100% compatible with Arduino
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WHAT IS “BRAINBOX AVR”?
The Brainbox AVR (2016) is 100% compatible with Arduino but it is more than just an Arduino Leonardo. It has rugged screw connectors, four 600mA outputs, it has Servo outputs, Bluetooth, RS232 and I2C options and a lot of power options . It can be immediately used in many project without the need for breadboards or shields. It is perfect for education and hobby purposes and at this website you can find a lot of free lesson material.
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YOUTUBE
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VIDEOMANUAL: HARDWARE BRAINBOX ARDUINO |
VIDEOMANUAL: COURSEWARE & SOFTWARE BRAINBOX ARDUINO |
PINOUT BRAINBOX AVR
click on the image to enlarge
BRAINCHART
click on the image to enlarge
ORDERING INFO
order via mail : barthuyskens@e2cre8.be
Brainbox AVR (with Arduino bootloader) |
Prices excl vat |
1-9 items – 100% tested |
47€/piece |
+10 items – 100% tested |
42€/piece |
Extra material |
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Power supply 1.5A – 5V, 6V, 7.5V, 9V, 12V – 2.1mm conn. |
15€/piece |
USB cable – USB_B -> USB_A – 1.80m |
4€/piece |
HC-06 Bluetooth module |
9€/piece |
AVRISPMK2 clone (not necessary – bootloader is already loaded) |
xx€/piece |
Insured shipping cost inside Belgium (ask for price outside Belgium) |
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small packages / large packages |
8€ / 14€ |
Outside Belgium |
Ask for price |
COURSEWARE BRAINBOX AVR
SCHEMATIC
DOWNLOADS
- Brainbox Arduino Bootloader
- TESTPROGRAM: All pins output 500Hz
- BUGGY CHASSIS (plexi 3mm – 130mm x 185mm) download dxf file – download VISIO drawing
- BUGGY MANUAL – STEP BY STEP
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WHAT IS THE BEST PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE FOR YOU?
ARDUINO IDE
+ Enormously popular and widely used
+ Free
+ Active user-forums
+ Extensive libraries (making programming a lot easier)
+ Brainbox ARduino is directly programmable
– It is still a text based compiler and so very syntax sensitive
– No simulator
– Jou will not learn much about microcontrollers
My Opinion: Ideal if it is not a goal to learn anything about microcontrollers and you are old enough to pay attention to syntax.
Practical:
The ARduino bootloader – necessary to be able to program the BBA with IDE – is preloaded when you buy a Brainbox Arduino. I case that you should re-load the bootloader – use a AVRISPMK2 or similar and use these settings and hex file: : Brainbox Arduino Bootloader
The Arduino Leonardo uses the USB interface for programming as for communication. For this the processor can emulate 2 virtual com ports. The com port needed for programming is only active for a few seconds after a reset and it might take a few reset cycli to make your computer recognize the BBA.
Correct steps to download code to the BBA:
- Press the reset button on the BBA and keep it pressed – holding the BBA in reset mode
- in Arduino IDE press “Upload”
- From the moment that IDE displays “uploading”, release the reset button.
ARDUINO IDE “C”
+ Real usage of microcontroller registers
+ Free
+ Combination with the libraries is still possible
+ Brainbox ARduino is directly programmable
– Jou realy learn about microcontrollers
– No simulator – still text based
My opinion: This might be the best of two worlds – the usage of real registers in combination with ARduino libraries.
Practical:
The ARduino bootloader – necessary to be able to program the BBA with IDE – is preloaded when you buy a Brainbox Arduino. I case that you should re-load the bootloader – use a AVRISPMK2 or similar and use these settings and hex file: : Brainbox Arduino Bootloader
The Arduino Leonardo uses the USB interface for programming as for communication. For this the processor can emulate 2 virtual com ports. The com port needed for programming is only active for a few seconds after a reset and it might take a few reset cycli to make your computer recognize the BBA.
Correct steps to download code to the BBA:
- Press the reset button on the BBA and keep it pressed – holding the BBA in reset mode
- in Arduino IDE press “Upload”
- From the moment that IDE displays “uploading”, release the reset button.
FLOWCODE AVR
+ Enormously popular with schools and rapid prototyping
+ Graphical ‘flowchart based’ layer up on ‘C’ – very didactical
+ Realy awsome 24h support by the developers
+ Extensive libraries that can help you to make realy complex programs in no time
+ Flowcode makes use of the real register-names as in the datasheet
+ Awsome simulator with real hardware links
+ Brainbox ARduino is directly programmable
– Not Free
My opinion: From a didactical vieuw, Flowcode is the best programming language in the world to do embedded programming. Complex programs can be constructed and simulated in notime making it the ideal preparation for embedded C programming.
Practical:
The ARduino bootloader – necessary to be able to program the BBA with Flowcode – is preloaded when you buy a Brainbox Arduino. I case that you should re-load the bootloader – use a AVRISPMK2 or similar and use these settings and hex file: : Brainbox Arduino Bootloader
The Arduino Leonardo uses the USB interface for programming as for communication. For this the processor can emulate 2 virtual com ports. The com port needed for programming is only active for a few seconds after a reset and it might take a few reset cycli to make your computer recognize the BBA.
