Society of Robots - Robot Forum

Electronics => Electronics => Topic started by: blackheart on April 21, 2009, 08:14:07 AM

Title: Back to noobish questions. $50 board vs arduino and compatibility and heli idea!
Post by: blackheart on April 21, 2009, 08:14:07 AM

Hey. Just a simple question. Is the $50 board ready for the arduino bootloader? Using an avr mk2 ISP, can I burn the bootloader to the mcu on the board without any hardware modifications to the board and would it still work like an arduino? I see no reason for it not work, but I want to be sure. Also, if it works and I don't feel like adding USB module, can I use the mk2 isp to flash the uC with code written for arduino bootloader?

This would be great because I could make a very small and light arduino board for my autonomous heli.


Also, a great idea found its way into my mind. Instead of using servos for the pitch, can't I just have a fixed pitch main prop and control the  forward/backwards movement with a tail prop placed horizontally, instead of placing it vertically, like in most helis? Of course, it would be a coaxial heli meaning it will have 2 main props!

Title: Re: Back to noobish questions. $50 board vs arduino and compatibility and heli idea!
Post by: SmAsH on April 21, 2009, 08:16:33 AM

wait, if you dont want usb why do you want the bootloader on there? sorry, im a noob at this stuff too :)

Title: Re: Back to noobish questions. $50 board vs arduino and compatibility and heli idea!
Post by: blackheart on April 21, 2009, 08:29:33 AM

Because I love the arduino syntax and I want to use it on avr uC's. I prefer it over the standard avr syntax. Ok, you got me, I don't know the avr syntax and I don't feel like learning it when I know the arduino syntax which is clean and very easy.

Title: Re: Back to noobish questions. $50 board vs arduino and compatibility and heli idea!
Post by: Razor Concepts on April 21, 2009, 10:05:51 AM

You don't even have to put on the arduino bootloader if your using the mk2 programmer. Look on the arduino webpage, there is info on how to convert the Arduino software from USB bootloading to directly flashing using the mk2.

If the heli is not properly balanced, it can drift sideways and there would be no way to correct it - bad for an autonomous heli. Many of those cheapo 3 channel helis use this method and they pretty much suck.

Title: Re: Back to noobish questions. $50 board vs arduino and compatibility and heli idea!
Post by: blackheart on April 21, 2009, 05:24:17 PM

That would be great!  I can not find the info though. I saw something with ubuntu/mac os x bootloading with mk2, but nothing to convert the arduino source files into something that I can burn with the mk2!

Title: Re: Back to noobish questions. $50 board vs arduino and compatibility and heli idea!
Post by: Razor Concepts on April 21, 2009, 05:27:07 PM

http://arduino.cc/en/Hacking/Programmer (http://arduino.cc/en/Hacking/Programmer)

It is a little outdated so the folders mentioned in that are incorrect, but it's only a little bit of poking around to find the right files in Windows.

Title: Re: Back to noobish questions. $50 board vs arduino and compatibility and heli idea!
Post by: blackheart on April 22, 2009, 07:49:32 AM

So, the $50 board can already be programmed with arduino sketches using a programmer(isp mk2 in my case) without any modifications, right?


That is great. Thank You very much.

Title: Re: Back to noobish questions. $50 board vs arduino and compatibility and heli idea!
Post by: SmAsH on April 22, 2009, 02:10:28 PM

yep, sure can!