Re: Microcontroller options

Joe Strout wrote:
In article <46573C94.6F26@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
Gordon McComb <NOSPAMgort@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Onesupermanone wrote:
My preference it to use C language.
There are a lot of choices but I'd say the Atmel line is a good choice
for you. They offer some traditional 8-bit RISC controllers, and some
newer 32-bit ARM-based controllers. Funnily enough, one of my selection
criteria is whether the chip is available in a DIP package, so I don't
have to solder surface mount, or invest in an expensive breakout board.
If this matters to you be sure to note the package availability when
you're looking.

For what it's worth, I'm a newbie too, as anyone here will readily attest from the way I constantly pester them with questions. :) I recently went on just such a controller search myself, looking at various boards under $50.

But, based in part on the advice of Gordon and others here, I've decided to take the plunge and give a raw Atmel (AVR) chip a try. These are electronically quite easy to use; the challenge may be setting up the development environment, but if you use Windows then you'll probably find that pretty easy too. If you don't, get back to me and we'll suffer through setting up the GNU toolchain together. :)

Here's what I just ordered from Digikey:

Part#: ATAVRISP2-ND
Description: PROGRAMMER AVR IN SYSTEM
Price: $35.91

Part#: ATMEGA48-20PU-ND
Description: IC AVR MCU 4K 20MHZ 5V 28DIP
Price: $2.69

The programmer is a bit on the pricey side, but you get it once and use it over and over. The controller itself, as you can see, is quite cheap. So if you screw it up and turn it into a brick, you don't suffer too much financially. :)

I chose this particular chip because the ATMega48 seems like a pretty common AVR chip (it's used in one version of the Pololu Baby Orangutan for example -- which BTW looks like a great board if you want something with motor controllers built in). And it's a DIP package, as Gordon points out (important for me since I use a prototyping breadboard a lot). I don't know what the "20PU" or "ND" parts mean, so hopefully they're not important!

If I recall correctly, "ND" is a digikey moniker and originally
stood for "No Discount". These days it just means it is a Digikey
part number. The "20PU" stands for 20Mhz in a "28P3" or 28-pin
plastic .30" skinny DIP. A good choice of part. Before you know
it, you and your friends will be buying them in tubes of 25 to
get them at the $1.69 price point.

Not got give you buyers remorse, but I am about to add AVR's
to my bag of tools and have been hunting around for AVR programmers.
The AVRDEVKIT1-ND is a combination of the ATSTK500 and the
ATAVRDragon from Digikey at $49.00. It is supposed to be a
combined programmer and debugger.

-Wayne
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Microcontroller options
    ... There are a lot of choices but I'd say the Atmel line is a good choice ... They offer some traditional 8-bit RISC controllers, ... But, based in part on the advice of Gordon and others here, I've decided ... to take the plunge and give a raw Atmel chip a try. ...
    (comp.robotics.misc)
  • Re: information requested single machine interface
    ... Depending on your database engine, you may be able to set up a client/server ... A decent programmer, familiar with java, javascript, and your database ... These controllers are basically for CNC machines. ... > I have been looking into SCADA systems which offer the capabilities but ...
    (sci.engr.control)
  • Re: Best Brushless Speed Controller?
    ... I haven't used the Turnigy controllers so can't compare but I do know the ... CC controllers are very reliable and feature packed. ... I have bought the CC ... I have a couple of the 25As, a 35A and the programmer. ...
    (rec.models.rc.air)