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Topic starter
2019-06-20 11:45 pm
I am presently trying to reduce the power consumption of my robot. One way I'm going to do this is to use only the surface mount ATMEGA328 IC and the minimum of components needed to make it work. Any components that will be needed for programming via USB will be on a removable board.
I see that some ICs come with a boot loader, from what I can work out it's the bit that makes it possible to upload code via the USB. I also see that there is an option for burning a boot loader. What I'm finding on Google about boot loaders is quite advanced and I just need simple answers:
- Do I need a boot loader?
- If I do need to burn a boot loader is it easy to do?
- Would it be more cost effective to de-solder an IC from a Nano rather than use a new IC?
One word answers will do.
Mandy
The 600 series had rubber skin. We spotted them easy, but these are new. They look human... sweat, bad breath, everything. Very hard to spot.
2019-06-20 11:59 pm
How about a one video answer?
I believe Bill explains this at 30:00 in the following DroneBot Workshop video.
DroneBot Workshop Robotics Engineer
James
Topic starter
2019-06-21 12:16 am
Sorry Robo Pi, I can do that bit, the ATMEGA I have has a boot loader. It's not to different to programming the STM32 that way.
The thing is, I can get the IC for half the price without the boot loader, do I need it?
The 600 series had rubber skin. We spotted them easy, but these are new. They look human... sweat, bad breath, everything. Very hard to spot.
2019-06-21 12:25 am
The thing is, I can get the IC for half the price without the boot loader, do I need it?
Sorry. It was my understanding that if you use the Serial Interface you don't need the boot loader. But I could be wrong about that. I haven't tried it yet myself. But I do believe that my STM32 boards don't have a boot loader and I'm able to program them with the USB to Serial adapter. I was thinking the Atmega is probably the same. Like I say, I could be wrong.
DroneBot Workshop Robotics Engineer
James
2019-06-21 12:43 am
Here's a couple more video resources: I'll just link to these.
How to program an ATmega chip without a boot loader using another Arduino
How to burn a boot loader onto an ATmega chip
DroneBot Workshop Robotics Engineer
James
Topic starter
2019-06-21 1:29 am
YES!
The first video explained everything I need to know. So the answers are no, yes, and no. I'll just have to remember that I'll need to connect an Uno to the control board to program the chips. This also explains why I've been doing what I've been doing to program other chips.
Got it.
Thank you, that was right on target.
This post was modified 5 years ago by Mandy
The 600 series had rubber skin. We spotted them easy, but these are new. They look human... sweat, bad breath, everything. Very hard to spot.
2019-06-21 2:07 am
That's great. I was able to help out when I don't even know what I'm doing. ?
I tend to use the STM32 blue pill, or black pill when I want a small footprint. They run faster and have more memory than an Atmega. But I'm not sure what their power requirements are. I think the black pill uses less power than the blue pill, but not sure about that either. Like Bill my robot is still at the umbilical cord stage. So I haven't yet had to worry about batteries running down.
You are way ahead of me with ERIC. Nice robot!
DroneBot Workshop Robotics Engineer
James
Topic starter
2019-06-21 2:45 am
I have a Nano monitoring the batteries (If every thing is OK it will power up the rest of the electronics, servos and motors)
I'm seriously thinking of using the STM32 for everything else but I don't think it can be done.
I don't see that I'm ahead of you, you know about some things I don't and I suspect vice versa. Don't undervalue yourself, remember, we will begin the rise of the robots and the fall of civilisation.
Aint I the happy little bunny. ?
This post was modified 5 years ago by Mandy
The 600 series had rubber skin. We spotted them easy, but these are new. They look human... sweat, bad breath, everything. Very hard to spot.
2019-06-21 3:34 am
Don't undervalue yourself
I guess I do have three tractors. That's gotta count for something. ?
DroneBot Workshop Robotics Engineer
James