Sunday, March 17, 2013

Q Machine Q&A

Q MACHINE Q & A 
I’ve put together a Q Machine Q&A to help answer questions and provide more information. References are made to the links below. Some links may need to be updated for the Forum migration. Have fun!
 
Where is the code on ALL Humanoido projects?
That’s a really big question. The full index on that would be crazy big and does not yet exist. There’s 2,000 programs written just for the Penguin robot alone (many of these are linked in the Penguin Sticky and Signature link), not to mention other projects.

Where are the Q programs?
For the Q, about fifty programs are available. Twenty five sample programs are at the first link. Twenty three programs are at the BSS link.


Is there an index to hardware machines?
Yes, it covers the past decade and includes over 1,280 machines out of at least 2,000. Many of the links on the list can offer information for the construction of projects such as this one.


Is this is a completed project?
Yes, it follows Guidelines for Completed Projects, with posts and references and it includes a complete schematic, starter & communications code, and explanations to construct a working unit.


Does the Q project have schematics?
Yes, the first post contains a complete schematic and to optionally expand the Q with pushbuttons, LEDs, more interfacing, etc., there are four additional schematics for this purpose.


What are the extra schematics about?
1) Additional schematic for LED and switch wiring
2) Schematic diagrams for RC circuits on four boards
3) Parallax BS2 Push Button wiring
4) 4-Bit Micro Bus Detail

 
What is included on the main schematic?
The schematics show standard connections for Q construction details including a parts list, a list of pinouts for each board, Micro-Bus and truth table, Parallel Bus, Enumerator, and details on how the LCD is handled. Note, x4 indicates a quantity of four Basic Stamps where each is is connected onto the common parallel line P0. The choice of Bus is externally configured.. More theory is found in the handbook (links below).


Does Q have additional connection information?
Yes. Please refer to the text for additional connection information.


Are there additional schematics for Q reference?
Yes. Follow the links for the BSS, SEED, TriCore, Tiny Bus, 3DSC.


Is there a book for learning more about Parallel Clustered Stamps like the Q?
Yes. Download the BASIC Stamp Handbook of Supercomputing. It has many good ideas for multiple stamp configurations and projects. It includes hardware, software, apps and is applicable to the Q Machine project.


Does the Q have Starter Software?
Yes. To keep the project posting “length and time” investment reasonable, user application starter software is provided at the links. There are 25 programs that run on the Q machine at the first link.


Does the Q have communications code?
Yes. An additional 23 communications programs are linked below.


Where can I get help with enumeration?
Refer to the handbooks. The SEED link will provide more information about the workings of enumeration. Enumeration from random numbers generates errors. Therefore we do not generate random numbers for the enumeration and there is no error. Consult the TriCore for more information regarding a similar enumeration and connection schematic.


How can I implement a Tiny Bus?
Refer to the Minuscule BASIC Stamp One Parallel Computing Machine at post 20.


Are there more connection examples?
Yes. Another schematic example for connecting multiple Stamp cores is found with the 3D Stamp Computer 3DSC. Post 6. This also shows connections to a 9-volt DC power supply. But don’t use all the code here on the Q as it runs on a BS1 platform and not the BS2, unless it’s converted.


Do you have Q tips to help get started?
Yes.
* A quick way to add P0 communications - refer to the BSS’ 22 programs
* Remember the prefix for BS2 and match baud rates
* Refer to the BASIC Stamp Handbook for technical information
* The BASIC Stamp Handbook of Supercomputing is a good reference about multiple Stamp designs, software, apps, ideas
* The Q Machine will need only four sections of the Stamp code to drive four cores
* Use reductive forms of Schrödingers equations with PBASIC's integer format for whole numbers


Is the project open source?
The hardware Q Machine is open source - feel free to build it, improve it, and make mods as you wish, and the software is under the MIT license to use without restriction according to the terms of the agreement.


What is the MIT license?
A copy of the MIT license can be found at the Parallax site (see links below) and is provided here.

