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What's the best Parallax offering to learn the Propeller? — Parallax Forums

What's the best Parallax offering to learn the Propeller?

Too_Many_ToolsToo_Many_Tools Posts: 765
edited 2013-12-18 17:41 in Propeller 1
I would like to work with the Propeller...what Parallax offering would you recommend?

Thanks
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Comments

  • potatoheadpotatohead Posts: 10,261
    edited 2013-12-15 17:00
    If price doesn't matter, I recommend the Professional Development Board, which you then use with the labs you can download here. If I were you, I would refine your query to include some of the near term goals you may have, along with what you think makes sense for spending.

    The answers will vary and they will be better for you.
  • jazzedjazzed Posts: 11,803
    edited 2013-12-15 17:38
    Language is a personal choice based in large part on what you already know.

    Of the Parallax offerings:
    SPIN is a good general purpose language, and that gets the most support on the Propeller forum.
    If you have never seen any programming language before, use the BasicStamp.
    If you have some C/C++ background or need to learn C, use the Propeller-C learn program.
  • cavelambcavelamb Posts: 720
    edited 2013-12-15 17:52
    A little different focus, the best offering to learn Propeller stuff is a QuickStart board and Spin.

    If one is already competent in C then C would be worth setting up for the Propeller.
    But if not, don't bother. Spin will get you up and running a lot faster than having to learn
    C and Propeller at the same time. Much broader support bases as well. So yes, Spin.

    The Pro Development board has all the bells and whistles and a breadboard too.

    But the Quick is considerably cheaper,

    and it runs off of USB power (simplifying that as well).

    Just grab a QuickStart at Radio Shack and get started.
  • Duane DegnDuane Degn Posts: 10,588
    edited 2013-12-16 01:34
    cavelamb wrote: »
    A little different focus, the best offering to learn Propeller stuff is a QuickStart board and Spin.

    +1

    You can do a lot with a QuickStart.

    Here's a thread with some QuickStart demos and links to projects using the QuickStart.

    I used a QuickStart to control my popsicle stick robot, remote controlled Roomba, my Mecanum wheeled robot and Rover 5. It's a nice little board. It can even independently control 32 servos without additional hardware (except power supply). There are links to all these projects in post #2 of my index (see signature). Many are also mentioned in the QuickStart thread I just mentioned.

    BTW, Post #3 of my index has list of links to Propeller tutorials.
  • GordonMcCombGordonMcComb Posts: 3,366
    edited 2013-12-16 08:09
    I'd opt for an Activity Board, or if you want to experiment with video, the PropBOE. Any Prop board will enable the same course of learning, but these boards have nifty things already on them. For example, they both have ADC inputs, so you can save yourself the time wiring them yourself. They both also have sockets for XBee; it's a 30 second job to add wireless to any project.

    Though they position the Activity Board with Prop C, it can still be programmed in Spin, of course.
  • hapaluahapalua Posts: 149
    edited 2013-12-16 16:47
    Can I make a big 5 foot tall robot using the Activity Board? Haha
  • mindrobotsmindrobots Posts: 6,506
    edited 2013-12-16 17:37
    No.

    Read Application Note AN-0036. It outlines the height restrictions for the various Propeller boards. The max for the Activity board is 4 feet 9 inches. To go beyond that, you need to upgrade to a Propeller Board of Education or else use two Activity Boards.

    Did you know you can't even use a Demo board in a robot?

    Better read all the documentation!


    ** :innocent: tenretnI eht no daer uoy gnihtyreve eveileb t'noD
  • Too_Many_ToolsToo_Many_Tools Posts: 765
    edited 2013-12-16 20:56
    Thanks for the suggestions so far.

    My interest is to work with the architecture...having other resources on the board is nice as has been pointed out.

    I have had experience with various languages and with parallel programming so specific language is not a deciding issue.
  • hapaluahapalua Posts: 149
    edited 2013-12-17 10:03
    But the point is that I can make a robot that is 4 foot 9 inches with the Activity Board. And where is this application note an-0036? I cant find it . Can you put a link for me?
    Thanks Mister! Show me the documentation and why I cant use a demo board in a robot and what is a demo board by the way?
  • jazzedjazzed Posts: 11,803
    edited 2013-12-17 10:08
    hapalua wrote: »
    And where is this application note an-0036? I cant find it . Can you put a link for me?
    It is normally at http://www.parallaxsemiconductor.com/

    That site seems to be down at the moment. Maybe someone forgot to pay the bills.
  • hapaluahapalua Posts: 149
    edited 2013-12-17 10:34
    how would you go about building a robot that is at least 4 foot 9 inches in height with the proppeller mindrobot!? =)
  • Too_Many_ToolsToo_Many_Tools Posts: 765
    edited 2013-12-17 11:11
    Again thanks for the info folks...the parallel architecture of the Propeller reminds me of the Transputer of the 80s...does it help to play disco music when you code for it?As for our troll, if he was serious he would want to build his Lego robot in the metric scale of nanometers since the devil is in the details.
  • hapaluahapalua Posts: 149
    edited 2013-12-17 11:17
    I can't wait for mind robots answer
  • Duane DegnDuane Degn Posts: 10,588
    edited 2013-12-17 11:31
    Luke, You of course know the size of a robot has just about nothing to do with what is used to control it? You could make a 9' robot with relays for brains. Mindrobot was razzing you about this.
  • hapaluahapalua Posts: 149
    edited 2013-12-17 11:41
    Thanks Duane :)
  • mindrobotsmindrobots Posts: 6,506
    edited 2013-12-17 13:07
    Did you read the disclaimer at the bottom of my post?

