BASIC Stamp Limitations
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Posts: 46,084
Ok... I have my robot with it's BS2SX working great so far. However, I
still have LOTS of sensors that I haven't even hooked up yet. I have both
Sonar and IR out the front and it doesn't have much trouble avoiding walls,
toys, even chairs (it has ran over the cat a few times though). However, I
want more, and I've ran into a problem. Here's a list of what I have
connected so far:
(2) 12-volt DC Motors w/ controller
(1) Polaroid 6500 Series Sonar
(1) Sharp GP2D02 IR Distance Sensor
(1) PAK-IV I/O Coprocessor
(1) MO16B Output Co-Processor
(1) Serial LCD
(1) Piezo Buzzer
That's not very much in my opinion. I'd also like to use the pulse encoders
on the wheels (I have the encoder disks and pulse encoders installed but
can't use them), SC-01 based speech (it's a HERO-1 Speech Board that is
currently working great interfaced to a BS2 on a BOE that I'm using to
prototype with and that's the reason for the MO16B), a two-axis
accelerometer, two CDS photocells, four PIR's, four SRF04 Ultrasonic Range
Finders, Dinsmore 1490 digital compass, microphone for detecting audio
(8-bit resolution), etc.
The problem is I don't have any space left for any variables. Can't do much
without variables! I've tried using aliases but that usually gets things
all messed up. I'm using the smallest possible size for everything.
What I'm finding is, the limitation isn't the number of I/O pins available
(I've got MORE than enough)...or even program space (only used about 1k so
far). It's the variables. Does anyone have ANY suggestions other than
networking multiple BS2SX modules? Or am I trying to do way too much with a
BASIC Stamp? I'm about ready to give up on the STAMP and go to a BX-24 or a
68HC11. Can someone please give me a good reason NOT to jump ship on this
one?
Thanks,
Brice
still have LOTS of sensors that I haven't even hooked up yet. I have both
Sonar and IR out the front and it doesn't have much trouble avoiding walls,
toys, even chairs (it has ran over the cat a few times though). However, I
want more, and I've ran into a problem. Here's a list of what I have
connected so far:
(2) 12-volt DC Motors w/ controller
(1) Polaroid 6500 Series Sonar
(1) Sharp GP2D02 IR Distance Sensor
(1) PAK-IV I/O Coprocessor
(1) MO16B Output Co-Processor
(1) Serial LCD
(1) Piezo Buzzer
That's not very much in my opinion. I'd also like to use the pulse encoders
on the wheels (I have the encoder disks and pulse encoders installed but
can't use them), SC-01 based speech (it's a HERO-1 Speech Board that is
currently working great interfaced to a BS2 on a BOE that I'm using to
prototype with and that's the reason for the MO16B), a two-axis
accelerometer, two CDS photocells, four PIR's, four SRF04 Ultrasonic Range
Finders, Dinsmore 1490 digital compass, microphone for detecting audio
(8-bit resolution), etc.
The problem is I don't have any space left for any variables. Can't do much
without variables! I've tried using aliases but that usually gets things
all messed up. I'm using the smallest possible size for everything.
What I'm finding is, the limitation isn't the number of I/O pins available
(I've got MORE than enough)...or even program space (only used about 1k so
far). It's the variables. Does anyone have ANY suggestions other than
networking multiple BS2SX modules? Or am I trying to do way too much with a
BASIC Stamp? I'm about ready to give up on the STAMP and go to a BX-24 or a
68HC11. Can someone please give me a good reason NOT to jump ship on this
one?
Thanks,
Brice
Comments
Log onto www.parallaxinc.com, I think some of the other "new" stamps have
more variable space. Also, contact Al Williams @ www.al-williams.com. He has
products that may help, and also lots of great advice.
Now for my problem, do you know of any "touchless" ground speed sensors??
Please e-mail any suggestions, or call me at 888-920-7746.
Thanks,
Shannon[/font]
camera that 'films' the surface where they are on, and by comparing frames,
work out displacement and thus speed.
Mike
Mensaje original
De: moretraction@a... [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=89uuC9xQKB4k3tjl2h4ZglUxNLCYyuKh1RdQpIK4FjD4OwGnrM2F706Liy44G9C_UV9l-sRHBR_WQHhBmeEp]moretraction@a...[/url
Enviado el: sabado, 17 de febrero de 2001 19:19
Para: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
Asunto: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] BASIC Stamp Limitations
Brice,
Log onto www.parallaxinc.com, I think some of the other "new" stamps have
more variable space. Also, contact Al Williams @ www.al-williams.com. He has
products that may help, and also lots of great advice.
