Does any one use Parallax Propeller on here?? If so, what are the pros and cons?
Yeah, many people do
I mostly use the Prop.
Advantages;
- Very fast (200 MIPS). Do wav playback, voice synth, even TV output on the chip.
- simultaneous multitasking
- Code already available for many tasks (on the Object Exchange)
- Lot of I/O (32) that’s reconfigurable
Disadvantages;
- More expensive (chip is $8)
- Smaller community than Arduino or PICaxe (they’re mostly on the Parallax forums)
- Unconventional design - I started with the Prop so it makes sense to me, but if you’re used to other ucontrollers, it’s a bit of a learning curve
- Spin programming language is funky
I’m probably a biased source because I sell a Prop development platform (The Propeller Platform), but I hope it helps!
Nick
I am using the Propeller
I am building my robot and a remote controller from the Propeller. The advantages stated above plus
- Great support from the company and Propeller forum group
- Program it in any language you can think of (search the forums for the definitive list of languages)
- Many expandable options for connection types or storage devices
- Spin is powerful and like Basic on steroids
- 8 Cogs (or processors) with 2 counter modules in each that can control things like servos and free up the Cog to work on other things. So you can have a possible 3 tasks per Cog running concurrently
- All you really need to know is how to call someone else’s object and get the result from it in order to integrate the Objects found on the Object Exchange
- Assembly Code can execute faster than Spin
Disadvanges;
- No built-in ADC (simulated ADC via software)
- Learning curve can be steep unless you start with the Propeller Education Kit
- Spin is powerful but it is built for multitasking and is Basic like and yet has many differences that can be confusing at first.
- Confusion starts with Spin files can and sometimes do include Assembly code
My projects:
TOBI – The Tool Bot
https://www.robotshop.com/letsmakerobots/node/7025/
RoBo Remote - Programmable Remote Controller
https://www.robotshop.com/letsmakerobots/node/18692
I’m just a Newbee
I’m just a beginger and happen to win the http://www.gadgetgangster.com/find-a-project/56.html?projectnum=86 from Gadget Gangster. I’m thinking about selling it and getting another more beginer friendly one. I’m thinking about the PICAXE http://www.hvwtech.com/products_view.asp?ProductID=520.
Price can’t be too high (i’m on a limited budget). Does anyone have any other possible suggestions?? Please let me know if you do. Thank you in advance.
Better for beginners
I think the prop is fine for beginners, although the Propeller Designer Pack you have isn’t the best place to start - that’s really meant for people who want to publish something on the site, not a learning tool. I sell the Propeller Platform SD, that’s much better. So is the Parallax Demo Board and Education Kit.
sorry, accidental double post
sorry, accidental double post
Propeller Robots
I may be biased as well, as I designed and sell an advanced Propeller based robot controller board… RoboProp
Read the “Upgrading the Boe-Bot” article in the September issue of Servo
see http://Mikronauts.com/roboprop for more details.