Posted: 5/18/2014 10:03:32 AM EDT
I'm a Python developer, and have had a Raspberry Pi for a little over a year now. Recently, I stumbled upon some tiny microcontrollers that have spurred me to dive into Arduino stuff - specifically, the DigiSpark. The damn thing is the size of a quarter, and less than $10.
I've been getting into building and flying quadcopters and such for a couple of months, and I haven't been able to find anything that's just dirt cheap to play with inside. There are a few blimps and such, but they're $200+ and don't do a whole lot. So, I've decided that one of my first projects is going to be connecting some fans and sensors to a microcontroller and hanging it under a mylar balloon from Walmart and seeing what I can make it do. So - I'm sure there Arfcommers out there that do hardware hacking. What interesting stuff have you done? |
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I'm in the process of building my Raspberry Pi emulator console but other than that I have no first hand experience in any of this new fangled DIY computering stuff.
I will say that I find it all absolutely amazing and very engaging. The more I learn the deeper I want to delve. Programming seems like a logical eventual step but I'm not there yet. |
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I haven't really accomplished much but did delve into Arduinos and a few microcontrollers two years ago. The Teensy USB 2.0 was the best value for the project at that time. They have a couple new generations now. https://www.pjrc.com/teensy/ |
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I've got some experience with the arduinos, teensy, and other arduino like microcontrollers and have built a few projects with them.
I've used them for a preamp control, convert an old IBM terminal keyboard to usb and few other things. My latest project really hasn't used them yet but will. I used a pcduino as an automation controller and web server. It has a few of the Lowes Iris smart plugs, and then a garage door and sprinkler controller that I built, all controlled via the digikey ZigBee radios. A few pics of the system are on the pcduino forum. The arduinos are useful, but they often seem to fall in the overkill or not enough horsepower category. Although I do have a couple set aside for light controllers, as soon as I come up with a good 120v led dimming circuit. Good luck on your project. |
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I'm currently working on a project with an ardunio board to take the temp from a smoker and open/close the vents as needed or fire up a little cpu fan. It will also have a low fuel warning and a meats done alarm. I eventually plan to host a website I can refresh from my phone so I don't even have to get up to check my food.
The code is all written in c. |
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The choice of the huge DPAK linear regulator is interesting... Seems out of place. I've built a switching power supply in less space (more expensive though). Could've gone with a SOT-23 or something. Other than that, looks like a cool little board for some simple projects. The USB programming port is slick!
The Arduino environment seems like a popular starting point and is probably a good way to start learning very inexpensively. It's hard for me to want to consider it for anything though (I have a "normal" Arduino but haven't done much more than blink an LED). I come from the more commercial side where JTAG or ARM SWD programming/debug interfaces are more standard. Those allow you to set break points (a specific point in code where you want it to pause running), which then allows you to single step through instructions and/or look at the values in variables. For people who have exhausted the Arduino in terms of power or peripherals or debugging capabilities, I would highly recommend the ST Micro "Discovery" boards which are available for many of their 32-bit ARM families. They have an onboard USB debugger/power and start around $10. Stacking headers bring out all of the processor pins. I use the Keil IDE often, which is free for programs under 32KB (then... expensive, but other alternatives exist). I typically start projects or do proof of concepts with those before moving on to custom board layouts. But those would have a much steeper learning curve than Arduino... |
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Quoted:
The choice of the huge DPAK linear regulator is interesting... Seems out of place. I've built a switching power supply in less space (more expensive though). Could've gone with a SOT-23 or something. Other than that, looks like a cool little board for some simple projects. The USB programming port is slick! The Arduino environment seems like a popular starting point and is probably a good way to start learning very inexpensively. It's hard for me to want to consider it for anything though (I have a "normal" Arduino but haven't done much more than blink an LED). I come from the more commercial side where JTAG or ARM SWD programming/debug interfaces are more standard. Those allow you to set break points (a specific point in code where you want it to pause running), which then allows you to single step through instructions and/or look at the values in variables. For people who have exhausted the Arduino in terms of power or peripherals or debugging capabilities, I would highly recommend the ST Micro "Discovery" boards which are available for many of their 32-bit ARM families. They have an onboard USB debugger/power and start around $10. Stacking headers bring out all of the processor pins. I use the Keil IDE often, which is free for programs under 32KB (then... expensive, but other alternatives exist). I typically start projects or do proof of concepts with those before moving on to custom board layouts. But those would have a much steeper learning curve than Arduino... Massimo has said a couple of times the LDO regulator on the uno was chosen to keep the price down and simplify the build process. It is after all a dev board. People build them directly into projects but that's really not what the uno or mega were designed for. They are offering a handful of both 3.3v and 5v arm boards that are levels of magnitude faster than the 328p based boards. OP, you should pickup a chipper and join the Atmel partners program. They will send you a handful of ATtiny 2313s, 85s and 84s for free a couple of times a month. You can program them directly with the chipper and have nearly the same functionality as the board you posted. |
