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Overview:
The BrainBoard is a programmable microcontroller-based board that contains a user-interface, connections for sensors and other electronics, and an easy connection to the BalanceBoard.
Details:
The onboard ATMEGA32 microcontroller provides plenty of computing horsepower for most robot applications, including sensor reading, navigation, and general control. It's ISP connector allows for In System Programming, so the microcontroller does not need to be removed in order to be programmed. A full-featured programmer is also available for a great price.
The included 2x16 character LCD screen provides a great way to display data, programming variables, or just fun marquees. And the 4 navigation buttons make it easy for the user to control the board. Sample C-code is provided (on our downloads page) to display information to the LCD, and read the status of the navigation buttons.
The board includes RS232 level translation circuitry and a standard DB9 connector. This serial port makes it a snap to connect to your PC and communicate with a terminal; a very useful feature for debugging your code or recording real-time data. Sample C-code is provided (on our downloads page) to communicate through this serial port.
The expansion connectors are very useful for connecting sensors and electronics. For example, to add a Sharp GP2D12 Infrared sensor, all you need to do is plug it into one of the 8 analog slots on the board using a 3-conductor cable. Then in your code, just use the C- function: read_GP2D12(connector#).
As if that's not enough, C programmers will save literally hundreds of dollars because a free, pro-grade open source C-compiler and IDE is available (on our downloads page)!
BrainBoard Anatomy:
1. 16x2 Alpha-Numeric LCD Display. Sample code is included to write text and numbers to this LCD.
2. Atmel ATMEGA32 Microcontroller. This microcontroller has a lot of power to control your robot. The key features of this chip are listed below:
-16 MIPS (with included 16MHz Resonator)
-32K Bytes FLASH
-1K EEPROM
-2K internal SRAM
-8 Channel, 10-bit DAC
-I2C Interface
-4 PWM Channels
-3 Timer/Counters
3. Serial Port. Using this port, you can connect the BrainBoard™ to your PC serial port by using a DB9 serial extension cable (included in the BalBot Advanced kit). Sample code is included to communicate with your PC using a simple terminal program such as HyperTerminal (Included with Windows).
4. Navigation Buttons. These buttons can be used for anything you want to use them for. The sample code uses them for up, down, left, and right control to navigate the LCD screen.
5. Reset Button. Pressing this button will reset the ATMEGA32. It will not reset the BPC (when connected to the BalanceBoard™).
6. ISP Programming Connector. This "In System Programming" Connector is used to program the ATMEGA32 without the need to remove the chip each time. The BalBot Advanced includes a programmer to interface between this connector and the parallel port of your PC. It also includes full-features programming software.
7. External Servo Power Connector. Servos typically consume a lot more power than regular solid-state electronics. This connector provides a way to power the servos using external power. this is especially useful if you servos use more power than available. As an example, in the case where the BrainBoard™ is powered from the BalanceBoard™, with no other electronics powered off the BrainBoard™, the servos should not consume more than about 700mA.
8. Servo Connectors. Provides capability to directly plug in up to 2 hobby servos. Sample code is included to operate 2 servos.
9. Analog/Digital Inputs. Each of these 8 connectors provide +5V, ground, and a direct connection to one of the ADC (Analog to Digital Converter) channels on the ATMEGA32. They are compatable with the 3-conductor JST cables.
10. Digital Inputs. Each of these 6 connectors provide +5V, ground, and 2 direct I/O connections to the ATMEGA32 as follows
(Note that 2 of the connectors share I/O lines with the navigation switches, and one of the connectors shares I/I with the servo connectors)
11. I2C Connectors. These connectors are used to connect external I2C slave devices. Each connector provides a connection to the I2C bus SDA and SCL lines, as well as ground and +5V. These are compatible with the 4-conductor JST cables.
12. System Connector. This connector provides power and I2C connections. It is specifically designed for and is pin compatible with the BalanceBoard™.
13. Auxiliary Power Connector. This may be used to power external modules, components, etc. It provides two ground connections and two +5V connections.
14. TTL Serial Connector. This connector may be used to connect external electronics to the serial port on the ATMEGA32. Note that when this is used, the DB9 serial port cannot be used at the same time, except to observe one direction of data traffic.
15. TTL vs. RS232 Select (AKA "Serial Select") jumper.
16. RS232 Level Conversion. This circuitry provides voltage level shifting for both directions of serial data between TTL and RS232 voltage levels. This allows direct connection to a PC's serial port using only a simple cable, instead of level shifting electronics.
17. Contrast Adjust. The user may use a small screwdriver to adjust the contrast of the LCD display.
Related Links:
BalanceBoard. This board can be used to balance a robot, and has a clean interface to the BrainBoard.
BalBot Basic. This kit includes the BalanceBoard.
BalBot Advanced. This kit includes the BalanceBoard AND the BrainBoard.
Technical details are in the "BalBot Detailed User's Guide", which is available at our downloads page.
ISP Programmer.
3-Conductor JST cable. Used for Analog ports.
4-Conductor JST cable. Used for the digital and I2C ports.
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