Correct steps to download code to the BBA:
- in Flowcode press “Download to microcontroller”
- If a popup screen asks you – press the reset button on the BBA
ATMEL STUDIO 7 “C”
+ Profession programming environment
+ C of ASM – but usage of the ARduino libs is still possible
+ Brainbox ARduino is directly programmable
+ Free
– Still no simulator for the ATMEGA32U4 processor
Mijn mening: Als je op een professionele manier microcontrollers wil leren programmeren, dan is dit een verantwoorde keuze. Je zal iets meer tijd moeten investeren in het schrijven van bibliotheken en je zal je weg wat moeten zoeken in alle opties, maar dit is een typische omgeving waarin bedrijven ook zullen werken. De voorbeeldprogramma’s op deze site zetten je al een heel stuk op weg.
Openen voorbeeldprojecten Brainbox Arduino in Atmel Studio 7
- Open Atmel Studio 7
- File >> Open >> File
- Selecteer de ‘Atmel Studio 7 Solution file’
- Het klaargemaakte en geteste programmeervoorbeeld opent nu in Atmel studio 7
- Klik in de ‘Solution Explorer window’ aan de rechterkant op de onderste file met de extensie .cpp – de C code voor het project zou nu zichtbaar moeten zijn
Openen Arduino IDE projecten in Atmel Studio 7
In Atmel Studio 7 is het mogelijk om rechtstreeks Arduino projecten te importeren.
- Open Atmel Studio 7
- File >> New >> Project
- Selecteer “Create project from Arduino Sketch”
- Je Arduino project opent nu in Atmel Studio
Brainbox Arduino via USB programmeren via Atmel Studio 7
- Download en installeer Atmel Studio 7 (gratis van Atmel Website)
- download AVRDUDE via deze link (AVRDUDE is een programma waarmee we een hex file in de processor kunnen laden) (meer info: http://www.ladyada.net/learn/avr/avrdude.html)
- Unzip en plaats beide bestanden (avrdude.exe en avrdude.conf) rechtstreeks onder de C:\ directory (u zal even moeten bevestigen dat u administrator bent)
- Open Atmel Studio 7
- Menu: Tools >> Select profile : Activeer “Advanced” en klik op apply
- Tools >> External Tools
Title: &PROGRAM_BBA
Command: C:\avrdude.exe (locatie waar AVRDUDE.exe staat)
Arguments: -F -v -v -v -v -patmega32u4 -cavr109 -P COM14 -b57600 -D -Uflash:w:”$(ProjectDir)Debug\$(ItemFileName).hex”:i -CC:\avrdude.conf
COM14 is de com-poort die gebruikt wordt om de Arduino te programmeren. Deze com-poort is slechts kort zichtbaar na een reset (te testen in applicatiebeheer) . Deze poort is bij iedereen anders en dient dus te worden aangepast.
Debug is een map onder uw projectmap – deze benaming moet dezelfde zijn – controleer deze even.
ItemFileName is de naam van de projectfile maar moet ook verwijzen naar de naam van de hex file. Verander desnoods de naam van de .cpp file om die gelijk te maken aan de naam van de hex file, anders kan avrdude nooit de juiste hex file terugvinden.
- Druk op de reset knop en blijf deze knop ingedrukt houden
- Laat de reset knop terug los, maar activeer nu wel binnen de 5 seconden: Tools >> PROGRAM_BBA
- Als alles goed verlopen is zal uw programma nu naar de BBA gestuurd zijn. Als er iets is misgelopen, dan kan u daar meer info rond vinden in het ‘output’ window.
S4A – SCRATCH FOR ARDUINO
DOWNLOAD HIER DE MANUAL VOOR S4A & BRAINBOX ARDUINO
+ leuke grafische taal – gebaseerd op scratch
+ gratis
+ Deze aangepaste versie werkt mooi met onze Brainbox Arduino
– De hardware moet aan de PC gekoppeld blijven via USB
Mijn mening: Perfect om 10-14 jarigen de eerste stappen te leren in het programmeren en daarbij toch echte hardware te besturen. Er bestaan veel initiatieven om Arduino te programmeren via Scratch. Snap 4 Arduino (zie onder) is ondertussen een betere keuze.
Praktisch
De software die in de Arduino geladen moet worden werd aangepast om perfect te kunnen werken met de Brainbox Arduino. (pins 4&11 en pins 8&12 werden omgewisseld)
Stap 1: gebruik Arduino IDE om deze firmware in de Arduino controller te laden – Download S4A_FIRMW_BBA bestand
Stap 2: installeer de S4A software – download deze van de S4A website: S4A Website
Stap 3: open de S4A software, klik op de wereldbol links boven en selecteer uw taal
Stap 4: installeer de Brainbox Arduino Sprite via de knoppen onder de huidige sprite – Download S4A Brainbox Arduino Sprite
Stap 5: Connecteer de Brainbox Arduino aan de PC via USB. Na enkele seconden komt de verbinding tot stand en kan u beginnen.