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Quoted:
Massimo has said a couple of times the LDO regulator on the uno was chosen to keep the price down and simplify the build process. It is after all a dev board. People build them directly into projects but that's really not what the uno or mega were designed for. They are offering a handful of both 3.3v and 5v arm boards that are levels of magnitude faster than the 328p based boards. OP, you should pickup a chipper and join the Atmel partners program. They will send you a handful of ATtiny 2313s, 85s and 84s for free a couple of times a month. You can program them directly with the chipper and have nearly the same functionality as the board you posted. Any more details about signing up for the Atmel partners program? Thanks. |
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Massimo has said a couple of times the LDO regulator on the uno was chosen to keep the price down and simplify the build process. It is after all a dev board. People build them directly into projects but that's really not what the uno or mega were designed for. They are offering a handful of both 3.3v and 5v arm boards that are levels of magnitude faster than the 328p based boards. OP, you should pickup a chipper and join the Atmel partners program. They will send you a handful of ATtiny 2313s, 85s and 84s for free a couple of times a month. You can program them directly with the chipper and have nearly the same functionality as the board you posted. Quoted:
Quoted:
The choice of the huge DPAK linear regulator is interesting... Seems out of place. I've built a switching power supply in less space (more expensive though). Could've gone with a SOT-23 or something. Other than that, looks like a cool little board for some simple projects. The USB programming port is slick! The Arduino environment seems like a popular starting point and is probably a good way to start learning very inexpensively. It's hard for me to want to consider it for anything though (I have a "normal" Arduino but haven't done much more than blink an LED). I come from the more commercial side where JTAG or ARM SWD programming/debug interfaces are more standard. Those allow you to set break points (a specific point in code where you want it to pause running), which then allows you to single step through instructions and/or look at the values in variables. For people who have exhausted the Arduino in terms of power or peripherals or debugging capabilities, I would highly recommend the ST Micro "Discovery" boards which are available for many of their 32-bit ARM families. They have an onboard USB debugger/power and start around $10. Stacking headers bring out all of the processor pins. I use the Keil IDE often, which is free for programs under 32KB (then... expensive, but other alternatives exist). I typically start projects or do proof of concepts with those before moving on to custom board layouts. But those would have a much steeper learning curve than Arduino... Massimo has said a couple of times the LDO regulator on the uno was chosen to keep the price down and simplify the build process. It is after all a dev board. People build them directly into projects but that's really not what the uno or mega were designed for. They are offering a handful of both 3.3v and 5v arm boards that are levels of magnitude faster than the 328p based boards. OP, you should pickup a chipper and join the Atmel partners program. They will send you a handful of ATtiny 2313s, 85s and 84s for free a couple of times a month. You can program them directly with the chipper and have nearly the same functionality as the board you posted. I'll check into it :) I briefly delved into this stuff a few months ago, and found that the industry is extremely supportive of hobbyists. Maxim Integrated in particular seems to almost fall all over themselves to send you a handful of chips for testing and experimentation. |
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I'll check into it :) I briefly delved into this stuff a few months ago, and found that the industry is extremely supportive of hobbyists. Maxim Integrated in particular seems to almost fall all over themselves to send you a handful of chips for testing and experimentation. Quoted:
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Quoted:
The choice of the huge DPAK linear regulator is interesting... Seems out of place. I've built a switching power supply in less space (more expensive though). Could've gone with a SOT-23 or something. Other than that, looks like a cool little board for some simple projects. The USB programming port is slick! The Arduino environment seems like a popular starting point and is probably a good way to start learning very inexpensively. It's hard for me to want to consider it for anything though (I have a "normal" Arduino but haven't done much more than blink an LED). I come from the more commercial side where JTAG or ARM SWD programming/debug interfaces are more standard. Those allow you to set break points (a specific point in code where you want it to pause running), which then allows you to single step through instructions and/or look at the values in variables. For people who have exhausted the Arduino in terms of power or peripherals or