Choosing of Micro Controller

[fzkrn]

Choosing of Micro Controller Board

Hi,

Im looking for a micro controller board for my project.
Due to my lack of knowledge in the electronics field, i have problems deciding on the controller.

My project entails a conveyor system which transport a ticket from point to point.
A micro controller is required to control 3 dc servo motors, 5 pairs of IR/optic sensors and an actuator.
The attached link shows how the ticket moves:

Motor Specs:
http://www.clickautomation.com/produ...id=355&cid=144

I have done some research and shortlisted 4 micro controllers :
Arduino Uno R3
Basic Stamp 2/2e and
Javelin Stamp

My friend who does the programming said that it'll be preferred if the micro controller board could communicate through RS232 serial or USB.
And also running on VB/C/C++/C# for the software portion.

Hope to get some advices

Thanks.

 

[(*steve*)]

Those aren't really microcontrollers. They're each small development systems based on a microcontroller.

However, any of them are probably fine. The arduino seems to fulfil your other requirements. Take a look at the arduino nano.

 

[fzkrn]

Apologies,

I am actually looking for a micro controller board, not just a micro controller.

Pardon me for that.

Thanks for pointing it out (*steve8).

I took a look on the arduino nano. The differences between them based on my understanding is that the nano is more compact and complete. It can be based on the ATmega328 (Arduino Nano 3.0) or ATmega168 (Arduino Nano 2.x). It only lacks a DC power jack and works with a USB cable.

Can i assume that the nano is similar to the R3 with the only exception of it being more versatile? And also it should be able to control the devices as stated earlier? (motors, sensors, actuator)

 

[(*steve*)]

Yeah, the nano is more compact (not sure about "complete" or "versatile") and you can power it via a couple of pins. It can also be placed in a socket on a board. Kinda cute.

It can control the same sort of stuff, of course it wont fit the shields that its bigger brothers do.

 

[fzkrn]

I've been analyzing on the shortlisted boards (as mentioned above) and apparently hit a wall.

The Arduino Uno 'looks' and 'feels' good to me but my professor mentioned that i am required to justify my choice as compared to the shortlisted or other boards.
For example the advantages of Arduino, why can't I use other boards other than Arduino, etc.

Apart from stated requirements (as mentioned above), how can i provide more info pertaining to this? How can i 'sell' my proposed board idea to my professor?

 

[(*steve*)]

What advantages and disadvantages have you found for the options you've looked at?

 

[jackorocko]

http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?121131-Javelin-End-of-Life-Announcement&

well as per one of your shortlisted items, this is probably as good as any reason.

This looks like some pertinent info on the stamp. Since you already decided on the uno, I assume you know it's capabilities.
http://www.parallax.com/tabid/385/Default.aspx

And also running on VB/C/C++/C# for the software portion.

I can tell you right now that the preferred language for the uno is it's own iteration of the processing language. But, the atmega chip itself can still be coded in C and compiled into a hex. But, I had a hell of a time uploading my hex to the uno, seems to be that each revision of the arduino expects different speeds on the serial interface. What worked for one arduino version didn't work for the next. But don't let that stop you from using arduino and C. It is just a minor inconvenience till you figure out the right speed.

 

[CocaCola]

But, I had a hell of a time uploading my hex to the uno, seems to be that each revision of the arduino expects different speeds on the serial interface. What worked for one arduino version didn't work for the next. But don't let that stop you from using arduino and C. It is just a minor inconvenience till you figure out the right speed.

This setup simplifies the process...

http://smileymicros.com/blog/2010/10/11/ardup-an-arduino-hex-file-uploader/

 

[jackorocko]

This setup simplifies the process...

http://smileymicros.com/blog/2010/10...file-uploader/

first sentence on the page... The duem and uno both require different speeds when uploading hex files. This app will have the same issue as the rest I tried(because it is a front-end for avrdude). I have yet to find one app that works 100% on all versions. I just use the cmd line, so much better but isn't user friendly.

ArdUp allows the user to upload files to the Arduino Duemilanove board

The below link explains my point. I quoted the important part since the eclipse part is a moot point. I, like the author of article below, had a hell of a time tracking down this annoying bug. Wasted a whole day on this speed issue that was not very well documented.

When you set up the AVRDude configuration for the Uno, the baudrate should be 115200 instead of 57600 as some of the documents indicate. This will get rid of the annoying “stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding” message when AVRDude runs.

http://gpollice.wordpress.com/2011/02/19/arduino-part-3/

 

[tweaker]

HI,
I am a Senior at a great tech school doing a two year degree. As seniors we have to each do our own senior project of varying complexity. Most of the people in my program opted to use the Ardunio Uno which I myself purchased. Our Professor actually pushes them on most of us. The great part about Ardunio is the software comes loaded with many functioning examples and really provides a great platform for someone with limited experience to build a project. Also you can choose to remove the microprocessor from the board after programming and testing and run it with a crystal and a few caps which not necessary for most people. I moved towards programming a PIC in assembler just for the sake of actually learning something but I still think the Arduino is the way to go for a beginner. Hope that helps!

 

[CocaCola]

This app will have the same issue as the rest I tried(because it is a front-end for avrdude). I have yet to find one app that works 100% on all versions. I just use the cmd line, so much better but isn't user friendly.

Well, yeah you need to configure the programmer to the device/chip you are programming...

 

[jackorocko]

Well, yeah you need to configure the programmer to the device/chip you are programming...

and I have never found a third party front end to avrdude that had all the right settings. especially any made for the duem. It is what it is, avrdude is the tool and as a student you should learn to use it.

 

[CocaCola]

avrdude is the tool and as a student you should learn to use it.

Not a student and not a big fan of the Arduinos overall, I find them to be wasteful in most cases vs just building tailored AVR or PIC circuits for my needs... It's a cool mini developer kit but it seems too many people consider it a do everything final platform and never actually optimize their designs instead they end up with rats nest of plug in jumper wires and plug in modules being shoved into a final build...