VEX Arm9 Microcontroller
From VEX Wiki
This is a preliminary release of the basic features of the new VEX ARM9 Microcontroller. Additional information, including pricing and availability, will be released at a later date.
Overview
The VEX PRO ARM9 Microcontroller is a redesign of the popular Qwerk designed by Charmed Labs. Processer, memory, ram, and FPGA remain unchanged. I/O will be compatible with all VEX motors, sensors, and connectors. Packaging has been redesigned and an LCD has been integrated.
802.11 Wireless
The VEX PRO ARM9 Microcontroller uses standard 802.11b/g communication. This will allow (with programming) highly configurable communication to PC's and wireless networks. The Carnegie Mellon Telepresence Robot Kit (TeRK) project provides a powerful feature to the VEX PRO ARM9 Microcontroller allowing robot control and video feedback across the internet. The controller can be operated from almost any computer including Mac, PC, and Linux machines.
- VEXnet Joysticks will be supported with future software updates (not available at release).
Note: See the VEX Cortex Microcontroller for simple bi-directional wireless communication and joystick control via VEXnet (based on 802.11).
VEXnet vs. VEX PRO ARM9 + 802.11b/g
Features (preliminary)
- 802.11g wireless communication (VEXnet compatible)
- ARM9 processor running at 200MHz
- 220 MIPS performance (22x the V0.5 microcontroller)
- 16MB Flash (512x the V0.5 microcontroller)
- 32MB SDRAM (18,000x the V0.5 microcontroller)
- Runs Linux 2.6 (Openembedded), programmable with Eclipse IDE
- Webcam video support
- One USB host port, One USB device port
- One I2C port (connects to multiple new smart sensors)
- One fast UART serial port
- 16 high resolution analog inputs (12-bit)
- 16 fast digital I/O (all can be interrupts)
- 16 motor ports
- 12 standard 3-wire PWM motor ports
- 4 smart 2-wire motor ports (back-EMF or quadrature encoder feedback for PID
closed-loop control)
- Motor current limit is 4x original controller
- Built in LCD (2x16 character) with 6 buttons
- Built in speaker (MP3 and WAV audio output)
- Latches on all 2-wire and 3-wire IO sockets
