Monday is Heritage Day here in Alberta, Canada, so we will all be out Heritage-ing it up, and enjoying our all too short summer. So if you want to go all Heritage on BEAM, and buy a SolarRoller kit, we'll ship it to you when we are back in the office Tuesday!
SMARTBEAM! Ok, it's really microcontroll...
Dave Hrynkiw
October 2, 2008
It's been in the coming for a while, and now is the time to release it to the webosphere (yes, I said "Web-o-sphere").
Since Solarbotics Ltd. took over HVW Technologies, we simply couldn't ignore some of the benefits of microcontrollers. Really, they're not that scary. Many of them even look like our good friend the 74AC240 IC.
We're starting our blending of technologies with the PICAXE line of microcontrollers. These have some specific features that make them very usable with BEAM projects:
- They're inexpensive. Most of us BEAMers are a cheap lot, scavenging for parts.
- They're SIMPLE. Plug in a USB cable, draw flow-charts, and download the code!
- They offer suitability. With over 13 types from very simple and small (08 series) to the powerful 40X1 series, you can pick the right tool for the job, without overkill. How BEAM-ish.
So if you've become too comfortable with your latest techniques, try something new. Stretch your brain, and check out the PICAXE. We've even got starter packs, and a book!
Besides the PICAXE, we're also dabbling with the Freeduino SB. This is a project spawned from the Arduino project out of Italy. It's an open-source hardware and software project using the Atmel ATmega168 microcontroller.The really cool thing is that that it's open-source, there's a huge world-wide community of developers and users, so there's lots of help, source-code, and examples to start with.
It's more expensive than the PICAXE, but it's a different beast. Where the PICAXE is generally just the chip, Freeduino is a full system. Besides the microcontroller, the Freeduino includes:
- USB interface (so you just plug it into your PC to use it. That's it!)
- Programming software usable on Windows, Mac, and Linux,
- Programming language that is C-like, but simpler
- Built-in voltage regulation, indicator LEDs and a FUSE. How beginner-friendly is that? (Very!)
So if you're more programming savvy than flowcharts and BASIC, check out a Freeduino SB, and do some web-searches. It's an very useable, handy platform!
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Interesting stuff at the Exploratorium
Not exactly relevant to BEAM, but an interesting distraction: Here's some interesting media from the San Francisco Exploratorium. Notable media to watch is their "Iron Science Teacher" competition (familiar with "The Iron Chef? Same idea...), and their hosting of Robot Sumo Wrestling.
Solarbotics has been operating for more than 25 years, bringing electronics know-how and supplies to both the electronics professional and hobbyist. We'll be happy to help you too!
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Warning: This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.
Please visit www.P65Warnings.ca.gov for more information. This item was manufactured prior to August 31, 2018.