Now for my problem, do you know of any "touchless" ground speed sensors??
Please e-mail any suggestions, or call me at 888-920-7746.
Thanks,
Shannon
>without variables! I've tried using aliases but that usually gets things
>all messed up. I'm using the smallest possible size for everything.
>
>What I'm finding is, the limitation isn't the number of I/O pins available
>(I've got MORE than enough)...or even program space (only used about 1k so
>far). It's the variables. Does anyone have ANY suggestions other than
>networking multiple BS2SX modules? Or am I trying to do way too much with a
How about the scratchpad RAM, is it gone too? 63 byte in the BS2SX
and 128 in the new BS2P.
If you need lots more RAM (like 8k or 32 k bytes), consider the
RAMPAK-B from Parallax or from:
http://www.solutions-cubed.com/
-- Tracy
had the problem that the string I needed to input into a Stamp via serial
port was larger than it's RAM, even scratchpad.
Sometimes, you just have to admit that a particular device is not suited for
a particular application, and to me, the Stamp is not suited for anything
involving serious amounts of data flow, for example, reading an SMS message
from a mobile phone. These can have up to 160 characters, and so to read it
fully means reading the same message eight times, in 20 characters at a
time. Obviously this is so time consuming that it becomes inpractical.
All the best,
Mike
>
Mensaje original
> De: Tracy Allen [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=N_DMf-LGbys3u3hcFNRYjZSWUU9lFQ_Rz0atbo-FQUDIEtx6UWJUe3j8pnywKAjBL30ClqZesg51X5lpRQ]tracy@e...[/url
> Enviado el: sabado, 17 de febrero de 2001 22:19
> Para: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
> Asunto: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] BASIC Stamp Limitations
>
>
> >The problem is I don't have any space left for any variables.
> Can't do much
> >without variables! I've tried using aliases but that usually gets things
> >all messed up. I'm using the smallest possible size for everything.
> >
> >What I'm finding is, the limitation isn't the number of I/O pins
> available
> >(I've got MORE than enough)...or even program space (only used
> about 1k so
> >far). It's the variables. Does anyone have ANY suggestions other than
> >networking multiple BS2SX modules? Or am I trying to do way too
> much with a
>
> How about the scratchpad RAM, is it gone too? 63 byte in the BS2SX
> and 128 in the new BS2P.
>
> If you need lots more RAM (like 8k or 32 k bytes), consider the
> RAMPAK-B from Parallax or from:
> http://www.solutions-cubed.com/
>
>
> -- Tracy
>
>
>
>
be streamed directly into the scratchpad RAM. It can accomodate up to
127 bytes in one chunk.
serin dpin,baudmode,[noparse][[/noparse]SPSTR\127]
' collects 127 bytes directly into the scratchpad RAM, BS2P only
Of course, that is not going to help in cases where a fifo buffer is
needed to buffer incoming characters until the stamp is ready for
them. There are some alternatives, such as the serial buffer Al
Williams wrote up for the SXtech course, or the MAX3100, or the
RAMPAK B fifo.
I'd be first to admit that the Stamp is not the best fit for any
intensive serial port activity. Sometimes it is fun to push a
minimalist technology through a few bottlenecks!
-- best regards,
Tracy
>The problem with external RAM is that it needs to be serially addressed. I
>had the problem that the string I needed to input into a Stamp via serial
>port was larger than it's RAM, even scratchpad.
>
>Sometimes, you just have to admit that a particular device is not suited for
>a particular application, and to me, the Stamp is not suited for anything
>involving serious amounts of data flow, for example, reading an SMS message
>from a mobile phone. These can have up to 160 characters, and so to read it
>fully means reading the same message eight times, in 20 characters at a
>time. Obviously this is so time consuming that it becomes inpractical.
>
>All the best,
>
>Mike
>
> >
Mensaje original
> > De: Tracy Allen [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=XeA1VIh2j6Kzuv32DFetOnQOL5vtSS0Pryk_r_C3mGcS1-7mPPKRFf0WsjXp2F5hKiSFOEL9RpjbeIO-Ww]tracy@e...[/url
> > Enviado el: sabado, 17 de febrero de 2001 22:19
> > Para: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
> > Asunto: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] BASIC Stamp Limitations
> >
> >
> > >The problem is I don't have any space left for any variables.
> > Can't do much
> > >without variables! I've tried using aliases but that usually gets things
> > >all messed up. I'm using the smallest possible size for everything.