    Duane was correct, size and brains have no correlation!

    I was just bejng feisty !
  • Too_Many_ToolsToo_Many_Tools Posts: 765
    edited 2013-12-17 14:07
    Size DOES matter!
  • hapaluahapalua Posts: 149
    edited 2013-12-17 15:29
    Final question and this goes to anybody. Should I purchase a fun little Scribbler S2 robot or an Activity Board which I have big plans for a 4 foot tall robot?
  • Mike GreenMike Green Posts: 23,101
    edited 2013-12-17 15:43
    For robots, weight distribution does matter so it won't topple over. Size and weight may affect the size of motors needed to move the various parts of the robot, but it doesn't affect what sort of controller you might need. For a simple robot with a few servo motors (4-5), I'd recommend the Activity Board. For lots of servo motors, a Propeller Servo Controller with an Activity Board or Board of Education would be great. For DC motors, you probably would use some other company's motor controller like Pololu's although you could use Parallax's HB-25 which looks like a servo motor to the robot controller.
  • hapaluahapalua Posts: 149
    edited 2013-12-17 15:53
    Thanks Mike as usual.
  • hapaluahapalua Posts: 149
    edited 2013-12-17 16:08
    DC motors are the big ones correct? I might make a small robot first controlled via xbee receiver and then build a bigger robot. I'm still stuck about the scribbler s2 robot though. Oh choices give me a headache. :)
  • cavelambcavelamb Posts: 720
    edited 2013-12-17 16:08
    hapalua wrote: »
    Thanks Mike as usual.

    +1 Mike


    Here is my QuickStart controlled robot...
    http://www.home.earthlink.net/~cave-1
    It's more like 4 inches tall..
  • hapaluahapalua Posts: 149
    edited 2013-12-17 16:17
    Scribbler or Activity Board arghhhhhh! Sorry!!
  • Duane DegnDuane Degn Posts: 10,588
    edited 2013-12-17 16:22
    I haven't built any really "large" robots but I'm pretty sure I understand what would be required to do so. The main difference is the size of motors/servos needed. Controlling high currents require different wires and motor controllers than those used in small robots but the theory of operation remains the same.

    To control lots of servos, I'd go with a Propeller Project board since it has all the I/O pins available and it only costs $25.

    The Activity Board is good for getting to know what the Propeller can do. The Propeller Demo Board and Propeller Board of Education are also good boards for getting a basic understanding of the Propeller. Once you start making a custom robot, you probably won't need all the feature of the Activity Board so you'd want to use the less expense Propeller Project Board or Propeller Proto Board so you're not wasting pins and money on unneeded peripherals.

    If you want a cheap Propeller robot, I'd just get a Project board and a couple of servos. There are several threads showing how to make an inexpensive robot with a Propeller brain (including mine). The ActivityBot has extra bells and whistles and tutorials on how to use them but it's certainly possible to make a nice robot for much less money than the price of the ActivityBot (not that I don't think the AB is a good value).
  • hapaluahapalua Posts: 149
    edited 2013-12-17 16:46
    The question still stands.... Activity board or scribbler s2 although I'm starting to lean towards the activity board
  • hapaluahapalua Posts: 149
    edited 2013-12-17 18:13
    Activity board it is . I will build Vicki the robot from the 90s
  • NWCCTVNWCCTV Posts: 3,629
    edited 2013-12-17 19:00
    For a more permanent solution the Propeller Project Board would work great.
  • hapaluahapalua Posts: 149
    edited 2013-12-17 19:46
    Ya,,,, but i need that tutorial lesson thingy that the Activity Board offers. I have no experience soldering or using the propeller whatsoever. The cheaper price of the project board is tempting though
    .I wish there were a way i could use it but i need a manual or tutorial. I also want the xbee thing so that i could control the board wirelessly as well. what do you think ?
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2013-12-17 20:13
    Definitely go for the ActivityBoard!The price/performance ratio is nealry optimum for your requirements, plus you get the all that http://learn.parallax.com goodness! For free!

    -Phil
  • rogersydrogersyd Posts: 223
    edited 2013-12-18 08:33
    hapalua wrote: »
    Final question and this goes to anybody. Should I purchase a fun little Scribbler S2 robot or an Activity Board which I have big plans for a 4 foot tall robot?

    If you are into tinkering with hardware, go with an expandable platform like the boe chasis with an activity or education board. If software is more you thing, the S2 has sensors and encoders built into her and ready to go and the S2 is on sale right now...) There are many other robotic platforms avialble on the market that could be used with a propeller based board - you dont HAVE to stick with a parallax platform.
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