Basic Stamp 2 MicroController

I am currently working on a project that involves using a Basic Stamp 2 microcontroller that was purchased through Parallax.com. We currently have the uController connected with our laptops using a USB to Serial converter and are able to achieve proper communication with the example LabVIEW code provided through parallax.com. We loaded the Basic Stamp Editor code that I attached below and ran the LabVIEW program (also attached). The problem that we are running into is that we need to have the ability to read and write to each pin. We need to set a specific pin HIGH depending on the user input. (Ex. User selects Pin 3 to set HIGH or LOW) The program that was loaded from the basic stamp editor just echos the user input. We are beginners with the software so we are not sure what part has to be changed in order to get it working.
If there is any more information that is needed please let us know! We are nearly 4 weeks until our due date =/
Attachments:
StampSerial.llb ‏63 KB
LabVIEWIO Notepad.txt ‏3 KB

Hi,
Looking at your stamp code, it is only programmed to drive one output pin and one input pin. Your serial protocol needs to be expanded to allow you to set pin and state, currently you only send state. You could just copy the code down and change the DO command to O1, O2 etc.
Also, the labview code you have is not too good. There is no while loop. Are you just running the code once or using the run continuous button? Run continuous is very bad as you are continuously opening and closing the com port. You should move the serial port open and close functions outside of the loop. This will require you to move the open and close code out of the subvi. If the code is user interface driven then you should use an event structure within your main loop. If you are not using an event structure you must put a small wait inside the loop or your code could use 100% CPU and lock up your PC.
Search the labview examples for ways to code your application.
Good luck,
Michael

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Communicating between LabVIEW and Basic Stamp 2.0

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Hi Adam,
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http://www.parallax.com/html_pages/downloads/software/software_basic_stamp.asp
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LabVIEW Output, BASIC STAMP II

How can I output the LabVIEW program that does the following (see
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From a graph, I could retrieve X-Values (X1 and X2) and Y-Values (Y1
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Target (X1, Y1)
Laser (X2, Y2)
Change in X (X2 - X1)
Change in Y (Y2 - Y1)
If ChangeX >= 5 If ChangeY >=5;
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| increasing Y
|
|
|
V ----------- > increasing X
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e right. If it was negative (less than zero), move change in X to
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Please e-mail me at if you can help, have
information or any question.
Thanks,
Paul

The example code that was provided with parallax is attached. As far as the driver for the serial to USB, I downloaded that and I can see the BS2 in my Device Manager (COM5). When I ran both the example code from Parallax and an example code through LabVIEW for a basic serial write and read, I was unable to get communication between my laptop and the BS2. If you have code that you developed before, it would be really helpful if I could test that out with my microcontroller. Thanks for all your help guys!
Attachments:
StampSerial.llb ‏63 KB

Working with basic stamp rs-232

hi there,
i'm currently using basic stamp together with labview 8.5. communication between the hardware (4 ultrasound sensors) and software is using the RS-232 serial communication.
however, the sampling rate is very slow ( as low as 10 samples per second). may i know how to increase the sampling rate?
it is due to the serial communication?

Who wrote the embedded code for the microcontroller? That's probably where the sampling rate is set (or allows to be set). Is there documentation that came with the firmware? Also, what are you sampling? Depending on what you are sampling, sampling rates can vary greatly.
For instance, you would sample temperature at a vely low rate as compared with wind velocity.
Does your circuit allow for buffering? There are many details about your environment that you need to share before we can offer any suggestions on how to increase sampling rate... Or to determine if it is possible to do so...
R

