Best 8-bit Microcontroller for LEDs, Motor Control, USB Programming: PIC, Atmel, Arduino?

I have to build a small project for my university course using a microcontroller. I only needs to operate a few LEDs and a motor using switches as inputs but the program counts for 40% of the marks. I have been looking at the different 8-bit controllers available but I am at a loss as to which one is best to interface and program as there are so many available on the market. Which one is best the PIC, ATMEL, ARM, ARDUINO etc. I also need to program the controller using the USB port of my Laptop as it does not have a serial or parallel port. Any suggestions of a complete and simple programming kit and suitable microcontroller would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks.

The Arduino UNO is arguably the easiest to get started with and is now seen in Radioshack (Atmel is just a chip brand, the arduino series all use atmel chips for the processor.) ANY ARM platform is likely faster and better for the money but tougher to get started with and to program for a newb. Just start with an arduino and work your way towards ARMs, and FPGAs if you like what you find.

16F877A will be best for the operation of ur project bro

1) I would say buy the off the shelf kit of PIC I guess 16f877 is a good start to see
2) learn how a USB works basically and Microchip has App. note for everything you have to just find the right resource in doing
3) what you need is some ports to run Led and drive those switches and one communication channel to communicate through the USB . So make sure u have enough ports to do this

Start with microchip website , down their MPlab IDE and their free Pic c compiler and start running some simple codes to toggle Led through their example codes and app notes.

Thanks for all your replies. I was looking at the PIC range of controllers before as it seems to have a bigger range of development tools and resources available online, but confusingly they have a huge range of controllers so got stuck on which one to choose as I do not need all the fancy timers, counters and communication ports. I will check out the 16F877 as you have recommended. Thanks again guys.

no problem bro always there to help you

I have recently started using the Picaxe microcontroller. It is a PIC microcontroller that can be programmed using the BASIC programming language, thereby making it by far the easiest chip to program and use.
It is available in versions from 8-pin to 40-pin, just choose how many inputs and outputs you need.

The only necesary hardware is the USB programming cable and a breadboard with a couple of sockets and resistors. All the necessary programming software is available as free downloads.

In the UK:
Information: rev-ed.co.uk
Supplier: techsupplies.co.uk (= shop for rev-ed)
Technical Support Forum: www.picaxeforum.co.uk If you have a question about any aspect of the PICAXE system please post a question on the very active (and friendly!) support forum at this website.

In the US:
http://www.phanderson.com/picaxe/ Offers both the chips and helpful information.

If you did not do program on micro-controller previously means you do not have much knowledge about it than u should have to use Philips 89v51rd2, and if u want to burn your program from your USB than u can use USB to serial converter which is easily available on market.... And if you have good skill and you know micro-controller than PIC is best...

Was 4Pic processors r not 4 amateur. Ardino can be handled more easily.

I will suggest u 2 go with Ardino. It is cheaper and easy 2 operate.

Thanks for the information. I looked at the PICAXE before as the programming editor looks easy to use. It is based on a standard PIC controller but the problem is that it does not work with "blank" PIC chips. I would need to always buy pre-programmed PICAXE chips that contain the PICAXE firmware making it a little inflexible.

With arduino you can start direct. Just buy the board and start. There ae also a lot of addons like electronic for motor controler If you want to learn programming Arduino is better to start with. Price 25~35 $
If you want to learn to build electronic then it is moore open Microchip or Atmel both good and there are good development tools, but star price range 150-300$ ( pcb + emulator + electronic)

I understand the Picaxe chips are only slightly more expensive. The Picaxe system is designed for educational use, to make it easy to get started in programming and using microcontrollers.

Having gained a good familiarity with the basic principles and techniques, it will then be very much easier to graduate (when and if necessary) to "blank" chips of any kind.

You will give yourself A LOT more work to do if you decide to start off by learning to program in assembly language. For the simple application you describe, I honestly believe you will find the Picaxe by far the easiest to use.