> > >
> > >What I'm finding is, the limitation isn't the number of I/O pins
> > available
> > >(I've got MORE than enough)...or even program space (only used
> > about 1k so
> > >far). It's the variables. Does anyone have ANY suggestions other than
> > >networking multiple BS2SX modules? Or am I trying to do way too
> > much with a
> >
> > How about the scratchpad RAM, is it gone too? 63 byte in the BS2SX
> > and 128 in the new BS2P.
> >
> > If you need lots more RAM (like 8k or 32 k bytes), consider the
> > RAMPAK-B from Parallax or from:
> > http://www.solutions-cubed.com/
> >
> >
> > -- Tracy
> >
> >
> >
> >
lately. Is there software for the BS2 to run the
MAX3100 easily?
>From: Tracy Allen <tracy@e...>
>Reply-To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
>To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: RE: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] BASIC Stamp Limitations
>Date: Sun, 18 Feb 2001 23:40:45 -0800
>
>The BS2P has a new serial modifier that allows serial input bytes to
>be streamed directly into the scratchpad RAM. It can accomodate up to
>127 bytes in one chunk.
>
> serin dpin,baudmode,[noparse][[/noparse]SPSTR\127]
> ' collects 127 bytes directly into the scratchpad RAM, BS2P only
>
>
>Of course, that is not going to help in cases where a fifo buffer is
>needed to buffer incoming characters until the stamp is ready for
>them. There are some alternatives, such as the serial buffer Al
>Williams wrote up for the SXtech course, or the MAX3100, or the
>RAMPAK B fifo.
>
>I'd be first to admit that the Stamp is not the best fit for any
>intensive serial port activity. Sometimes it is fun to push a
>minimalist technology through a few bottlenecks!
>
> -- best regards,
> Tracy
>
>
>
>
> >The problem with external RAM is that it needs to be serially addressed.
>I
> >had the problem that the string I needed to input into a Stamp via serial
> >port was larger than it's RAM, even scratchpad.
> >
> >Sometimes, you just have to admit that a particular device is not suited
>for
> >a particular application, and to me, the Stamp is not suited for anything
> >involving serious amounts of data flow, for example, reading an SMS
>message
> >from a mobile phone. These can have up to 160 characters, and so to read
>it
> >fully means reading the same message eight times, in 20 characters at a
> >time. Obviously this is so time consuming that it becomes inpractical.
> >
> >All the best,
> >
> >Mike
> >
> > >
Mensaje original
> > > De: Tracy Allen [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=-ablH1G2BZAH19AU_BORkGiUpTpba0UcMUvlSUUp4-P7J_IKPHiLy2WPslOGQQfoMuQy_1WaupdzW0o]tracy@e...[/url
> > > Enviado el: sabado, 17 de febrero de 2001 22:19
> > > Para: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
> > > Asunto: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] BASIC Stamp Limitations
> > >
> > >
> > > >The problem is I don't have any space left for any variables.
> > > Can't do much
> > > >without variables! I've tried using aliases but that usually gets
>things
> > > >all messed up. I'm using the smallest possible size for everything.
> > > >
> > > >What I'm finding is, the limitation isn't the number of I/O pins
> > > available
> > > >(I've got MORE than enough)...or even program space (only used
> > > about 1k so
> > > >far). It's the variables. Does anyone have ANY suggestions other
>than
> > > >networking multiple BS2SX modules? Or am I trying to do way too
> > > much with a
> > >
> > > How about the scratchpad RAM, is it gone too? 63 byte in the BS2SX
> > > and 128 in the new BS2P.
> > >
> > > If you need lots more RAM (like 8k or 32 k bytes), consider the
> > > RAMPAK-B from Parallax or from:
> > > http://www.solutions-cubed.com/
> > >
> > >
> > > -- Tracy
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
>
>
>
>
_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com
3110. I think the code is the same (the 3100 doesn't have level conversion
maybe?). An ex-project of the month.
Regards,
Al Williams
AWC
* Floating point math for the Stamp, PIC, SX, or any microcontroller:
http://www.al-williams.com/awce/pak1.htm
>
Original Message
> From: Pete Parr [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=7BvPwJQXNswJHW7PyHYpsfIGiuXdNFgORvgaLgilCMTk3EMJwCdNPOfIM__WN4C_8aZ-IUzaHtq4Va_ouw]parr11@h...[/url
> Sent: Monday, February 19, 2001 10:29 AM
> To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: RE: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] BASIC Stamp Limitations
>
>
> I have seen the MAX 3100 mentioned several times
> lately. Is there software for the BS2 to run the
> MAX3100 easily?
>