Big Brain Propeller Chip Hardware Enumeration

BIG BRAIN PROPELLER CHIP HARDWARE ENUMERATION
The currents system of the Big Brain employs a fast software approach to enumerating by chronological numerical algorithm from Propeller chip one to Propeller chip "n" which can be up to 150 chips or more installed inside the Big Brain machine's partitions.

This system describes a hardware approach to 150 or more chips using the input pins, with capability to handle thousands of chips.

Each Propeller chip is allotted up to 28 pins for use in this experiment. Chips 1 through 28 simply each dedicate one pin to a unique enumeration input based on the series 1, 2, 3, ... up to 28. Each pin is routed to ground, through a protective resistor.

Next, Propeller chips 29, 30, 31, ... up to 56, each have two pins allotted for a unique enumeration. For example, prop 29 has pins 0+1 grounded, prop 30 has 1+2, prop 30 has 2+3... and the series continues.

Propeller chips 57, 58, 59... up to 78, each have unique combinations of pins allotted. Additional unique 2-pin combinations exist. Props 79-150 use more unique combinations. The simple approach requires one extra resistor per each chip pin used for enumeration.

In actual cases, some pins are reserved. The following example shows the system. The code will simply read the binary pin word.

Propeller  Pin #
01             1
02             2 
03             3 
04             4 
05             5 
06             6
07             7
08             8
09             9
10             10
11             11
12             12
13             13
14             14
15             15
16             16
17             17
18             18
19             19
20             20
21             21
22             22
23             23
24             24
25             25
26             26
27             27
28             28
29             1,1
30             1,2
31             1,3
32             1,4
33             1,5
34             1,6
35             1,7
36             1,8
37             1,9
38             1,10
39             1,11
40             1,12
41             1,13
42             1,14
43             1,15
44             1,16
45             1,17
46             1,18
47             1,19
48             1,20
49             1,21
50             1,22
------------------
51             1,23
52             1,24
53             1,25 
54             1,26
55             1,27
56             1,28
57             2,2
58             2,3
59             2,4
60             2,5
61             2,6
62             2,7
63             2,8
64             2,9
65             2,10
66             2,11
67             2,12
68             2,13
69             2,14
70             2,15
71             2,16
72             2,17
73             2,18
74             2,19
75             2,20
76             2,21
77             2,22
78             2,23
79             2,24
80             2,25
81             2,26
82             2,27
83             2,28
84             3,1
85             3,2
86             3,4
...

Robot Explorer Log 5 Propeller Pins

DETERMINE FREE PROPELLER PINS
ROBOT EXPLORER LOG 5

CURRENT CHIP PINS FREE
PROPELLER 1: 11 PINS FREE
PROPELLER 2: 7 PINS FREE

We're taking this robot to the outer reaches of the Solar System! Follow along as we construct this little explorer craft that will go down to the surface of a new world that's alien to us.


In this update, we've removed the left and right IR navigation and replaced it with Ping ultrasonic navigation. The IR took up 4 pins so now the robot has 4 extra pins on the first propeller chip.

The ambient light level detectors are removed and replaced with the more sensitive TLS230R programmable chip.

On the second Propeller chip, two light to frequency converter chips (TLS230R) are added. Each chip uses 3 pins. Propeller two will have six more pins used.

On the second Propeller, the QTI sensor will be removed due to its limited range in the specs. This will free up 3 pins.

Also removed from the Propeller 2 are two CDS ambient light sensor cells freeing up two more pins.

The reason two light to frequency chips will be used is because one is pointed up to establish a baseline reference for calibration and the second chip will point down at the ground to help estimate the type of ground surface material, based on an average of light reflectivity.

Another reason for selecting the chip: the chip is much more sensitive compared to other sensors and it can be programmed for great sensitivity level or modified. This is a desired feature for exploring the outer planets and moons which have no more lighting than Earth's twilight.

The chip is also programmable to compensate for window dust and degradation, by increasing the light level sensitivity as needed.

Again, we attempted to combine both Propeller boards into one but there was a shortage of two pins.