Deze pinout is specifiek voor S4A projecten aangemaakt.
click to enlarge
SNAP 4 ARDUINO
originele website: http://s4a.cat/snap/
Download hier de MANUAL ‘Snap for Arduino’ – gemaakt door Bart Huyskens – April 2016 – E2CRE8
+ leuke grafische taal – gebaseerd op scratch – door dezelfde makers van S4A gemaakt, maar nu véél beter.
+ gratis en in het Nederlands
+ Snap4A werkt zeer mooi samen met onze Brainbox Arduino
+ Alle pins van de Brainbox Arduino kunnen gebruikt worden met de originele Arduino pinbenaming
– De hardware moet aan de PC gekoppeld blijven via USB
Mijn mening: Perfect om 10-14 jarigen de eerste stappen te leren in het programmeren en daarbij toch echte hardware te besturen. Er bestaan veel initiatieven om Arduino te programmeren via Scratch. Deze versie was op het moment van testen (april 2016) de meest stabiele.
EXAMPLE PROJECTS
Potmeter controls DC Motor |
ARDUINO IDE |
Potmeter controls Servo Motor |
ARDUINO IDE |
IR Distance sensor result is displayed on LCDIR distance sensor -connected to A3 – worksheet “I-AN DIST. DIY”
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ARDUINO IDE |
Buggy uses distance sensor to avoid bumping into wallIR distance sensor -connector to A3 – worksheet “I-AN DIST. DIY”
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ARDUINO IDE |
Two phototransistors are used to make a buggy follow the lightbeam from a torchLIGHTSENSOR L connected to A5 – look at worksheet “I-AN LIGHT PHOTOTRANSISTOR”
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ARDUINO IDE |
POWER OPTIONS
To make the BBA able to be used in many different projects, the BBA is equiped with jumpers to select the correct prower option for your situation.
JUMPER 1
- 3 positions – just horizontal
- 1 jumper max
- Choice for the 5V power source (USB, Battery, Adapter)
JUMPER 2
- Coice for the power source for the 4 power outputs (D5, D6, D9, D10)
- 3 positions – just horizontal
- 1 jumper max
A STABLE 5V
- The ATMEGA32U4 uC needs a stable voltage between 2.7 en 5.5 Volt. On our BBA this is 5V. The same 5V is also available at every sensor connector.
- De led indicating “+5V OK” will indicate is this 5V is OK.
THE LD1117S50 5V REGULATOR
The LD1117S50 is a voltage regulator that transforms voltages between 6V and 15V to 5V.
- How higher the input voltage – how higher the temperature of the regulator.
- How higher the current – how higher the temperature of the regulator. – Imax = 500-600mA
- Shut down temp is 110°C.
THE LP2985-33 REGULATOR
- makes 3.3V from the +5V – only used for shields.
V-POWER & L-293D H-BRIDGE
- The 16pin IC on the BBA is a L293D double H-bridge, capable of driving 4 outputs with currents up to 600mA/pin. The voltage of the pins is selectable with jumper 2.
| Current from H-brug outputs | Temp H-brug (amb 25°C) | notes |
| 4 x 100mA continu | 58°C | OK |
| 4 x 200mA continu | 74°C | OK |
| 4 x 300mA continu | 94°C | OK |
| 4 x 400mA continu | 110°C | Maximum |
| 2 x 400mA continu | 87°C | OK |
| 2 x 500mA continu | 96°C | OK |
| 2 x 600mA continu | 106°C | Maximum |
Note : With a small heatsink – the same size as the 16pin IC – the L293D can drive currents up to 500mA/pin.
JUMPER 1 – 5V SELECTION
JUMPER 1 POSITION: “USB”
- 5V is delivered by USB from PC.
- 500mA max – protected by self resetting fuse on the BBA
- H-Bridge is not connected to USB power.
JUMPER 1 POSITION: “5V FROM ADAPTER”
- Power from adapter or Battery.
- min 6V / max 15V
JUMPER 1 OP POSITION: “VBATT-0.7V”
- Left situation: 4x AA battery in series (Be aware: Full batteries= 1.55v/cel. 4×1.55V/cel = 6.2V)
- Right situation: 6V Lead Acid accu
!! Only voltages between 4.5V & 6.2V can be connected in this way. The diode will substract 0.7V to limit the voltage to 5.5V.
JUMPER 2: POWER FOR THE L293 H-BRIDGE
These 3 jumper positions only determine the voltage of the H-bridge IC.
JUMPER 2 POSITION: “5V FROM ADAPTER”
All outputs of the H-bridge will operate at 5V from the LD1117. Be aware that all the currents added – can not exceed 500mA!!
JUMPER 2 POSITION: “7-16V”
The power for the H-Bridge is taken from a point just before the LD1117S50 regulator. The voltage of the Bridge is now equal (minus 0.7V of the diode) to the voltage of the adapter or battery.
JUMPER 2 OP POSITIE: “VBatt”
STEM CERTIFIED
This material is developed with the STEM principle in mind where creativity and problem solving skills are important.
