Re: TECH: Basic Stamp controlled pinball machine

On Mar 16, 5:33 pm, Terry Cumming <tcumm...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

<< > Towards the end of your document it seemed that you were using a
PC
for most functions on your Solar Ride. I guess than the Basic Stamp
was too slow after all? Even using the upgrated BS-2?

No, the PC was used for screen display, sounds and music and business
logic (e.g. keeping track of the score, deciding what lamps to turn on
and when to fire coils). The PC comunicated with the BS2 via serial
port. The BS2 kept track of lamps, switches and coils.

In hindsight, using 3 relatively slow microcontrollers communicating
by serial comm was not that great. One fast processor can handle the
functions of the three slow ones.>>

Sorry about the confusion, but then again I am really confused myself
right now. But you guys convinced me not to go this route. I tried
to look up more examples on the web about the successful use of a
Basic Stamp to control a pinball machine and outside of your site, I
came up with nothing. Ok, so you guys win. A Basic Stamp isn't as
good an idea that I initially thought.

<<> > Anyway, you mentioned the Atmel system and Mark mentioned this
system
too. How easy is this system to use and how much faster is it in
comparison to the Stamp. Is it easy to update like the stamp? Or is
it a tedious process like programming a PIC.

Well, once you figure out the dev board and programming dongle to use,
and use the Atmel AVR Studio IDe (free), it's straightforward. For a
novice like me though it took effort to figure out what I really
needed.

Yeah, as I said before, Mark seems to like this system too. But would
it be better than a PC or reverse engineered system?

<<> The problem with Stamps is that a single Basic instruction might
take
1ms. Using assembler or compiled C code you might do the same thing in
1usec (1000 times faster). For lots of things 1ms is fine.>>

Is using C and a computer faster than the Atmel system? If so, then
perhaps I should stick with the other two options of using a PC or a
reverse engineered method.

E.

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Alternative to Basic Stamp?
    ... >>where I can write the program in Basic, and download it to the controller ... > The PICAXE is based on the PIC, like the original BASIC Stamp. ...
    (sci.electronics.design)
  • Re: Alternative to Basic Stamp?
    ... >Subject: Alternative to Basic Stamp? ... If you're looking for a somewhat lower cost, ... The PICAXE is based on the PIC, ...
    (sci.electronics.design)
  • Re: TECH: Basic Stamp controlled pinball machine
    ... I controlled a Solar Ride game with Basic Stamps, ... Stamp is that it is very easy to make changes to the programming, ... I guess than the Basic Stamp ...
    (rec.games.pinball)
  • Re: Alternative to Basic Stamp?
    ... >>cheap or free compiler. ... > The PICAXE is based on the PIC, like the original BASIC Stamp. ...
    (sci.electronics.design)