Hi!
I realize I am out of my league here, but I thought I would pose a question to see if my goal is achievable.
I am working on a model rocket and I need a mechanism that would release the parachute. I had some electronics training a long time ago, but I am rusty and have a lot of new things to learn. I have had some experience programming in visual basic and assembly language. I feel confident I could pick up C programming with a little effort.
I would like to design an inexpensive, programmable circuit using one of the PIC controllers that would allow me to control a small, RC servo, and trigger its motion based on a number of inputs including time, altitude sensor, magnetic anomaly detector, etc. Based on time would be my first objective. The servo would be my actuator for releasing the parachute.
I realize I have a lot to learn, but would like to find out if my goal is realistic before I wade into this project. I will need to buy a solderless breadboard for protyping, jumper wires, battery holder, resistors, capacitors, inductors, a microprocessor, EEPROM, and a way to connect to my computer to use Microchip's programming IDE.
Question:
1) Is there an inexpensive kit I could purchase that would allow me to jumpstart my effort? I would want one that could handle a number of sensors and would specifically be able to control a small servo.
2) Any recommendations on the type of programmable microcontroller to start with? Other equipment or supplies I should purchase to get started?
3) Recommendations on an existing project someone has documented that I could follow to get started?
Many thanks for any help you can provide!
-- Tom
I realize I am out of my league here, but I thought I would pose a question to see if my goal is achievable.
I am working on a model rocket and I need a mechanism that would release the parachute. I had some electronics training a long time ago, but I am rusty and have a lot of new things to learn. I have had some experience programming in visual basic and assembly language. I feel confident I could pick up C programming with a little effort.
I would like to design an inexpensive, programmable circuit using one of the PIC controllers that would allow me to control a small, RC servo, and trigger its motion based on a number of inputs including time, altitude sensor, magnetic anomaly detector, etc. Based on time would be my first objective. The servo would be my actuator for releasing the parachute.
I realize I have a lot to learn, but would like to find out if my goal is realistic before I wade into this project. I will need to buy a solderless breadboard for protyping, jumper wires, battery holder, resistors, capacitors, inductors, a microprocessor, EEPROM, and a way to connect to my computer to use Microchip's programming IDE.
Question:
1) Is there an inexpensive kit I could purchase that would allow me to jumpstart my effort? I would want one that could handle a number of sensors and would specifically be able to control a small servo.
2) Any recommendations on the type of programmable microcontroller to start with? Other equipment or supplies I should purchase to get started?
3) Recommendations on an existing project someone has documented that I could follow to get started?
Many thanks for any help you can provide!
-- Tom