Parallax Educators Courses
Andy Lindsay (Parallax)
Posts: 1,919
This post is a place holder for introduction and overview.
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Andy Lindsay
Education Department
Parallax, Inc.
Post Edited (Andy Lindsay (Parallax)) : 5/17/2007 5:04:30 AM GMT
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Andy Lindsay
Education Department
Parallax, Inc.
Post Edited (Andy Lindsay (Parallax)) : 5/17/2007 5:04:30 AM GMT
Comments
NOTE: The material in the following posts support the Open Session portion listed in the syllabus.
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Andy Lindsay
Education Department
Parallax, Inc.
Post Edited (Andy Lindsay (Parallax)) : 5/17/2007 8:07:21 AM GMT
Day #1
8:00 AM
Introductions
Locating a work area, introductions setting up the BASIC Stamp hardware and software, introductions and course overview.
Getting Started; Lights On/Lights Off; Digital Inputs
Chapters 1 to 3 of What’s a Microcontroller.
BASIC Stamp Customer Projects / Break
Slides and videos show the use of BASIC Stamp microcontrollers around the world in industry, hobby, and space applications.
Controlling Motion
Controlling servo motors. Chapter 4 of What’s a Microcontroller.
Noon
Lunch Break
Measuring Rotation and Light
Reading potentiometer-type dials with the BASIC Stamp. Chapter 5 of What's a Microcontroller. Sensing light intensity with a photoresistor (Chapter 7 of What’s a Microcontroller.)
Frequency and Sound
Make sounds and play songs using a piezospeaker. Chapter 8 of What’s a Microcontroller.
Parallax Educators Forum
Where to find solutions manuals and how to join.
Through 5:00 PM
Open Session
Try other sensors and microcontrollers. Options include:
· A/D conversion with the ADC0831
· Temperature sensing with the DS1620 temperature sensor
· Distance Detection with the Ping))) Ultrasonic Distance Sensor
· Tilt detection with the Memsic 2125 Accelerometer module
· Direction finding with the Hitachi HM55B Compass Module
· Communicate with PC or other microcontrollers using RF modules
· Display messages with the Parallax serial LCD
· Measure signals with the Parallax USB Oscilloscope
· Control a 7-segment LED using parallel I/O techniques
· Get started with the SX Microcontroller
· Get started with the amazing Propeller Microcontroller
Day #2
8:00 AM
Questions / Answers
Ask any questions about material on the first day.
Robot Component Setup
Center the servos and configure the BOE for robotics.
Assemble the Boe-Bot
Build your Boe-Bot. Chapter 3 of Robotics with the Boe-Bot.
Build the Low Battery Indicator.
Construct and test a piezospeaker battery indicator.
Boe-Bot Navigation
Learn how to control the Boe-Bot to handle basic maneuvers with forward, backward, left and right. Chapter 4 of Robotics with the Boe-Bot.
Tactile Navigation with Whiskers
Construct touch sensors for the Boe-Bot as shown in Chapter 5
Break
Navigating with Infrared Headlights
Detect the presence of objects using infrared. Program the Boe-Bot to avoid objects. Chapter 7 of <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Robotics with the Boe-Bot[/I].
Noon
Lunch Break
Robot Control with Distance Detection
Detect distance to an object. Use control systems to implement Boe-Bot Follow-the-Leader. See how many Boe-Bots will follow in a row. From Chapter 8.
Through 5:00 PM
Robotics Open Session
Try as many intermediate and advanced robotics applications as time permits, or try an optional activity from the first day’s open session. Robotics options include:
· Infrared remote control using a standard TV remote
· Line following
· Wireless robot control using 433 MHz RF transmitters and receivers
· Navigation with the Ping))) Ultrasonic Rangefinder
· Control your Boe-Bot with RF and the Memsic 2125 Accelerometer
· Detect and climb hills with the Memsic 2125 Accelerometer
· Remotely display robotic debugging information with the Parallax Serial LCD
· Find the closest object with the Ping))) Ultrasonic Distance Sensor
· Bluetooth robot communication and control with the eb500 Embedded Blue module
Andy Lindsay
Education Department
Parallax, Inc.
In What’s a Microcontroller, we measured the resistance of a potentiometer to determine its voltage. Basic Analog and Digital uses a potentiometer wired as a voltage divider to generate a voltage that BASIC Stamp makes the ADC0831 A/D converter chip measure.
- Start at www.parallax.com.
- Select Downloads ? Stamps In Class Tutorials from the menus.
- Find and download the Basic Analog and Digital PDF.
- Us the pin map on page 44 to build the circuit on page 55.
- Use Adobe Acrobat Reader’s Select Text feature to copy PL3_1R0.bs2 into the BASIC Stamp Editor.
- Run the program and verify that binary value changes as you turn the potentiometer.
- Read Interpreting the Output on page 52.