Communicating To Basic Stamp with RS232

I am new to programming in Labview.
I recently have a requirement to use LabView to control a Test Setup rigged with a Basic Stamp 2p Mircocontroller.
All I need to do is to get Labview to send some coded commands to the stamp so that it can retrieve execute the commands and then return some data that it collected from the sensors that it is monitoring.
Below is how I try to manage the communication:
1. Labview send out "0" then read from COM1, timeout in 5secs. It will repeat this until it get a reply from the Stamp wihtin 5secs.
2. Basic Stamp will not reply if it is doing something else. It will reply "0" if it is ready to receive instructions. And "1" if it is ready to send data.
3. When Labview get a "0" reply, it will send out the two coded instructions. If the reply is "1" Labview will read from COM1.
Here's the problem.
I start my experiment by sending the first set of instructions to the Stamp. Which it has no problem executing.
But when I try to send a 2nd instructions, i.e. when Labview try to send out "0" and wait for a "0" reply. It reads the value of the last instruction it sent out. Depending how many bytes I set it to read, LabView will cycle until the last byte of the previous instruction is done then it will read in the "0".
I do not believe the problem is with my Stamp program or the hardware as I tried to manually sent instructions using Hyperterminal(with echo off) and I do not see the instructions returning.
The way Labview behave seems like ECHO ON in hyperterminal. Just that the data I sent out seems to be sitting in the read buffer.
I manage to bypass this by doing something really stupid. Each time I need to read from the COM port, I close the VISA connection and Open it again. This seems to help clear the buffer. But this put in substantial amount of wait time in both my Stamp and Labview program as I have to ensure each side is ready to communicate and they wait for each other to get ready.
Does anyone know how I can stop the data I sent out to appear when I read from COM port?
The only configuration that is not default on the VISA connection is that I stepped the Baud rate down to 4800 to ensure that the Stamp do not loose data.
Thank you.

I tried using the Send/Read Example. But since my Stamp is programmed to communicate in 4800 baud rate, I have to add the VISA Config in the Labview example to get it talking properly. Well the results are the same. I see what I send out in the read message box and my stamp is not program to echo message. The only thing I can think of that could cause this is the serial cable. I have to rig an adapter to diasble the stamp from resetting I rigged the cable so that pin 2, 3 & 5 on the DB9 cable is connected to the stamp. Pin 1, 4 & 6 are tie together. Pin 7 & 8 are tied together. (As suggested in the basic stamp manual, Pg 399). Would this cause the data to be routed back to the read buffer?
Thank you.
Attachments:
Manual.jpg ‏64 KB

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Thanks

There are two vis that can be combined :
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Have a look at the attached vi.
CC
Chilly Charly (aka CC)
E-List Master - Kudos glutton - Press the yellow button on the left...
Attachments:
Beat Count2.zip ‏23 KB

How to reject pulses

Hi,
This is one project that I am doing for some time using sinar sensor which generates pulse with to measure the distance to object. This sensor is being controlle dby basic stamp2.
My problem is that I am getting signal from the signal out put of the sensor. the same output is used by the basic stamp to switch on the sensor and that time is like 2usec so it acts like pulse the sensor generate long pulse depending upon the distance from the object. SO one short pulse and one long pulse
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because I am trying to calculate the velocity out of that range sensor so I onle need pulses which tells me the distance so two consecutive distance pulses in my code will tell me change in distance and the I can convert it into velocity.
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see my attachment
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Attachments:
combine1b.vi ‏158 KB

The cause of the problem is that you were using the case structure to control the data update of the local variable, but you were not using it to control whether the data is processed for a given iteration of the loop. What this meant is that you would process old data during iterations in which you didn't want to process any data. The simple fix is to include all of your processing inside of your case structure. This also allows you to eliminate the use of local variables, which should always be avoided at all costs. The use of that local variable actually created a race condition in your code which could have also contributed to the problem you were having.
I have attached a modified version of your code that implements what I described above. I hope this helps and remember the lesson to learn: use local variables as a last result only!
Kind Regards,
E. Sulzer
Applications Engineer
National Instruments
Attachments:
combine1b_mod.vi ‏160 KB

Best way to make this stepper motor control system

The goal of my project is to have real-time data collected by a Dataq 158u utlimately controller a stepper motor. I orignially planned on running this whole thing with basic stamp, but I'm realizing that this may not be possible. I have a stepper motor and a L293DNE driver. I will continuously be recording data with the dataq, in the form of volts, and want these values to determine how the motor works. For example, if the voltage is 0-3 volts, I want it to rotate clockwise, 3-5 volts not rotate, and 5-8 volts rotate counter clockwise.
I've been trying to figure this out the past week, looking through threads with basic stamp, matlab, and now labview.
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Thanks in advance.
-Nick
Solved!
Go to Solution.

