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Completely new at this

jtpty4jtpty4 Posts: 2
edited 2012-02-02 15:51 in General Discussion
Hello forum,

I'm Jarrett and I have no idea how to program or even put these circuits together. I'm an undergraduate Chemical Engineer. My project is to build a system where I start and stop a motor (for a shoebox size car) through a color change in a chemical reaction. I recently purchased a Basic Stamp 2 micro controller module (BS2-IC) along with a ColorPAL. My idea was to make a program that would turn the motors on initially and when the ColorPAL sensed a certain color wavelength (after a certain time) it would shut off the motor. So all I really need is to have the program start, which says to allow voltage/current from my battery go to the motor, at the same time the ColorPAL starts reading colors from my chemical reaction. When the color in my reaction hits a certain color, it tells the module which is programmed to tell the motor to stop or stop allowing voltage/current to keep flowing to the motor. I have 3 weeks to complete the project.

Initial problem I have (besides having no clue about programming or building the project in general), is that I only bought the module and the ColorPAL with no starter kit. So I don't know how to connect the module to my computer.

I would appreciate any help I can get, otherwise I'll have to try and figure it out myself. I apologize for the messy explanation, I will gladly answer any question about that.

Jarrett

Comments

  • ElectricAyeElectricAye Posts: 4,561
    edited 2012-02-01 23:23
    Welcome to the forum, Jarrett,

    Maybe go to this page:
    http://www.parallax.com/StoreSearchResults/tabid/768/txtSearch/wam/List/0/SortField/4/ProductID/139/Default.aspx

    and look at some of the free downloads listed under "Downloads and Resources."

    That should keep you busy for a while.
  • bsnutbsnut Posts: 521
    edited 2012-02-02 01:39
    I agree with ElectricAye and suggest this book "What's a Microcontroller which is free PDF file and it's a good start for beginners like yourself. It shows you how write code and wire the circuit based on the you wrote.
  • ElectricAyeElectricAye Posts: 4,561
    edited 2012-02-02 07:40
    Also be sure to have a look at the "Stamps in Class" projects, and BOE-BOT projects. Parallax has an enormous number of free downloads that will help you learn practically anything you need to know.

    http://www.parallax.com/tabid/768/txtSearch/wam/List/0/SortField/4/Default.aspx
  • jtpty4jtpty4 Posts: 2
    edited 2012-02-02 13:25
    Thank you for the replies, I will be sure to look at the text.
  • Invent-O-DocInvent-O-Doc Posts: 768
    edited 2012-02-02 15:51
    Welcome to the forum Jarrett.

    You are asking some very good questions. The Basic Stamp 2 is a good place to start for the kind of applications you are trying to do.

    I second the 'what is a microcontroller' book and some of the free materials available on the parallax website. Start with simple projects like blinking LEDs, using the serial terminal and then progress to turning on or off a motor. Once you have that down, then try the colorPAL. By then you will have all the experience you need to complete your project.

    Another recommendation is to buy the book "Microcontroller Applications Cookbook" by Matt Gilliland. It is a cheap book with multiple really short Basic Stamp examples of interfacing with hardware. (Examples are often 3-10 lines)
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