- Modify the program as shown on page 53, and then run it and verify that you get a measurement from 0 to 255 as you rotate the potentiometer knob from one end of its range of motion to the other as shown on page 54.
- Review the Calculate Voltage section.
- Modify the program as shown on page 58 and then as shown on page 59 and run and test the program.
Multiple ADC0831 chips can share the same clock and data lines. The BASIC Stamp program just has to make sure to take one enable line low at a time. With this in mind, the ADC_Data subroutine should be modified so that the HIGH CS command comes just before the RETURN command instead of at the beginning of the subroutine.
Andy Lindsay
Education Department
Parallax, Inc.
Post Edited (Andy Lindsay (Parallax)) : 5/17/2007 6:14:42 AM GMT
In Applied Sensors, Tracy Allen introduces us to the DS1620 digital thermometer chip for measuring air temperature.
- Start at www.parallax.com.
- Select Downloads ? Stamps In Class Tutorials from the menus.
- Find and download the Applied Sensors PDF.
- Gather the parts list shown on page 2.
- Follow the checklist instructions on pages 11-13.
- Use Adobe Acrobat Reader’s Select Text feature to copy DS1620.bs2 on page 17 into the BASIC Stamp Editor.
- Follow the checklist instructions on page 17, then start applying heat and/or cold to the DS1620.
- Try Challenge 2 on page 24
Learn more about sensors and BASIC Stamp math techniques at Tracy’s web site: www.emesystems.com.
Andy Lindsay
Education Department
Parallax, Inc.
Post Edited (Andy Lindsay (Parallax)) : 5/17/2007 6:18:18 AM GMT
The Ping))) Ultrasonic Distance Sensor measures the echo time of ultrasonic pulses to determine an object’s distance.
- Start at www.parallax.com.
- Select Education ? Educational Products from the menus.
- Follow any of the Smart Sensors and Applications links.
- Find the PDF version of the Smart Sensors and Applications text in the Downloads section near the bottom of the page.
- Download and open it.
- Read pages 41 - 42.
- Gather the parts listed on page 42.
- Follow the checklist instructions on pages 42 - 44.
- Peruse pages 46 – 47.
- Follow the checklist instructions on page 48.
- Skim page 49.
- Follow the checklist instructions on page 50.
Activity #4 uses a Parallax Serial LCD to display the measurements. If time permits and equipment is available, the Parallax Serial LCD section (below), then follow the checklist instructions in Activity #4.
Andy Lindsay
Education Department
Parallax, Inc.
The Memsic 2125 Dual Axis Accelerometer module can be used to measure acceleration, tilt, detect vibration or impact, and even examine the physics of skateboard tricks.
- Start at www.parallax.com.
- Select Education ? Educational Products from the menus.
- Follow any of the Smart Sensors and Applications links.
- Find the PDF version of the Smart Sensors and Applications text in the Downloads section near the bottom of the page.
- Download and open the PDF.
- Download the zipped code examples.
- Read pages 66 – 67.
- Gather the parts and follow the checklist instructions on pages 67.
- Read the section entitled Listening to the Accelerometer’s Signals with the BASIC Stamp on pages 67 – 68.
- Follow the checklist instructions on page 70 - 71.
- Read Chapter 5, Activity #3, pages 188 – 190.
- Follow the checklist instructions on page 191 – 192. Remember, you’ve got the zipped code example. Don’t knock yourself out hand entering code. There are more cool gadgets to try out!
- Look at page 197.
- Follow the checklist instructions on page 198.
For ideas of accelerometer projects, take a look at Activity #5 starting on page 230 – 239, Activity #6 on pages 240 – 244, and Activity #7 on pages 247 – 248 and 250 - 252.
Andy Lindsay
Education Department
Parallax, Inc.
Post Edited (Andy Lindsay (Parallax)) : 5/17/2007 7:10:48 AM GMT
The BASIC Stamp can make the Hitachi HM55B Compass Module report its X and Y axis magnetic field measurement and calculate the modules orientation with respect to the earth’s magnetic field. Before calibration, the measurements can give you an idea of the general direction of magnetic north. After calibration, the module is pretty accurate (good to about 64 different headings).
- Start at www.parallax.com.
- Select Education ? Educational Products from the menus.
- Follow any of the Smart Sensors and Applications links.
- Find the PDF version of the <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Smart Sensors and Applications[/I] text in the Downloads section near the bottom of the page.
- Download and open the PDF.
- Download the zipped code examples.
- Read pages 119 – 120.
- Follow the checklist instructions on page 121 - 128.
- Look over Chapter 4, Activitiy #2 and #3 to get an idea of the compass calibration process.
Andy Lindsay
Education Department
Parallax, Inc.
RF modules make it possible to eliminate wired connections between BASIC Stamp Modules.
- Work in pairs.
- Start at www.parallax.com.
- Select Products ? Accessories ? Radio Frequency from the menus.