Nick,
What I was describing is how you would need to configure the motor controller to accept PWM from LabVIEW and operate in a Locked Antiphase mode so you could control motor direction. A lot of the LabVIEW part depends on the DAQ you use. For instance does your DAQ have a Counter that can generate PWM? I did some checking just now and your DAQ is not manufactured by National Instruments and I could not locate any native LabVIEW drivers. I did however go to the Dataq 158u MFG website and found they do have LabVIEW drivers BUT their Software (SW) must be running in the back ground. The Dataq 158u web site also has a help forum, I suggest you start their to understand the capability of the Dataq 158u. Also it appears you are not familiar at all with LabVIEW , before you can take on a project like this you need to start with the basics of LabVIEW, learn how to handle arrays so you can store your ADC results and how to use loops and timing and shift registers. NI has some FREE basic training like the 6 HR intrudction to LabVIEW I would start their. Oh and in your OP (original post) you doubted the Basic Stamp could do this, I do this type of control using Atmel micro controllers all the time, I am sure the Stamp could eaisily do this. Just get on one of their forums for more info. Oh and to answer your question an Inverter is an IC that inverts the input signal, what you would end up with at the direction pins of you motor controller is PWM on one pin and 180Deg out of phase PWM on the other.
Alan

Soccer robot

Hi, i'm working on a robot soccer, that has a webcam placed directly on the top of the robot(showing five different coloured circles from the view of the camera) to act as the robot's "eyes", detecting the robot's position. I'm required to use Labview, with Vision Assistant as image processing program to create a programme in such that the robot would move to the ball(target). I'm using rs-232 connecting between the host computer and a Basic Stamp 2 board(transmitter), a RF module to communicate with the robot(receiver). Currently, i'm working in grayscale image abdi've made necessary image processing steps but i cant seem to get the coordinates of both the robot and ball(target) in the same program and i'm stuck on how to control robot's movement to the target using Labview programming. How do I go about finding the angles and distance between the robot and the target? What functions should I use? Hope to seek guidance from anyone who can help.

Creating soccer robots isn't too easy and using optical systems for position- and target-"acquisition" is very difficult.
Pnt already wrote about some things you have to consider, but i will add some more:
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- Does the robot act as a single player or are there more of them? You will need to "look" for other "players" in order to prevent damage to your robot and the others....
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He has eyes and ears to learn his surrounding and maybe some kind of "precognition" in order to prevent dangerous situations. This will make a good soccerplayer...and your job seems to be to transfer this to.... a robot
CEO: What exactly is stopping us from doing this?
Expert: Geometry
Marketing Manager: Just ignore it.

PING))) Ultrasonic Distance Sensor (#28015) LabVIEW

We are doing a project with the PING))) Ultrasonic Distance Sensor (#28015) using LabVIEW 9.0. We are having difficulty interfacing the PING))) sensor with the NI ELVIS II+. Also we are unsure of how to make a time delay in the microsecond range. Any suggestions are appreciated.

LabVIEW, under Windows, is not capable of a microsecond delay. Windows, in general, has a latency of 1 to 10 mS depending on who you ask and what version of Windows, machine, etc etc; however, I have seen LabVIEW commit to delays of 2 mS reliably. You just have to test it. LabVIEW RealTime is a different story, but I don't think you are running RT with Elvis.
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Robot soccer

Hi, i'm working on a robot soccer, that has a webcam placed directly on the top of the robot to act as the robot's "eyes", detecting the robot's position. I'm required to use Labview, with Viaion Assistant as image processing program to create a programme in such that the robot would move to the ball(target). I'm using rs-232 connecting between the host computer and a Basic Stamp 2 board(transmitter), a RF module to communicate with the robot(receiver). Currently, i've made necessary image processing steps but i cant seem to get the coordinates of both the robot and target in the same program and i'm stuck on how to control robot's movement to the target using Labview programming. Hope to seek guidance from anyone who can help.

I believe you posted this in the wrong forum. You need to post this to the Labview forum. You may get a response here, but this forum is for Multisim/Ultiboard and I doubt that there is anyone here that can help you.
Kittmaster's Component Database
http://ni.kittmaster.com
Have a Nice Day

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Hello,
I am an electrical engineering student, but have been spending most of time doing higher level Matlab type applications. I would really like to create something during my own time that would initially log something as simple as a when a button is pressed from some device external to the PC.
I have played around with Java a little, but didn't really get anywhere because I didn't have a goal. I would really like to get some help from someone on where to get started on an application like this.
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Message Edited by Marc A on 10-03-2007 03:56 PM
Attachments:
Example_BD.png ‏2 KB

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Attachments:
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