Copyright (c) 2013 Humanoido
Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.


Q MACHINE LINKS

Index to Hardware Machines
 

http://humanoidolabs.blogspot.tw/p/genealogy.html

Q Machine Software offered at this link
http://humanoidolabs.blogspot.tw/search?q=quadlyzer

These are starter and test programs from Parallax
and at their respective links reproduced with permission. For more information refer to "What's a Microcontroller," Chris Savage' web site for bar graphs and information at the links. For any missing Forum links, please inform us and we'll add.


Stamp Test
Debug Test
Power Consumption Code
Power Saver Code
Flash the LED Method 1
LED Flash Method 2
LED Flash Method 3
Two LED Test
Read Pushbutton State
Pushbutton Check
Servo Code Example
RC Time Code
Sound
Sound Effects
Hyperspace
Mixed Tones
More Linked Software
Bar Graph [Simple] (.BS2)
Bar Graph [Random] (.BS2)
Bar Graph [Advanced] (.BS2)
Bar Graph [Advanced Random] (.BS2)

Going High-Resolution
Bar Graph [Hi-Res Simple] (.BS2)
Bar Graph [Hi-Res Random] (.BS2)
Bar Graph [Hi-Res Advanced] (.BS2)
Bar Graph [Hi-Res Random Advanced] (.BS2)


Chris Savage Web Site (8 bar graph programs for LCD)

http://www.savagecircuits.com/forums/content.php
Q Machine Runs BSS Code (with Minor Changes)
Communications Code & Schematic
Download software (22 programs)
 

http://forums.parallax.com/attachmen...1&d=1290405748
Self Adjusting Master Code (New!) 

http://forums.parallax.com/attachmen...1&d=1230206403
Read the article in Penguin Tech 4 

http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?t=108721
View the Schematic (page 6) 

http://forums.parallax.com/attachmen...chmentid=57520 http://forums.parallax.com/showthrea...140#post765140
BASIC Stamp Handbook of Supercomputing 

www.p-robot.com/index.php/handbook-of-basic-stamp-supercomputing.html
Links for Stamp documentation
Downloads & Resources
BASIC Stamp 2 Schematic - Rev.J (.pdf)
 

http://www.parallax.com/Portals/0/Do...atic-Rev-J.pdf
BASIC Stamp Documentation 

http://www.parallax.com/tabid/440/Default.aspx
BASIC Stamp Software 

http://www.parallax.com/tabid/441/Default.aspx
BASIC Stamp Module Comparison (.pdf) 

http://www.parallax.com/Portals/0/Do...comparison.pdf
BASIC Stamp FAQ (.pdf) 

http://www.parallax.com/Portals/0/Do...icstampfaq.pdf
SEED Eumeration 

http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?p=817126
TriCore Enumeration & Connection Schematic

http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?p=822511
Implementing a Tiny Bus
Minuscule BASIC Stamp One Parallel Computing Machine
Post 20: schematic information for implementing a Tiny Bus http://forums.parallax.com/showthrea...451#post821451

 
3D Stamp Computer 3DSC
Connecting Multiple Stamp Cores
Power Connections
 

http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php/114239-MINUSCULE-Stamp-Supercomputer-UPGRADED-to-Parallel-Computing-Machine?p=821451#post821451

MORE Q SCHEMATICS FOR REFERENCE
1) Additional schematic for LED and switch wiring
2) Schematic diagrams for RC circuits on four boards
3) Parallax BS2 Push Button wiring
4) 4-Bit Micro Bus Detail
 

http://humanoidolabs.blogspot.com/20...-analyzer.html

Great Source of BS2 Code (PX Version)
 

http://www.p-robot.com/
Seed Project Part 1 & 2 

http://humanoidolabs.blogspot.tw/2012/07/seed-supercomputer.html http://humanoidolabs.blogspot.tw/2012/07/seed-supercomputer-part-2.html
AM Algorithm Machine 