debugging capabilities, I would highly recommend the ST Micro "Discovery" boards which are available for many of their 32-bit ARM families. They have an onboard USB debugger/power and start around $10. Stacking headers bring out all of the processor pins. I use the Keil IDE often, which is free for programs under 32KB (then... expensive, but other alternatives exist). I typically start projects or do proof of concepts with those before moving on to custom board layouts. But those would have a much steeper learning curve than Arduino... Massimo has said a couple of times the LDO regulator on the uno was chosen to keep the price down and simplify the build process. It is after all a dev board. People build them directly into projects but that's really not what the uno or mega were designed for. They are offering a handful of both 3.3v and 5v arm boards that are levels of magnitude faster than the 328p based boards. OP, you should pickup a chipper and join the Atmel partners program. They will send you a handful of ATtiny 2313s, 85s and 84s for free a couple of times a month. You can program them directly with the chipper and have nearly the same functionality as the board you posted. I'll check into it :) I briefly delved into this stuff a few months ago, and found that the industry is extremely supportive of hobbyists. Maxim Integrated in particular seems to almost fall all over themselves to send you a handful of chips for testing and experimentation. They all do it. STmicro, TI, Microchip, Linear etc. Half of the silicon I have is a sample. I have enough ICs to build an ammofort that would make the average arfcommer drool. |
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Any more details about signing up for the Atmel partners program? Thanks. Quoted:
Quoted:
Massimo has said a couple of times the LDO regulator on the uno was chosen to keep the price down and simplify the build process. It is after all a dev board. People build them directly into projects but that's really not what the uno or mega were designed for. They are offering a handful of both 3.3v and 5v arm boards that are levels of magnitude faster than the 328p based boards. OP, you should pickup a chipper and join the Atmel partners program. They will send you a handful of ATtiny 2313s, 85s and 84s for free a couple of times a month. You can program them directly with the chipper and have nearly the same functionality as the board you posted. Any more details about signing up for the Atmel partners program? Thanks. Sure. Go to any of the websites for their inexpensive products, scroll down to the package list and click the link for samples. It'll walk you through signing up. They'll only send you 15 or so pieces at a time but I've ordered 10 times in a week and never had an issue. |
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Quoted:
Massimo has said a couple of times the LDO regulator on the uno was chosen to keep the price down and simplify the build process. It is after all a dev board. People build them directly into projects but that's really not what the uno or mega were designed for. They are offering a handful of both 3.3v and 5v arm boards that are levels of magnitude faster than the 328p based boards. OP, you should pickup a chipper and join the Atmel partners program. They will send you a handful of ATtiny 2313s, 85s and 84s for free a couple of times a month. You can program them directly with the chipper and have nearly the same functionality as the board you posted. Quoted:
Quoted:
The choice of the huge DPAK linear regulator is interesting... Seems out of place. I've built a switching power supply in less space (more expensive though). Could've gone with a SOT-23 or something. Other than that, looks like a cool little board for some simple projects. The USB programming port is slick! The Arduino environment seems like a popular starting point and is probably a good way to start learning very inexpensively. It's hard for me to want to consider it for anything though (I have a "normal" Arduino but haven't done much more than blink an LED). I come from the more commercial side where JTAG or ARM SWD programming/debug interfaces are more standard. Those allow you to set break points (a specific point in code where you want it to pause running), which then allows you to single step through instructions and/or look at the values in variables. For people who have exhausted the Arduino in terms of power or peripherals or debugging capabilities, I would highly recommend the ST Micro "Discovery" boards which are available for many of their 32-bit ARM families. They have an onboard USB debugger/power and start around $10. Stacking headers bring out all of the processor pins. I use the Keil IDE often, which is free for programs under 32KB (then... expensive, but other alternatives exist). I typically start projects or do proof of concepts with those before moving on to custom board layouts. But those would have a much steeper learning curve than Arduino... Massimo has said a couple of times the LDO regulator on the uno was chosen to keep the price down and simplify the build process. It is after all a dev board. People build them directly into projects but that's really not what the uno or mega were designed for. They are offering a handful of both 3.3v and 5v arm boards that are levels of magnitude faster than the 328p based boards. OP, you should pickup a chipper and join the Atmel partners program. They will send you a handful of ATtiny 2313s, 85s and 84s for free a couple of times a month. You can program them directly with the chipper and have nearly the same functionality as the board you posted. I've been using these switch-mode regulator packages as mostly drop-in replacements on other avr boards people produce using L7805s... For under 5$ they have been doing a great job on a few custom boards. 
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