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vex or parallax

damiandamian Posts: 2
edited 2006-03-07 18:06 in Robotics
i just picked up the vex starter and programming kits from radioshack a few days ago from radioshack for $300 w/ tax. im debating if i want to keep it for a project i'll be working on for the rest of the year. i feel like im cheating my way out with the vex kit because it's fairly plug and play, instead of using basic stamp and parallax components. however, i don't have any previous experience with building circuits or programming.

One of the biggest reasons I like the vex kit is the controller i can use to pan/tilt a camera while it is still running autonomously.. an even cooler way to do this would be to use my laptop to send the signal, but not sure where to start.. any info on this would be appreciated.

my biggest concern is how long it will take to learn how microprocessors and circuits work, and getting components wired. I've got about 4 solid months to build the chassis and wire components, then another 4 to program and finish any assembly. how long did it take you before being able to build a fairly simple setup? (im looking at using a 7 servos, ping, 2 ir sensors, and possibly a few pressure sensors)

also, the programming part of this is honors credit for a C programming class, and I see on the website it uses PBASIC. Is this similar to C, or can C still be used? thanks.

Comments

  • Bruce BatesBruce Bates Posts: 3,045
    edited 2006-03-06 05:09
    damian -

    The only language available for the Parallax PBASIC Stamp is a BASIC varient. No other languages are supported.

    Parallax also sells the SX Processor which can operate with SX/B, a Basic varient, or SX assembler, and I beleive there may be a C Compiler around for it as well, but it was not written by Parallax.

    I know nothing about the Vex System, so I'm of no help there.

    Regards,

    Bruce Bates

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  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2006-03-06 13:33
    Well, you are going in three directions at one time.· [noparse][[/noparse]Is that possible?]

    Vex has their own web site and it really can give you a better indication of what it will do than any of us here.· It will also give you a chance to compare it to Parallax's famous generous support.

    The second direction is C programing.·
    Not here yet.· So, you cannot really achieve much for your honors class by trying to wait for it.

    The third direction is Parallax.·
    If you do have to get a· C programible microprocessor, you may still want co-processors and other things that are supported here.· You are always welcome to come back when you find a need that we can fill.

    It is impossible to be all things to all people, but that doesn't mean that we can't be amongst the nicest to everyone.

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    "When all think alike, no one is thinking very much.' - Walter Lippmann (1889-1974)

    ······································································ Warm regards,····· G. Herzog [noparse][[/noparse]·黃鶴 ]·in Taiwan

    Post Edited (Kramer) : 3/6/2006 1:49:28 PM GMT
  • damiandamian Posts: 2
    edited 2006-03-06 14:41
    Haha, its possible to have three forces on you at once, but you can only go one direction (vector addition). and Parallax wins.

    The vex kit is being returned today. Not only will I be saving over $100 in hardware (even after their $120 sale), but I feel better not taking the easy way out. Plus if I can figure it out, I'll be driving the rover·via·my laptop with transmitter.
    I stayed up on the forums last night until 3am.
    Vex support is nonexistant compared to these forums.
    I think I'll be able to get by using BASIC·for·the project.

    If they don't let me use it for the "Intro to C++" class, I'll try to learn enough here by summer to test out of "Intro to BASIC" and take "Advanced Programming for BASIC". Neato.

    Thanks for the help to everyone on the forum.

    One question, to Kramer. What did you mean by saying c programming is "not here yet" ?
  • RsadeikaRsadeika Posts: 3,837
    edited 2006-03-06 15:23
    I believe Kramer was refering to the SX chip, it should have C available in the very near future. C for the SX is not going to be a freebe, you will have to pay for it.
  • voodoofishvoodoofish Posts: 67
    edited 2006-03-06 19:18
    you could use your C/C++ skills to write an interface for the stamp for doing serial communications or logging.
    Also, you should look at the javelin stamp. It uses a form of java.

    -Mark
  • Kenny GardnerKenny Gardner Posts: 169
    edited 2006-03-06 21:03
    even after their $120 sale

    What sale? Are they having one of their secret, nobody knows about it, not even the salesmen, sales?

    Kenny
    ·
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2006-03-07 05:11
    BTW, If you took a Java course, Parallax has a Java Stamp [noparse][[/noparse]the Javellin].

    And BTW, if you search Vex Servos on the Forum for the past 3 months, you will find Parallax's one and only discussion of the topic.

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    "When all think alike, no one is thinking very much.' - Walter Lippmann (1889-1974)

    ······································································ Warm regards,····· G. Herzog [noparse][[/noparse]·黃鶴 ]·in Taiwan

    Post Edited (Kramer) : 3/7/2006 6:11:21 AM GMT
  • allanlane5allanlane5 Posts: 3,815
    edited 2006-03-07 15:35
    I'm glad you're returning the VEX product. The programming package for it is yet another $100 investement, on top of the $300 for the initial package.

    The "not here yet" is because Parallax doesn't have a 'C' or 'C++' compiler for their product. They DO have the 'Javelin' chip, which is plug-compatible with the BS2, and is programmed in Java.

    And they do have the SX chip boards and packages. I believe www.picant.com/c2c has a very nice 'C' (and C++, and Pascal) compiler which integrates pretty well with the SX and SX-Key hardware. And c2c is not that expensive (another $100, sigh), but comes with an excellent native debugger.

    Probably the simplist, most reliable, least expensive package is the BOE-BOT with a BS2. Replace the BS2 with a Javelin processor, and you have quite a capable platform.

    Now, you could go with a MindStorms package from Lego. Program it in BrickX 'C' and it too can be a nice platform. But no matter what you do that package is going to look like a Lego toy.
  • Ryan ClarkeRyan Clarke Posts: 738
    edited 2006-03-07 18:06
    The C Compiler will be for the SX chips...

    We do have the Javelin (Java)...

    Using SX/B might be great for some honors stuff- tell your teacher you are programming in a hybrid ASM (assembly) mixed code- they will probably be very impressed by that. And SX/B is going strong...

    You could also hold off just a bit and get a Propeller ... but I'd suggest starting with the PBASIC~


    Ryan

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    Ryan Clarke
    Parallax Tech Support

    RClarke@Parallax.com
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