pbasic, ping))) and roaming

mcarames

Hello guys and Happy New Year,
I am Manuel Carames a professor of math & physics. I am new to Parallax and to everything behind it.
I want to ask you the following: is it possible to download for free the PBasic software; after I have the PBasic what hardware platform do I need to use to train myself and the last but not the least, can any of you tell me how with the PING))) sensor can I find the free spaces between obstacle?
Thank you very much.
manolo

Andy Lindsay (Parallax)

In our Teach area at learn.parallax.com, there's an overview of subject vs. equipment. I'd recommend clicking around in there:

http://learn.parallax.com/teach/subjects-overview

On your software/hardware questions, the software is free, and the hardware is very affordable:

http://learn.parallax.com/teach/pbasic-programming-basic-stamp
http://www.parallax.com/product/90005
http://www.parallax.com/product/28832

There is a tutorial about going to a particular object that addresses finding the width of the object. A similar approach can be applied to finding the widest space. It's two of the entries on this page:

http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php/82013-Stamps-in-Class-quot-Mini-Projects-quot

...and here they are:

http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php/86110-Ping%29%29%29Dar-a-Radar-Style-Display
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php/86111-Boe-Bot-Ping%29%29%29-Rangefinder-Scan-for-and-Go-to-Closest-Object

One side note. There's a similar program for Propeller C. Although it doesn't discuss that particular challenge yet, floating point calculations and the math library reduce the programming challenge in solving these types of problems:

http://learn.parallax.com/teach/c-programming-multicore-propeller
http://learn.parallax.com/propeller-c-tutorials
http://learn.parallax.com/activitybot

Genetix

Since your are an educator give Parallax a call and speak to someone in the Education department. They can also give you to access the Educator forum.

Welcome to the forums.

mcarames

Good morning and Thank You Andy, Good morning and Thank You Genexis.
I will try to be in the educational forum.
Thank you again
manolo