Basic Stamp is a hobbyists microcontoller that uses the BASIC programming language. Here’s a primer on how to use it. After meeting Joe Grand, I became really interested in the Basic Stamp , made by Parallax. It’s a microcontroller that you can program using BASIC. The robotics applications for it look fantastic (check out this Toddler Robot.) I’d love to hear from anyone who has been using Basic Stamp and would like to write a story about it for MAKE.
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The BASIC Stamp is a great tool for any beginner, but once you figure out how to use a Stamp, there’s a great alternative to Parallax’s limited BASIC Stamp line. I switched to BasicX modules shortly after starting with the BASIC Stamps. The BasicX modules are far more powerful and have more features than the BASIC Stamp, but are just as easy to use for the same price. http://www.basicx.com/
–Vaya con dios.
Would you expect people who “Make” stuff to be assembler people? Pun aside, if you really want to see how the hardware works (and get those ones and zeroes under your fingernails) nothing beats working in assembly language. Must admit I’m changing from PIC16 to PIC18 to gain the convenience of having a compare instruction, though.
There are MUCH cheaper ways to build electronics than the basicStamp, for example the PIC chip ( the chip on the basic stamp) can be bought for $9 versus the $40 basic stamp. The basic stamp does have a bunch of hardware built into it to make it to make it easier to use, but they do get fried! I switched my students to programming PICs using PicBasicPro. http://pratt.edu/~eproto
My girlfriend got me a kit from Parallax called the Boe-Bot.
It’s fun, but I don’t dare tell her, “Honey I was doing this 3 years ago in digital lab.” After being away from electronics so long, it does feel good, and since it was a gift the price doesn’t seem so bad. I got it up and running no problem, and the interface is simple enough for a EE that despises coding, and in the end, now I want to learn more about robotics. I had the brainstorm that I should keep it at least to do some dad-son/daughter nerd bonding whenever that happens.
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