Try the Atmel range as well as Pic Micro both just as good Use an H bridge Driver for motor operation so that you get reverse on motor as well You can also use pwm to control motor speed in conjunction with your hardware consider HIP4080A which has pwm input and is H bridge driver ready with extra pin for controlling reverse of motor Led's or Ics if you need them contact me through the forum I can also provide you with help with C compilers , basic compilers as well as what IDE how to set up and biulding your own programmer or links pointers to where you need to go

Other points to take into account which will make your project just that bit better than the rest "Switch debounce routines " very important when looking for switch presses So start to look inmto how to debounce switches now

Clearing ports down also important watch dog timers fuse settings etc Internal RC external RX xtal decide on speed of operation of cpu Good write ups on pipelining stack architecture and so on Don’t forget Most Tutors will give you Zero marks if they don’t see flow charts or algorithms doesn’t matter how good your coding is They want to see that you understand what your doing

They would rather see Good flow charts and maybe incorrect coding than brilliant code but doesn’t know how he / she got there

$ 35 dollars is not as cheap as one Pic cpu at £2.05 and some breadboard and a little effort Pic-axe is not as simple as you think Try 16F88 far easier to understand and quite frankly before you commence this you need to at least know what ports you need How many connections, whether you need hardware interrupts , timer interrupts, ADC, principles of , direct and indirect addressing , number of registers ALU pC counter etc , Lookup tables and how to

I also dont recommend 167877 its far to early to start with that device until you can at least understand basics which by the looks if what you are asking for tells me very clearly you don’t quite understand what it is you want Its a very difficult cpu three timers the lot Unless you are fully conversant with state diagrams and what timer interrupt takes control or interferes with another timer , way over the top for what you want right now

Lots to be considered before you rush out and buy a development board costing you some £80 to 150 – 300$ that's without software Programmers etc

Do research first Have a play with a small device first and see what you can download to start with and make so you at least get some idea of what you want , more importantly how and why !! Very important

See my site for pointers re this !!

Far cheaper than Arduino not forgetting free IDE and C compilers making your own programmer even better plus your project and possibly understanding the comms protocol for writing to the chip or at least having read up on some of this , simply points to decent research And Interest , and whats more youve just learnt a few more skills than the rest

A few small pointers to start with !!

PS don’t just pick Arduino unless your Java is pretty good but the final choice is up to you I think you oght to start with Pic first its less confusing

Also if you need help with circuit or need PCB's again get in touch and Ill see what I can do to assist you However don’t expect me to write your code for you I will however certainly assist where I can “In other words I’m not doing to your homework for you but I can provide you with guidance and technical literature should you need help “


Good luck

Mark Harrington

www.harrington.force9.co.uk

I have actually put up a project if anyone wants to make usb serial converter on this site with diagrams what chip to use and pcb layout for you plus C sharp interface to see how it works with a better understanding of Rs232 control lines See projects for more info

Marks says
-PS don’t just pick Arduino unless your Java is pretty good but the final choice is up to you I think you oght to start with Pic first its less confusing--
---

the IDE is written in java, that does not matter. In fact most of development platforms are using the same IDE (built on eclipse and eclipse is written in java). So reasoning like that we all should be pretty good in java. Mark Harrington seems to know very little about Arduino! And advicing on how to control a motor when you dont know data on the motor seems like talking in the air.
I must say I will not buy anything from Mark Harringtons firm....


With Arduino you have it all programmer, a board that is working, an IDE AND lots of programming examples and people to ask. As a starting point its just fantastic. And it is programmed via usb.

*From Arduino FAQ*

-Can I program the Arduino board in C?-
In fact, you already are; the Arduino language is merely a set of C/C++ functions that can be called from your code. Your sketch undergoes minor changes (e.g. automatic generation of function prototypes) and then is passed directly to a C/C++ compiler (avr-g++). All standard C and C++ constructs supported by avr-g++ should work in Arduino. For more details, see the page on the Arduino build process.

That’s a pretty silly comment to make but fortunately not everyone tries to do what you are doing and they do tend to listen to me Yes I am recommending this person opts for micro chip reasons being that it is far easier than ardiuno which is based around Atmel devices As for Ides being written in Java they require java to be installed but then you would also know that java is based on c anyway and you would also know that in order to utilize C or C++ you would use native methods but I don’t whish to argue with year I have given this person the best knowledge that I have and since many people have done quite well with me I don’t really feel “ Fortunately thank god” they will take to much notice of your negative comments If however you could possibly reply with some decent positive comments then I feel people might just have greater respect for you My knowledge is un university based and its also based on practical experience and having to study many long hours not only in the use of compilers but also to find out exactly what people end up paying for and how they rip students off

I do intend to make sure they cant do that at all If however you would like to consult with some of the senior networking engineers Sun Microsystems based who I have trained and helped as final Year students then you will also be able to verify that I am fully capable of delivering what they want and what’s more they obtained distinctions I trust that will satisfy the rest of this site and that was in their final Year They approached me to assist them and very pleased i was to to be able to help them PD they still approache me for help even now

I rest my case

Cheers anyway I not taking to much notice of you either I am giving you the best advice that anyone who knows exactly how some of these software suppliers work and how they target people in his predicament

Further most successful companies of which there are many I have worked for and yes they have all managed to make a profit from what I have done for them with the exception of obviously those who didn’t care to pay attention to my advice


Any thing else you like to add or be more negative about Nows your chance feel free !! You only get one chance with me


Last but not least I’ve also design’s and programmed , made the hardware for former MOD personal"armed forces " Yes Officer material not silly billy people and yes they are more than satisfied

So I don’t need to prove anything at all here to you or explain my advice , okie cokie !!

