Tuesday, October 15, 2013

More About Basic Stamp Supercomputers

MORE ABOUT BASIC STAMP SUPERCOMPUTERS
If you're looking for an interesting Stamp Spring project, here's an index to BASIC Stamp Supercomputers and a brief overview of each. (by request)

BASIC Stamp Supercomputer
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

Why create a BASIC Stamp Supercomputer? I'm a hobbyist that loves BASIC Stamps. I have fun and enjoy learning new things by making interesting and challenging projects. All the information is offered free of charge so the projects can be duplicated and customized by others. I hope it will lead to many enjoyable learning experiences.

Intro: a Parallax BASIC Stamp Supercomputer is a fun hobby project that connects together multiple BASIC Stamps, in a network, to make "the many more powerful than the one." The name Supercomputer is in context of making one Stamp computer into a super Stamp computer with more capability not possible with just one Stamp. The comparison of "superness" is within the genre of BASIC Stamps.

The gains are significantly more ports, faster speed, more programming code statements, more sophisticated programming, paralleled operations, increase in sensor and peripheral abilities, and numerous techniques available to Parallax BASIC Stamp Supercomputers.

BASIC Stamp Supercomputers range from a simple low cost two processor unit (Minuscule or Two Stamp) on up to larger units (Basic Stamp Supercomputer BSS) with 20 to 30 processors. So there is a project within everyone's grasp in terms of affordability and level.

Brief Overview - Basic Stamp Supercomputers

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
Appeared in Robot Magazine, Learn Section. 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.

Stamp SEED Supercomputer
Basic Stamp Supercomputer
TriCore Stamp Supercomputer
Minuscule Stamp Supercomputer
Tiny Stamp Supercomputer
Penguin with 12 Brains
BASIC Stamp Supercomputing Book
Three Dimensional Computer StampOne News!
Penguin Tech *Penguin Robot Society 
Toddler Humanoid Robot Project
Ultimate List Prop Languages 
Prop-a-Lot 
Prop SC Computer
Prop IB Hypercomputer
Robotic Space Program