SuperStamp

1st SuperSTAMP - marriage of Stamp & Propeller

SUPERSTAMP

The SuperSTAMP is a very powerful BASIC Stamp "module" made from a Parallax BS2 Board of Education and a Propeller Proto Board. The added features and resources create added capabilities and power that go far beyond the original Stamp.

SuperSTAMP sets on the green work pad

You can thank the Big Brain for its spinoff projects leading to the SuperSTAMP.

How was the SuperSTAMP born? During the 2010-2011 time period, the Big Brain project developed a Brain Stem. As it was receiving more wiring, a transformation took place. Upon completed, it became a fully functional integrated module inside the giant brain and it also became the world's first SuperSTAMP built from Big Brain technology!



PHOTO: In November of 2010, the first Brain Stem was completed and tested. Seen here it sets on the green pad for further analysis. At that time, the Brain did not exist and was only a vision in the mind's eye!

The SuperStamp was first blogged within the Parallax Forum "Fill the Big Brain" thread. It was a transformation from a working Big Brain Stem. The duality of Stamp and Propeller enabled the creation of a SuperSTAMP, much more powerful than a single stamp, more powerful than a single Propeller, with 9 cores instead of 1 or 8.

A nine core machine
Communications was developed and tested on the first Propeller positioned above the first BS2 which became known as the SuperSTAMP. The SuperSTAMP is another project developed to give maximum power to a BASIC Stamp. The SuperSTAMP mates to the PPPB and consists of both Tx and Rx programs along a common protected BUS. It's essentially a BASIC Stamp enhanced with the addition of one propeller chip that adds eight additional cores.

Wiring Diagram for a SuperSTAMP "Brain Stem." Another napkin sketch, the Stem consists of a Propeller board (PPPB) and a BASIC Stamp 2 Board (BOE). Test wiring is straightforward.

Robotic Brain Stem Discovery Thread
http://forums.parallax.com/showthrea...611#post955611

Overview
The Brain Stem is one of the most important parts of the Brain. It resides below the Brain Base. The Stem passes signals like a nerve center for reflex, muscle and primarily mobility control. It harnesses mobility software to give the brain motion control.

Compatibility
The Brain Stem has another purpose. It serves as a commonality compatibility interface with other processor-based robots, for example, Parallax robots using BASIC Stamps. It is also compatible with Propeller-based robots, including the Boe-Bot, SumoBot, S2, Stingray, QuadRover, and is an ideal candidate for the Robot Base Full Kit.

SuperSTAMP
Communications was developed and tested on the first Propeller above the first BS2 which is known as the SuperSTAMP. The SuperSTAMP is another project developed to give maximum power to a BASIC Stamp. The SuperSTAMP mates to the PPPB and consists of both Tx and Rx programs along a common protected BUS.

COMMUNICATIONS
Revealing SUPERSTAMP test code
This chronicles the development of test code, phase I, for the Brain Stem. Note, the Brain Stem is made up from two boards, a BOE and a PPPB.

Wiring
Important wiring note. The schematic shows a Propeller to Stamp connection but does not show the lines running from Vss to Vss. Note that Vdd to Vdd is not implemented as the Propeller is a 3.1-volt device and the Stamp is a 5-volt device. The actual feed is from the Stamp regulator to gain the 5-volts and from the external power supply to gain the 3.1 volts.

Programming Code
Brain Stem code consists of one folder with three files.

PROP-BS2 LEVEL5.bs2
PROP-BS2-LEVEL5.spin
BS2_Functions.spin

Operating the Programs
Load the first program into the BS2. This will act as the receiver. Load the second "Propeller" program and run it. This is the transmitter.

Testing
In the test, the Propeller is continually talking to the Stamp and the Stamp is listening. The Stamp code makes use of the the Debug screen for output.

Error Detection
The code also has error detection. If the system hangs, a timeout occurs and a message is given. Following this, the loop will continue looking for the next character.

Prop to STAMP Voltage Levels
The BUS data transmission from the Prop to the Stamp is a compatible voltage level.

ORIGINAL DISCOVERY THREAD
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php/124495-Fill-the-Big-Brain?p=982969&viewfull=1#post982969

CODE DOWNLOAD

brainstem code.zip‎ (16.2 KB, 4070 views)

Twin Propeller Board

BUILD A TWIN PROP BOARD USING A PPPB
There's so many uses for the Parallax Propeller Proto Board that we've lost count. However, making this Twin Prop Board is one of our favorite projects and most useful.

The idea is to take one Parallax Propeller Proto Board and add a solderless breadboard and another Propeller chip. Wiring the prop takes place on the back of the board and a connector helps make the circuit connections. This is a good board for experimenting with multi-prop experiments and testing new communications code.

Barrel Power Connector Pictorial

BARREL POWER CONNECTOR
Basic connections
01-06-2011, 08:33 PM CODE 5-115

This is a handy pictorial that can be used to measure power on the unmodified PPPB. It shows the (+/-)
polarity of the Barrel Connector and the positioning of the power LED under the slide switch. It also
identifies the green LED and its resistor pair. PPPB = Parallax Propeller Proto Board.

Testing Setup for LEDs

01-03-2011, 05:00 PM Code 6-102 TESTING SETUP FOR LEDS

Testing setup for LEDs using breadboards mounted on Parallax Propeller Proto Boards.

Boards on Boards

01-03-2011, 01:37 PM Code 5-96 BOARDS ON BOARDS
This is the board attachment phase

Boards on boards simply refer to the mounting of secondary boards on the PPPBs. This is a small solderless breadboard (SBB) for wiring the components for data transfer (various BUS), data lights, power rail, power connection, and any additional circuits. It's also useful for rapidly changing and morphing the wiring and to run various test circuits. The board is extremely small and is very minimal in its propagation of EMI/ RFI and can be situated close to the Propeller chips' pin array - another useful minimization. This may or may not allow overclocking, future tests will determine the viability of overclocking. Currently the boards handle 80MHz and 20MIPs per cog.

Although there are 20 PPPBs, only 19 will receive the SBB. This is because the PPPB in the Brain Stem is a hybrid which must interface to a BASIC Stamp and already has a tiny SBB made up of 7 total pin connector arrays. It may take some time to attach all SBBs. They are attached directly beneath the PPPBs label "PropClip" and "Keyboard." Note the hybrid PPPB already has the expansion kit installed for attaching keyboard, VGA, and mouse, so in the remaining boards this position is available for adding SBB real estate.

SBBs are attached with large pieces of rolled plastic boxing tape. SBBs can be reposition, relocated, and removed at any time. The adherence may last for years, depending on environment and tape qualities.