http://humanoidolabs.blogspot.tw/201...achine_24.html
Tri-Core 

http://forums.parallax.com/showthrea...511#post822511
The Two-Stamp BSS (BS2sx + BS2px) 

http://forums.parallax.com/showthrea...l=1#post772979
Tiny AI Artificial Intelligence Software for the Seed http://humanoidolabs.blogspot.tw/201...elligence.html
Tiny AI Artificial Intelligence Software for the Tri-Core http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?114352-TriCore-Stamp-Supercomputer&p=825238&viewfull=1#post825238
Preparing Enumeration Pins 

http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?114352-TriCore-Stamp-Supercomputer&p=825238&viewfull
QuadLyzer Quantum Analyzer at Big Brain Blog http://humanoidolabs.blogspot.tw/201...-analyzer.html
Parallax 4x20 Serial LCD 

http://www.parallax.com/Store/Accessories/Displays/tabid/159/CategoryID/34/List/0/SortField/0/Level/a/ProductID/51/Default.aspx
Parallax Piezo Speaker 

http://www.parallax.com/Store/Accessories/Sound/tabid/164/CategoryID/38/List/0/SortField/0/Level/a/ProductID/106/Default.aspx
Parallax Basic Stamp Homework Board 

http://www.parallax.com/Store/Microc...3/Default.aspx
"What's a Microcontroller?" (v3.0) (354pp.) Download text (4.97 MB) 

http://www.parallax.com/Portals/0/Do...3-WAM-v3.0.pdf http://www.parallax.com/Portals/0/Downloads/docs/prod/edu/WAMv3.0-Errata-v1.0.pdf
Parallax Downloads Page 

http://www.parallax.com/tabid/440/Default.aspx
April 2009 Parallax CD ISO image 

ftp://ftp.parallax.com/cd/iso/2009-0...42009-MOSS.iso
BASIC Stamp (2e, 2sx, 2p, 2pe) Firmware Revision http://www.parallax.com/Portals/0/Do...-Revisions.zip
PBASIC 2.5 Syntax Enhancement Notes Provides overview of what's new with the PBASIC language in the BASIC Stamp Windows Editor v2.0 and higher

 http://www.parallax.com/Portals/0/Do...er2_0Beta2.pdf
BS1 and BS2 Conversion Tips (159 KB) 

http://www.parallax.com/Portals/0/Do...S2ConvTips.pdf
BASIC Stamp Syntax and Reference Manual 2.2 (5.3 MB) http://www.parallax.com/tabid/181/Li...3/Default.aspx http://www.parallax.com/Portals/0/Do...b-BSM-v2.2.pdf
BASIC Stamp Technical Comparison 

http://www.parallax.com/LinkClick.aspx?link=436 http://www.parallax.com/Portals/0/Do...comparison.pdf
BASIC Stamp Frequently Asked Questions (108 KB) http://www.parallax.com/Portals/0/Do...icStampFAQ.pdf
StampWorks Manual v2.1 (2 MB) 

http://www.parallax.com/tabid/181/Li...4/Default.aspx http://www.parallax.com/Portals/0/Do...eb-SW-v2.1.pdf
BASIC Stamp 1 Application Notes (516 KB) http://www.parallax.com/Portals/0/Do...s1Appnotes.pdf
BASIC Stamp 2 Application Notes (86 KB) http://www.parallax.com/Portals/0/Do...pnotesv1_9.pdf
How to program BASIC Stamps on a MAC (2.4 MB) http://www.muratnkonar.com/otherstuff/macbs2/ http://www.muratnkonar.com/otherstuff/macbs2/downloads.shtml
The Elements of PBASIC Style (210 KB) 

http://www.parallax.com/Portals/0/Do...basicstyle.pdf
Microcontroller Projects with the BASIC Stamp 2nd Ed (583 KB) http://www.parallax.com/Portals/0/Do...ctsExcerpt.pdf
Check Parallax for updates 

http://www.parallax.com/
Check Blog for updates 

http://humanoidolabs.blogspot.com/
MIT License at the Parallax site 

http://obex.parallax.com/license/