Now he is thinking


Thankyou and Have a nice day

void setup() {
// initialize serial communication at 9600 bits per second:
Serial.begin(9600);
}

// the loop routine runs over and over again forever:
void loop() {
// read the input on analog pin 0:
int sensorValue = analogRead(A0);
// print out the value you read:
Serial.println(sensorValue);
}

Object orientated !! PS System.printline java syntax OOPs technology Any idea how difficult that is to grasp unless you have studied C and if you needed to write software it would have to be in C++ and OOP related Thats why I said use a PIC micro to start with

The Arduino IDE is a cross-platform application written in Java, and is derived from the IDE for the Processing programming language and the Wiring project. It is designed to introduce programming to artists and other newcomers unfamiliar with software development. It includes a code editor with features such as syntax highlighting, brace matching, and automatic indentation, and is also capable of compiling and uploading programs to the board with a single click. There is typically no need to edit makefiles or run programs on a command-line interface.

The wiring project is C++ based however the IDE utilizes java which requires that you have java installed meaning he will have to set up classpaths and Yes it utilizes the java engine

There is a definite route to learning how write for embedded devices Jumping in at OOP technology end is fatal

You need to be able to do this in C having done so then work out how the assembler works swapping registers memory pages etc then by all means migrate to Arduino but first get the basics right !!

Start with a simple device such as a 16F88 with a view to using an external or your own HBridge driver circuitry even Pic basic is easier to work with than C++ oop technology Thats why your uhm banks are going bust Thats whay bussinesses are going bust and thats why the majority of bussineses end up in the gutter Reason people who try or attempt to encourage you to learn the wrong way I>E Yop schemes i.e have not fot massive tax bills to face i.e games which they cant play or use over the internet . I.e Company closes and takes every dealer with them i.e Multi millionairs who cant get thier audio nsystem running in the designer homes because some silly so ands so dint plan or leave the details of connections etc wiring diagrams and doesent give a monkies

Want some more examples and a repeat performance of this current crisis i.e Affinity Sutton who have to send out maintenance engineers five times because of a problem they didn’t solve correctly in the first place I.E VW cars as well Hence the major callbacks for cars already sold and manufactured with untold problems I>E the main reason for nearly half of the worlds recession

I.e a normal re run of the normal silly companies and failure rates because someone won’t listen I.e. The normal political row we have every year in this country Yes bloody sharks 500 updates and then Oh weve decided to do away with that OS as well and then close leaving you stuffed again



What’s more build it yourself you learn far more by doing this than rushing out and spending loads of money which as a student you don’t have !! Ask me Ive got sofwtare here , plus manuals which I will gladly show you "Shear hard experiance and being ripped off" and I cant get answers from these companies not to mention thier manuals which are far from correct

Sorry to have caused such a commotion in the Forum. The chip I was looking for was a microcontroller, not the one on the shoulder.

I wouldn’t laugh at that comment either "Chip on the shoulder " I don’t think it will be to long before they do just that either judging by the sound of things You still welcome to contact me and I will do my level best to help you where I can and where possible if certain people would actually allow you too

You haven’t caused any problems at all every now and again there is always some one who likes to dot their I’s , cross their T’s , completely theory based with no practical experience of the real world and who hasn’t obviously come across these difficulties before hence why experience sometimes is far better than just theory

Hence opt for a simple device that will do the job and without to many headaches giving you the basics to then see why oops or C++ Object orientated language is not always the answer particularly when you have to deal with instruction timing

Also so that you can understand how electrical transient noise upsets registers and how to decouple, isolate when you come across these challenges Effects of power supply smoothing caps on 5volt regulators which can upset reset times , brownout detection etc especially in your case because you are using motors and so noise can and does upsets ports , registers , and gives rise to some very strange fault symptom which can take you days to solve even weeks, months

This is why I build myself and know why and how to best avoid these difficulties all real hard practical experience , goes along way sometimes

Similar in context to using autoroute on pcb tracks where in the practical field doing this manually saves on copper and avoids problems with tracks over heating Or in laymans terms using satnave's which often give you far longer routes , where you drive around in circles because you happen to be present in a highly biult up area

this is where dotting your I's and cossing your T's and having done nothing but thoery wont help you at all