Society of Robots - Robot Forum

Electronics => Electronics => Topic started by: os2be on September 12, 2008, 01:55:47 AM

Title: search microcontroller
Post by: os2be on September 12, 2008, 01:55:47 AM
hi

i'm a software engineer  and i would like to build a robot with 2 wheel who have 2 motor, one for each wheel, detection sensor, ranging sensor...

there are a lot of microcontroller on the market, so i would like help to choose the right one

some "must to have" i would like to have

usb port
cpu >80Mhz
linux

I/O for made easy to add sensor, motor....

to add motor, sensor what is the best way

what do you suggest me?

thanks
Title: Re: search microcontroller
Post by: Trumpkin on September 12, 2008, 08:56:50 AM
Try the Arduino http://www.arduino.cc/
Title: Re: search microcontroller
Post by: dunk on September 12, 2008, 01:34:29 PM
hi Osbe,
a few questions about your list of requirements...
Quote
usb port
do you mean USB host post or just the ability to read data off the device via USB?

Quote
linux
do you mean you want to be able to program the device from the Linux environment or do you actually want the device to run Linux?

if you are looking for a device that has a USB host port an runs Linux then you probably need to adjust your search terms.
try searching for "embedded Linux processor" rather than "microcontroller".

a broad generalisation here:
most microcontrollers will not have sufficient resources to run a full OS like Linux. (although there are minimal RTOS available for microcontrollers.)
as a result most microcontrollers cannot have USB host ports as you need to run a full OS to manage the USB bus and run USB drivers, etc.

there are devices on the market that have an embedded processor on the same board as buffers to handle TTL I/O but they are rare.
a more common approach is to have an embedded processor to run your OS connected to a microcontroller to handle I/O.
there are a few of us on this forum taking this approach in one form or another. my interpretation documented here: http://mrdunk.googlepages.com/processor (http://mrdunk.googlepages.com/processor)


dunk.
Title: Re: search microcontroller
Post by: Commanderbob on September 13, 2008, 01:37:55 AM
If you want to run linux I would go with the AVR32. I have used the UC3B core (non-linux, more like a micro) and I like them. Or you could buy a gumstix and a robostix. Worked well for me.
Title: Re: search microcontroller
Post by: Admin on September 16, 2008, 10:33:18 AM
Quote
usb port
cpu >80Mhz
linux
Why above 80 and with Linux? Actually, why an operating system at all?

Quote
Try the Arduino http://www.arduino.cc/
ehhh but Arduino only has 16MHz :P


For USB and motors, you should buy external hardware. A serial to USB adapter, and a motor driver of your choice.
Title: Re: search microcontroller
Post by: Trumpkin on September 16, 2008, 12:59:15 PM
Quote
ehhh but Arduino only has 16MHz
I know, but I couldn't think of a reason why he/she would need 80mhz. I did a quick google search and couldn't find anything with 80mhz.