overview and a description of its intended functioning. I see at least one entry on the list where RAMBlade is being used with a Demo Board to create a multiple prop project (with 2 props total). This is listed in the Two Prop Projects category. The author is Kuroneko. Kuroneko also cleverly combines a SpinStudio board + 4 M-Modules + 1x1 PropMods, giving a 5-prop total system. We are beginning to see new "hybrid" projects involving a combination of various prop boards. Given the versatility and usefulness of the RAMBlade, it would not be surprising to see more projects that incorporate it into the overall project design, and utilize it for memory functions as well as other adaptations.

humanoido

Humanoido

Added Spark 5 project.

We are now referencing available photos for projects.

humanoido

Destructinator

I have built a system using 3 propeller modules. One as a master to control 2 slaves using variant based input. It allows for the propeller to do much more than previously expected. The master module runs one set of code, while the 2 slaves run the same set of coding. The Master is the one that receives input signals from items such as a pushbutton or whatever, then it reacts according to its coding and sends a signal via the correct pin to one or both of the slaves. The slaves then react to the input from the master and since they are both running the same code, they react the same, but you can have different output methods such as a servo and a LED or whatever. Either way, it allows the propeller to run 16 processes simultaneously without worrying about connections or anything. Then again, I built mine on a piece of breadboard so I just used jumper wires, but it can also be applied to a PCB. I call the method of coding Global code, on account of the fact that more than one chip uses the same set of code and that code is subject to the master which is essentially global.

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"Reach into a pocketful of dreams, now before they fall out of the seams" - Billy Talent, Pocketful of Dreams

Humanoido

Destructinator: your 3-props project is added to the list.
Great project! Do you have a Parallax Forum thread or
web site url?

humanoido

Destructinator

Im affraid that I do not have a website or a thred for this, but Ill work on building a site soon for all my projects. Ill update with the site address when its up. Ive also posted some documents from a project I was working on that inspired this propeller project. It was an anatomically correct robotic arm for those who are interested. The images are some simple coding that can be used in this configuration. In this case when a pushbutton is depressed, it sends a signal to the slaves who will both react exactly the same, but they can have different output methods. This allows you to do a lot more tasks with less coding

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"Reach into a pocketful of dreams, now before they fall out of the seams" - Billy Talent, Pocketful of Dreams

Post Edited (Destructinator) : 8/3/2010 12:21:18 PM GMT