Shop OBEX P1 Docs P2 Docs Learn Events
PSC and BASIC STAMP — Parallax Forums

PSC and BASIC STAMP

rockerboyrockerboy Posts: 14
edited 2007-11-01 02:46 in BASIC Stamp
Hi,

I have a serial BASIC STAMP and a serial PSC. I have a few questions on them.

What is the difference between PSC and BASIC STAMP?

Can we us either one to control servos on a Crustcrawler Robotic Arm?

Can we program either PSC or STAMP in languages like C/C++?

Thanks,

Comments

  • JDJD Posts: 570
    edited 2007-10-31 22:50
    Rockerboy,

    All Basic Stamps will need to be programmed in the PBASIC language. There is a great reference available for free download; The Basic Stamp Syntax & Reference Manual [noparse][[/noparse] http://www.parallax.com/dl/docs/prod/stamps/web-BSM-v2.2.pdf ].

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    Joshua Donelson

    www.parallax.com
  • rockerboyrockerboy Posts: 14
    edited 2007-10-31 23:02
    Ok. So, can I program the Paralax Servo Controller in C/C++ language? If so, how do I download my code to the PSC so that I can control the servos on my robotic Arm? Also look at my 1st question above.
  • D FaustD Faust Posts: 608
    edited 2007-10-31 23:06
    Serial PSC: you mean it connects to a pc serial port (RS-232)·or communicates over a wire using serial protocol?·· Either way, I am fairly certain that it cannot be programmed.· If you are mentioning the one that uses serial protocol, then you can use the basic stamp (programmed·in PBASIC) to comunicate with and control the PSC.· If you are talking about an RS 232 PSC, then it communicates with the computer, which tells it commands.

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    --DFaust
  • rockerboyrockerboy Posts: 14
    edited 2007-10-31 23:28
    D Faust said...
    Serial PSC: you mean it connects to a pc serial port (RS-232)·or communicates over a wire using serial protocol?·· Either way, I am fairly certain that it cannot be programmed.· If you are mentioning the one that uses serial protocol, then you can use the basic stamp (programmed·in PBASIC) to comunicate with and control the PSC.· If you are talking about an RS 232 PSC, then it communicates with the computer, which tells it commands.

    Hi,

    I am talking about this one: http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=28023.

    Can it be programmed independently of the Stamp (which I hear can only be programmed in PBASIC)?

    I'm asking this because the project I am working on is in C/C++ and I need to program the servo controller and thus the servos on my Robotic Arm using C/C++.

    Thanks
  • Steve JoblinSteve Joblin Posts: 784
    edited 2007-10-31 23:35
    I suggest you read the documentation for the PSC. Parallax is known for their clear, concise, easy-to-understand documentation. If you read it, you will find out that the answer is no.
  • rockerboyrockerboy Posts: 14
    edited 2007-10-31 23:57
    Ok. Thanks all.
  • allanlane5allanlane5 Posts: 3,815
    edited 2007-11-01 00:55
    You COULD write a program in C/C++ on the PC, and 'command' the Parallax Servo Controller (PSC) over the serial port (or USB connection).

    The PSC would then 'hold' the position of your servo's until commanded again.
  • rockerboyrockerboy Posts: 14
    edited 2007-11-01 02:03
    allanlane5 said...
    You COULD write a program in C/C++ on the PC, and 'command' the Parallax Servo Controller (PSC) over the serial port (or USB connection).

    The PSC would then 'hold' the position of your servo's until commanded again.
    Allan,

    Could you elaborate a bit on that? Are you suggesting I bypass the Board of Education containing the Stamp? What kind of commands can we send the PSC directly?

    Thanks,
  • Kevin WoodKevin Wood Posts: 1,266
    edited 2007-11-01 02:22
    Rockerboy, download and read the PSC documentation.

    In it, you'll see that the PSC simply receives certain commands over a serial interface. In order for it to receive the commands, something has to send them.

    It doesn't care what sends them, or how they were created. As long as you can hook the PSC up with the correct serial interface to a device that can send the proper commands, you can program the sending device in any language you want that meets the requirements.

    What you can't do is reprogram the actual PSC itself, for example, to receive a different set of commands. As for bypassing the BoE, or BS2, you can do that if you want, but you will still need to duplicate their functionality.
  • rockerboyrockerboy Posts: 14
    edited 2007-11-01 02:46
    Ok. According to this, http://forums.parallax.com/forums/default.aspx?f=21&m=180521, I can directly connect over serial to PSC using an extra circuit and I can control the PSC and servos directly. I guess this is what I was looking for.

    I will come back if I face more problems. Thanks for all your help so far.
Sign In or Register to comment.