PART 1
The BASIC Stamp Supercomputer is now 5 years of age, since it was introduced to the community in 2008. Let's revisit this machine and see exactly what's happened recently.
This is the Lab's first large scale parallel designed super computing experimental workhorse and testbed that was used for testing and years of experimenting prior to the Big Brain. This new series of posts will detail how it was built, evolved, and what it can do in terms of demonstrations and paving the way for more super machines.
The BSS led to at least fifteen more super computers (see genealogy) and evolved from the use of multiple single-core BASIC Stamp modules into multiple eight-core Propeller chips. It has led to the current supercomputer with over 100,000 processors. The BSS paved the path, enabling parallel computing and making the Big Brain possible.
Resources
http://www.p-robot.com/
http://www.p-robot.com/index.php/basic-stamp-supercomputer.html
Download software (22 programs)
Self Adjusting Master Code (New!)
Read the article in Penguin Tech 4
View the Schematic (page 6)
Watch the movie
Parallax Source Basic Stamp Supercomputer
BSS 22.zip
(55.6 KB) Software Downloads(NOTE: This is a demonstration of basic principles to take some characteristics of a supercomputer, in particular the notion of larger multiples of relatively simple processors communicating over a common bus, each doing a portion of a task in parallel)
Edition 4 of Penguin Tech Magazine featured the BSS Supercomputer
My Supercomputer! I got the idea to make a model supercomputer at the basic hobby level to demonstrate the concept. It's super fast compared to single BASIC stamp, but be forewarned, it only beats out the worlds fastest supercomputers in ten other categories!
* Smaller
* Lighter
* Portable
* Field Operable
* Runs on Batteries
* Has the Greatest Number of (I/O)
* Has the greatest Number of Sensors/Variety
* Lowest Power Consumption
* Lowest Unit Cost
* Easiest to Program
It's a simple hobby project for fun and experimentation, using 11 Parallax Basic Stamp microcontrollers. (It was later expanded to 12, then 22 stamps). These "computers" are connected together for hardware/software clustered parallel processing. It's a fantastic learning tool and can control 176 peripherals/sensors. One application is for the more rapid development of robotic sensors and software.
it.youtube.com/watch?v=huukEEwy-3E
Some tips on watching the youtube vid. Select "Watch in high quality." Turn off sound, let the vid load in first by leaving for a break. When you come back, it will be loaded, turn up the sound, and watch it. It will run smoothly.
This is the World's First talking Basic Stamp Hobby Supercomputer!!! (and the World's 1st Supercomputer built from hobby microcontrollers) It communicates by English and Chinese voice (EMIC TTS board), lights (21 LEDs), vision, sound (12 speakers), motion (PIR), ports (176), infrared, Vibra Tab Mass detector, accelerometer, temperature chip, ultrasonics [PING)))], LCD Liquid Crystal Display, and a tiny uOLED color monitor. Attachments include a keyboard, 3D space mouse, and other goodies under development.
Final Rack Wiring Phase and Grounding Field Experiment
There's 22 switches, 11 are toggle and 11 are pushbutton. Fully loaded, it's only a few pounds weight, so it's very portable. The only concern is one wire popping off, as the breadboards, as handy as they are for rapid proto, are less than permanent. I prefer to keep it this way as the entire supercomputer can be disassembled for moving and for international travel.
It uses a one wire interface and has unlimited computer expansion. Additional stamps connect to the interface by routing only P0, Vdd, and Vss. It can be operated on batteries or a power supply. The basic boards only draw 18 to 30ma each. Even with attachments, such as the EMIC text to speech board (peaks at 157ma while talking) and the uOLED color monitor (peaks at 52ma), the current draw of all boards average around 340 ma. Computer 9 starts talking and the hive peaks at 360 ma.
All boards and sensors are shown working, drawing 311 ma at 9-volts DC. Eleven programs are running in parallel, controlling multiple sensors at the same time.
It runs well on batteries. I have used 11 zinc carbon batteries which cost about 29 cents each. It may be advisable to use alkaline batteries for the uOLED and EMIC as these draw more current. The uOLED can be programmed to consume less current, based on the colors it displays.
Individual Basic Stamps are able to switch on and off, for various special configurations. For example, a quick test of a sensor on one computer is possible just by toggling a switch and running software. Board combinations can also be run, for example, in combining sensors from computers #2, 5, 6, 8, 10 and 11.
Software sets up a Master Computer MC that's in charge of the remaining workers. The Master, or Boss, decides how to handle business, when to talk, who should talk, how to talk, and what to talk. In summary, it queries the Workers to gain data and information, which can be computational related or sensor related. With the 11-Stamp configuration, there are 10 worker programs and 1 Master program running in parallel. The hardware parallel computer cluster runs in parallel also. This can achieve some incredible power, especially when considering the availability of 176 ports, many of which can contain sensors and circuits.
Earlier wiring stage, showing use of clips to hold
boards and wiring
The youtube video shows all 11 computers communicating. You will see the Master send out individual "wake-up" calls to the computers it wishes to speak to. For example, to wake up computer 8, it sends out "c8." Computer 8 will respond by saying, "I'm computer eight." It lets the Master know when it has finished data transfer by sending its signature, a c8. All computers can simultaneously perform calculations and take sensor readings, however, they must report their data to the Master one at a time.
