Kewl Do you convert
"067" from ascii to binary and then compare that to an A/D value ? I have worked out how to do binary to ascii Sometime I wonder if just programming in perl on the LINUX side might be just as easy I think potentiometers are used on most rotators ? Unless stepper motors have entered the scene ? Andrew ----- Original Message ----- From: "Marc Vermeersch" <[email protected]> To: "'Andrew Rich'" <[email protected]>; <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, October 13, 2009 9:44 PM Subject: RE: [amsat-bb] PIC rotator control > Hi Andrew, > > I have a PIC based solution currently in the prototype stage. It uses a > PIC18F4455 and drives a Yeasu AZ/EL rotor without the Yeasy control box. > > The PC sends information to the PIC (RequestedAZ,RequestedEL) and the PIC > sends back status information to the PC > (RequestedAZ,RequestedEL,CurrentAZ,CurrentEL,Status). > > Everything is done by the PIC: > - Control of the rotor motors based on either move-every-n-seconds or > move-when-error-angle-is-greater-than-n > - Measurement of the actual AZ/EL with 10-bit resolution > - Parking when no signal has been coming from the PC in x seconds -or- an > explicit park command is received > - Stall protection > - Some horizon protection: EL cannot go below x when AZ is y to avoid > pointing into my neighbors' bedroom. > - Over the top rotor control (under development) > - ... > > I'm using a PIC18F4455 and it is very well capable of doing all that and > more. I have chosen this path for several reasons: > - Eventually I want to run a tracking algorithm in the PIC too > - To make the control loop shorter > - To avoid dependence on the PC part specifically on safety related > aspects > like stall control and horizon protection. > - To explore the capabilities of the PIC18 > - (Because it's my job to do embedded HW/SW) > > BR, > -- > /\/\arc > >> -----Original Message----- >> From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On >> Behalf Of Andrew Rich >> Sent: dinsdag 13 oktober 2009 12:22 >> To: [email protected] >> Subject: [amsat-bb] PIC rotator control >> >> Hello >> >> I am re-visting a rotator controller. >> >> I am curious, should I push the processing of the "compare and make a >> decision" onto the PIC, or pull that function back into the PC ? >> >> PC is LINUX >> >> I/O is serial >> >> PIC is 16F877 >> >> Andrew VK4TEC >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Sent via [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the >> author. >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite >> program! >> Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.421 / Virus Database: 270.14.12/2431 - Release Date: 10/12/09 13:01:00 _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
