The Picaxe MicroprocessorThe Picaxe Microprocessor

What is it???What is it???

Well, first a large company called Well, first a large company called Microchip Technology inc. created a Microchip Technology inc. created a Programmable Interface Controller Programmable Interface Controller

(PIC). A pic is essentially a computer (PIC). A pic is essentially a computer built into a single chip.built into a single chip.

This PIC was designed to be used in This PIC was designed to be used in thousands of products such as thousands of products such as

televisions, calculators, microwaves, televisions, calculators, microwaves, computers, watches, dish washers, computers, watches, dish washers, washing machines, telephones, and washing machines, telephones, and

so on………so on………

Millions of pics were and are being Millions of pics were and are being made.made.

But the limitation of the blank pic was that But the limitation of the blank pic was that it had to be programmed by skilled it had to be programmed by skilled

engineers in a difficult to understand engineers in a difficult to understand language. Also, an expensive programmer language. Also, an expensive programmer

was required to program each chip. was required to program each chip.

For a company designing consumer For a company designing consumer electronics, this was not too much of a electronics, this was not too much of a

hindrance as only one complex program hindrance as only one complex program had to be written per batch of electronic had to be written per batch of electronic goods, and only one programmer could goods, and only one programmer could

program thousands of chips on a program thousands of chips on a production line.production line.

Then along came Revolution Education, a Then along came Revolution Education, a UK company, funded by gas and oil giants. UK company, funded by gas and oil giants.

Revolution Education wrote a program that Revolution Education wrote a program that could be called an operating system, just could be called an operating system, just

like Windows on your PC.like Windows on your PC.

This made the pic much easier to program. This made the pic much easier to program. Revolution Education also created an easy Revolution Education also created an easy to use programming editor, which used the to use programming editor, which used the programming language known as Basic to programming language known as Basic to

program the pic.program the pic.

Now students can program the Now students can program the Picaxe processor very easily, and Picaxe processor very easily, and use it for many applications such use it for many applications such

as:as:

Controlling hobby servos to make things Controlling hobby servos to make things move/walkmove/walk

Controlling single digitsControlling single digits

Controlling multiple digitsControlling multiple digits

Controlling motorsControlling motors

Sensing light levelsSensing light levels

Displaying info on LCD screensDisplaying info on LCD screens

Model washing machinesModel washing machines

Range sensors (distance)Range sensors (distance)

Temperature sensorsTemperature sensors

Speech modulesSpeech modules

Robot armsRobot arms

Even colour sensorsEven colour sensors

And the internetAnd the internet

Micro-switches and motorsMicro-switches and motors

Data logging boardsData logging boards

Infra-Red remote controlsInfra-Red remote controls

See excel for product comparisonSee excel for product comparison

We have been working on an ASISTM grant with 5 We have been working on an ASISTM grant with 5 secondary schools.secondary schools.

La Trobe Secondary, Diamond Valley College, La Trobe Secondary, Diamond Valley College, Lalor North Secondary, Peter Lalor Secondary, Lalor North Secondary, Peter Lalor Secondary,

and Essendon Keilor College.and Essendon Keilor College.

As part of the grant, students start out with a As part of the grant, students start out with a universal project board; The UniBoard ™universal project board; The UniBoard ™

After building and programming the UniBoard, After building and programming the UniBoard, students are then open to build and design their students are then open to build and design their

own unique projects.own unique projects.These projects can be ANYTHING to do with These projects can be ANYTHING to do with electronics, mechatronics, Picaxe chips and electronics, mechatronics, Picaxe chips and

science!!science!!

One such project could be:One such project could be:

Releasing a Picaxe powered weather Releasing a Picaxe powered weather balloon to the stratosphere:balloon to the stratosphere:

The onboard picaxe could log the The onboard picaxe could log the temperature, light level, atmospheric temperature, light level, atmospheric

pressure, humidity.pressure, humidity.

It could also control a camera to take It could also control a camera to take photos of Melbourne…photos of Melbourne…

Other projects could be:Other projects could be:

A giant LED clock/thermometer just like the A giant LED clock/thermometer just like the Nylex clock in the cityNylex clock in the city

An external weather monitorAn external weather monitor

An alarm systemAn alarm system

The list goes on……The list goes on……

Now it is your turn to program the picaxe Now it is your turn to program the picaxe processorprocessor

We will start off by blinking a few LEDs.We will start off by blinking a few LEDs.

You will see the UniBoard in front of you. You will see the UniBoard in front of you. There are three onboard LEDS. Red, Yellow There are three onboard LEDS. Red, Yellow

and Green.and Green.

Each LED is connected to an output pin.Each LED is connected to an output pin.Red = pin 0Red = pin 0

Yellow = pin 1Yellow = pin 1Green = pin 2Green = pin 2

We can use the “high” and “low” commands to We can use the “high” and “low” commands to turn the LEDs on and off.turn the LEDs on and off.

See what this program does:See what this program does:

Main:Main:

High 1High 1

Pause 1000Pause 1000

Low 1Low 1

Pause 1000Pause 1000

Goto mainGoto main

Now let’s use the play command to play a Now let’s use the play command to play a tune:tune:

Main:Main:

Play 0,1Play 0,1

Pause 1000Pause 1000

Goto mainGoto main

Now let’s write a program for a stop lightNow let’s write a program for a stop light

RememberRemember red = 0 red = 0

Yellow = 1Yellow = 1Green = 2Green = 2

Main:Main:

High 0High 0

Wait 30Wait 30

Low 0Low 0

High 2High 2

Wait 30Wait 30

Low 2Low 2

High 1High 1

Wait 3Wait 3

low 1low 1

Goto mainGoto main

Thank you!Thank you!

More info is atMore info is at

www.apmp.com.auwww.apmp.com.au