A nice feature is the LCD that monitors traffic on the supernet. The LED Traffic Monitor is connected to the supernet without any computer requirement. It runs by itself, although its formatting is best controlled by Stamp PBASIC. It's quite fascinating to sit back and watch these computers talk back and forth to each other.
Supercomputer Self Diagnostics SSD are also built into the software. At startup, the LED array bus bar lights a single LED data light for each of the working computers, and a piezo speaker provides check data from an alternate pin. This routine works well for immediately knowing which computer is available and ready. Troubleshooting, for debugging software purposes, is a gold mine. There's access up to 21 LED data lights, LCD text and numerical output, Piezo sound pin data, and uOLED monitor output for text streaming and numerical data logging output information.
Three bus lines - Data LEDs, Toggle
Switches, and Power Control are made
from clothes hangers machined with a
hobby tool.
There are 10 workers and one master. The master handles the parallel network traffic and polls workers for information. I originally planned 10 BS2 computers. Curiosity got the best of me when I wondered if other stamps could easily interface. The answer found was yes, when the 11th computer, a BS2px on a BOE, was connected. Most of the remaining computers are Basic Stamp HomeWork boards. I now have computer number 12, a BS2sx that I'm working with.
Why Build a Supercomputer? Here's some reasons:
• Learning experiences & challenges
• Expanding education & knowledge
• Gaining useful background for career
• Research Benefits
• Extending Basic Stamp power
• Creating new inventions, ideas, applications
• Own your own, prestige
• School project, credit
• Involvement, sense of great accomplishment
• Psychological relaxation, Symbolic Value
• Sharing, making new friends
A lengthy writeup appears, with plans, more photos, schematics, build instructions, and software, in Penguin Tech Magazine.
The BSS has led to many other styles and types of Basic Stamp Supercomputers, each with a specific purpose. It also led to many supercomputer Propeller platforms.
BASIC Stamp Supercomputer
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?p=765140
1st hobby supercomputer using BASIC Stamps. Popularized putting together many processors to make a more powerful machine. Improved and upgraded to contain over 20 stamps.
Stamp SEED Supercomputer
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?p=817126
World’s 1st living stamp supercomputer. Ten Stamp processors - each is a life form. They are born, develop a unique personality, talk to neighbors, remember conversation, recall information, do work, nap, sleep, and dream. Includes wireless transceiver.
TriCore Stamp Supercomputer
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?p=822511
For testing and developing other supercomputers. Three Stamp processors = minimum requirement to test/ develop the Stamp SEED Supercomputer. Rapidly load/test multiple processor code. Includes lite version of life form code from Stamp SEED Supercomputer.
Minuscule Stamp Supercomputer
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?p=821451
Smallest possible supercomputer, lowest cost, increases power of one processor. Contains two processors. Used for testing/writing code related to connecting Stamps together, establishing baud rates, timing/syntax, and exploring various network configurations.
Tiny Stamp Supercomputer
Not released. The world's 1st first hand-held BASIC Stamp supercomputer. Absolutely most powerful, considering it has the smallest footprint with many tiny networked processors. Has its own book with 30 fun projects. Includes Architecture, Assembly, Programming, Tutorial, Applications, Complete Code. The TSS has multiple computers, LCD monitor, radio transmitter, receiver, speakers, breadboard real estate and a 64K EEPROM memory board, interfaced to a tiny Hub. The TSS Stamp supercomputer is so small, it will fit into a soup bowl or coat pocket. Includes special features such as hardware programming "on the fly."
Two-Stamp BASIC Stamp Supercomputer
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?p=765140
The wiring for connecting a BS2sx to a BS2px BASIC Stamp processor - how to amplify the power of one Stamp. This is entirely different from the Minuscule Stamp Supercomputer which uses different BASIC Stamp processors.
Handbook of Basic Stamp Supercomputing
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?p=841541
This book is written to answer many questions about hobby BASIC Stamp Supercomputers and offer a starting point for construction of your own Stamp Supercomputer. Includes apps and programming and many details to get you started immediately. Delves into Stamp Artificial Intelligence and many aspects of Stamp super computing. Electronic version is posted and available for download free of charge.
Penguin with 12 Brains (aka Penguin on Supercomputer)
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?p=765509
World's smartest Parallax Penguin Robot. In this project, Penguin's brain was connected to the BASIC Stamp Supercomputer. This created the potential to write 16,000 instructions, added all the resources of the Basic Stamp Supercomputer, 176 controlling ports, color uOLED display, green screen LCD, ultrasonic vision, presence sensors, memory, speech in English and Chinese.
Master Offloader Machine (MOM)
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?p=765140
The Master Offloader Machine was conceived from the need to offload intensive duties of the Master Computer in the BASIC Stamp Supercomputer (BSS). MOM was the first supercomputing project to show that connecting together multiple BASIC Stamp 1s and Stamp 2 flavors was possible. Contained ten processors.
3DSC (4 Dimensional Morphing Computer)
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?p=799604
World’s first 3D Stamp Computer to explore a multi-dimensional universe. Initially designed for simple space-time simulations. Includes three networked BASIC Stamp 1’s using Dx boards. Upgraded to include two servo-driven moving cores. Many applications developed for advanced hobbyists, students, teachers, designed for classrooms, high school Physics and advanced university level experiments with sound, light, time, motion, heat, etc. Upgraded with a Stamp 2 coprocessor.
http://www.p-robot.com/
http://forums.parallax.com/forums/default.aspx?f=10
http://it.youtube.com/watch?v=huukEEwy-3E