From:  William Hermans <[email protected]>
Reply-To:  "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
Date:  Thursday, July 3, 2014 at 1:56 PM
To:  "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
Subject:  Re: [beagleboard] Educated Noobie: Should i start with Arduino, or
Beagle?

> From what I understand the PRU's( there are two ) operate at 200Mhz, and run
> independently from the main processor. Most instructions also from what I
> understand take one cycle, and a cycle being 5uS ( someone correct me here if
> I am wrong ).
5ns
> 
> 
> The main processor on the other hand, running Linux we're to expect latency in
> the millisecond range. Fast enough for many things but not fast enough for
> high speed / resolution PWM / ADC etc. It is my understanding that running a
> real time kernel would tighten things up, perhaps a lot.
> 
> Assuming we may think running Linux is beneficial ( and it really can be ) we
> can use something like an SBC to handle much of the work that does not require
> very low latency. While the tasks that do require very low latency we can
> either use 1-2 PRU's, *OR* use external MCU specific to the task at hand, that
> stay in communication ( somehow ) with the main board. This main board can
> then be used as a communication / control hub internal to the project, and to
> the outside world.
> 
> Personally, I struggle with the idea of using Linux myself in several embedded
> situations. As in "why do i need to add this complexity", etc. Surely you
> could use some development board, or processor tied to a wireless device with
> an embedded networking stack. But then you price such devices, and you realize
> that you can very easily double, or triple the costs of the BBB. While the BBB
> being a Linux computer, if you need wifi, you buy a $12-$15 USD wifi<->USB
> dongle, making sure the chipset you chose has good support in your distro of
> choice. *OR* since the BBB also has UART, and SPI, you could also use a
> wireless device as mentioned above. But again, you're going to double your
> costs.
> 
> Passed this, the BBB having the ability to run Linux and thusly being far more
> general purpose. It can be used in far more situations.
> 
> Anyway this is just my own thoughts on this topic, and surely there is more to
> consider than the tiny bit I covered.
> 
> 
> On Thu, Jul 3, 2014 at 12:37 PM, Jerry Davis <[email protected]> wrote:
>> I really haven't done any serious real-time since my DEC days.
>> I was a software specialist for DEC in Dallas, who specialized in real-time
>> apps for RT-11 and RSX.
>> At that time I was handling in excess of 3000 interrupts per second in
>> assembler on a downloadable RSX-11S image.
>> This was on old hardware by today's standards, I would think.
>> 
>> For real-time what is expected interrupt rate on an ARM? BBB specifically?
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On Wed, Jul 2, 2014 at 9:56 PM, William Hermans <[email protected]> wrote:
>>> The term real time is subjective in this context anyhow. There is always
>>> going to be latency, it is just a matter of how much you can put up with.
>>> After all we're not talking about some medical device, or Automobile control
>>> system. UAV ?
>>> 
>>> But looking at this from an automobile perspective, you have a main computer
>>> system with many MCU's Performing sometimes critical tasks, and
>>> communicating back and forth with this main system via CANBus.
>>> 
>>> The OP really needs to define "Robot" more clearly. I mean we're not talking
>>> about an AT-AT walker model with stepper motors, while also having the
>>> ability to walk around are we ? . . .
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On Wed, Jul 2, 2014 at 5:30 PM, Robert Nelson <[email protected]>
>>> wrote:
>>>> On Wed, Jul 2, 2014 at 7:28 PM, Jerry Davis <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>>> > I have used BBB, RPi, and arduino.
>>>>> >
>>>>> > arduino is closer to real-time if you need that. However, it does only
>>>>> what
>>>>> > is programmed in C in a loop fashion. There is a setup() function and
>>>>> loop()
>>>>> > function.
>>>>> > just about everything is done in the loop. If you need tight integration
>>>>> > (real-time) with some piece of hardware, then arduino is the way to go.
>>>> 
>>>> Unless you use the "pru" on the bbb.. ;)
>>>> 
>>>> Regards,
>>>> 
>>>> --
>>>> Robert Nelson
>>>> http://www.rcn-ee.com/
>>>> 
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>>> 
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>> 
>> 
>> 
>> -- 
>> Extra Ham Operator: K7AZJ
>> Registered Linux User: 275424
>> Raspberry Pi and Arduino developer
>> 
>> There are 10 kinds of people in the world:
>> Those who can read binary and those who can't.
>> -- 
>> For more options, visit http://beagleboard.org/discuss
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> 
> 
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> For more options, visit http://beagleboard.org/discuss
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