- Follow the Parallax 433 MHz RF Transceiver Package link and review the documentation.
- Download TestTransmitWithStartPulse.bs2 and TestReceiveWithStartPulse.bs2.
- Connect the transmitter module’s data line to the Board of Education platform’s P8, and the receiver module’s data line to P7 on a different Board of Education platform.
- Use what you have learned about DEBUG and DEBUG to set up communication between Debug Terminals. Feel free to ask the instructor for advice and hints.<
Tomorrow, you might want to try this project A Tilt Radio Controller for Your Boe-Bot from the Stamps in Class "Mini Projects" page.
Andy Lindsay
Education Department
Parallax, Inc.
Post Edited (Andy Lindsay (Parallax)) : 5/17/2007 8:05:08 AM GMT
The Parallax Serial LCD is nice for product prototypes with liquid crystal displays and is also great for project debugging in situations where it’s not necessarily convenient to display information by connecting to a PC and sending messages to the Debug Terminal.
- Start at www.parallax.com.
- Select Education ? Educational Products from the menus.
- Follow any of the Smart Sensors and Applications links.
- Find the PDF version of the Smart Sensors and Applications text in the Downloads section near the bottom of the page.
- Download and open it the PDF.
- Download the zipped code examples.
- Read pages 1 – 3.
- Follow the checklist instructions on pages 5 – 19.
Andy Lindsay
Education Department
Parallax, Inc.
Post Edited (Andy Lindsay (Parallax)) : 5/17/2007 8:05:44 AM GMT
The Parallax USB Oscilloscope makes it possible to view the interactions between the BASIC Stamp and sensors, actuators, special purpose integrated circuits and communication lines.
·
Ö······· Plug the Parallax USB Oscilloscope into your PC.
Ö········ Right click My Computer, then select Properties.
Ö········ Click the hardware tab, then open the Device Manager.
Ö········ Click the + next to Ports (COM & LPT).
Ö········ Make a note of ports labeled USB Serial Port.· Your Parallax USB Oscilloscope will probably be the COM7, COM8, or COM9 range.
Ö········ Click Start → All Programs → Parallax → USB Oscilloscope → USB Oscilloscope 4.0.
Ö········ Click the screen splash to make it go away.
Ö········ Click File and select Set COM port.
Ö········ Select the COM port you found in the Device manager using the Select COM Port dropdown menu.· The light below it should turn green.
Ö········ Click the close button.
Ö······· Start at www.parallax.com.
Ö········ Select Education → Educational Products from the menus.
Ö········ Follow any of the Understanding Signals links.
Ö········ Find the PDF version of the Understanding Signals text in the Downloads section near the bottom of the page.·
Ö········ Download and open it the PDF.
Ö········ Download the zipped source code too.
Ö········ Try following the instructions in chapters 3, 4, and/or 5.
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Andy Lindsay
Education Department
Parallax, Inc.
The 7 segment LED is a group of LEDs arranged so that it can display digits and characters.· Displaying characters with a 7 segment LED demonstrates sending signals in parallel with the BASIC Stamp Microcontroller.
·
Ö······· Open the What’s a Microcontroller PDF text.
Ö········ Read pages 165 - 167.
Ö········ Build the circuit on pages 172 – 173.
Ö········ Follow the checklist instructions on pages 173 – 174.
Ö········ Follow the checklist instructions for Chapter 6, Activity #3.
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Andy Lindsay
Education Department
Parallax, Inc.
The SX Tech toolkit provides programming, debugging, prototyping for the 8-bit SX28 Microcontroller, which can be programmed in compiled BASIC (SX/B) and/or assembly language.
·
Ö······· Download the attached slide show and follow along and try the examples.
Ö········ Have the instructor spend a·some time with you demonstrating the debugging environment, SX Tech board features, and clock modes.
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Andy Lindsay
Education Department
Parallax, Inc.
The Propeller Microcontroller has eight processors that can execute code in parallel with internal clock rates up to 80 MHz. ·You can do some amazing things with this tool, including video generation via VGA or RCA ports, and over sample audio signals with several processors to spare!· Robots with lots of motors, sensors, and communication with other robots is also no problem for the Propeller chip.
·
The propeller Education kit is inexpensive enough for students to buy as lab equipment, and could be exceedingly useful for project courses.
·
Ö······· Start with www.parallax.com.
Ö········ Follow the Propeller Chip link.
Ö········ Follow the Propeller Education Kit link.
Ö········ Download I/O and Timing, Methods and Cogs, Objects, and the Propeller Manual.
Ö········ Go to forums.parallax.com → Propeller Chip → Propeller Education Kit Labs.
Ö········ Download the Counters lab.
Ö········ Unzip each lab to its own folder.
Ö········ Discuss the portions of each lab to try with Andy
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Andy Lindsay
Education Department
Parallax, Inc.