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Issue #200 March 2007 — Robotics
Task Manager
Issue 200, by C.J. Abate
Priority Interrupt
Inside the Box Still Counts, by Steve Ciarcia
New Product News, edited by John Gorsky
FEATURE ARTICLES
Robotic Arm Control System
by Michael Hall, Aaron Patten, & Erin Simpson
Need a hand? In just 11 weeks, this team of designers turned a dysfunctional 20-year-old robot arm into a system capable of complex actions. Now you can build your own. p. 14
Keywords: Robotics, arm, dsPIC30F6015, motors, power, L298N, VNH3SP30, CAN, keypad, LCD, H-bridge, ADC, PWM
(A link to the article will be emailed to you.)
Animatronic System Control
by Barry Stout & Eugene Zeldin
Barry and Eugene used their knowledge of robotics and a lot of creativity to design an H8/3687-based control system for a robotic monster that appeared in a horror movie. The system enabled them to control the monster with potentiometers, a touch screen, and buttons. p. 24
Keywords: Animatronics, H8/3687, servo, touch screen, potentiometer, L6206, PID, optical encoder
(A link to the article will be emailed to you.)
Inertial Rolling Robot — Read it now!
by Jeff Bingham & Lee Magnusson
Jeff and Lee’s H8/3664-based rolling robot is capable of inertial movement. A DC electric motor is attached to a pendulum and suspended inside an inflated ball, which provides the driving force. p. 34
Keywords: Robot, rolling, H8/3664, pendulum, sphere,
motor, H-bridge, IR2184, PWM, Hall effect, ACS706, servo, pressure sensor,
MPX5100A, ADC
Generic Modbus Simulator (Part 1): Theory and Preparation
by Aubrey Kagan
Aubrey introduces the topic of a Modbus implementation on a PC. He covers the Modbus protocol and an approach for documenting the register set of a Modbus slave and even a family of slaves in Excel. p. 44
Keywords: Modbus, simulator, Excel, protocol, addressing, user interface
(A link to the article will be emailed to you.)
Servo Control
by Dale Wheat
First used in remote-controlled airplanes, servo motors are not just built for flight. Dale explains how he used them in custom projects and award-winning robots. p. 59
Keywords: Servo, robotics, control signal, rotation, tester, speed control, Servo Tester II, testing
(A link to the article will be emailed to you.)
ISSUE 200 SPECIAL FEATURES
Then and Now
by Dave Tweed
Dave traces the 200-issue history of Circuit Cellar. Embedded applications have come a long way since 1988. p. 40
Keywords: Circuit Cellar, history, technology,tools, networking
(A link to the article will be emailed to you.)
A Plethora of Projects
by Ed Nisley
Since 1988, Ed has written more than 120 articles for Circuit Cellar on everything from home control to programming. In this article, he covers his all-time favorite projects. p. 72
Keywords: Water bottle rocket, Firmware Furnace, 8051, ISA bus, protected-mode programming, analog
(A link to the article will be emailed to you.)
COLUMNS
APPLIED PC
Build a PIC Platform
by Fred Eady
Microchip Technology’s PIC18F97J60 microcontroller will be a great fit for many of your remote control and automation applications. But you might find it difficult to work with due to its TQFP packaging. Fred has the perfect solution: build up your own PIC18F97J60 platform. p. 52
Keywords: PIC18F97J60, I/O, Ethernet, memory, ADC
(A link to the article will be emailed to you.)
LESSONS FROM THE TRENCHES
More “Hello World”
Moving What You’ve Learned to the Hardware
by George Martin
As promised, George continues showing you how to use C language for embedded system design. This time he delivers cleaner code, more functional requirements, and interrupts. p. 67
Keywords: C, programming, real time, interrupts, MSP430, header, ADC, trap
(A link to the article will be emailed to you.)
FROM THE BENCH
Embedded USB Breakthrough
by Jeff Bachiochi
Jeff recently got crafty with the new FTDI VNC1L embedded USB host controller IC. Now he doesn’t need to carry around his laptop in order to log data from his designs. p. 75
Keywords: USB, host controller, VNC1L. VDIP1, PIC16F737, commands, serial, Viniculum, SPI, FIFO
(A link to the article will be emailed to you.)
SILICON UPDATE
Code Like the Wind World Tour
by Tom Cantrell
Finding the right programming language is like selecting a hammer at a hardware store, it has to match your task. Tom introduces the latest version of Express. Perhaps it’s the right “tool” for your next job. p. 80
Keywords: Programming, Express, World Tour demo board, PSoC, LCD, visual, element, USB, I2C
(A link to the article will be emailed to you.)
PREVIEW
Issue #201 April 2007 — Embedded Programming
◊ Java-Based Earthbox Watering System
◊ Reverse-Engineered ECP Bus
◊ ATir Keyboard Interface
◊ Slave Flash Trigger
◊ Generic Modbus Simulator (Part 2): Create a Modbus Master
◊ Build a Three-Axis CNC Mill Machine
◊ Uncomplicated RF Communication
◊ ABOVE THE GROUND PLANE Battery Capacity: Charge
◊ FROM THE BENCH Local Interconnect Network
◊ SILICON UPDATE USB: (Wire)Less is More
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