What would be a good microcontroller i need one that is pretty small (going to be putting it inside a helmet) and is pretty cheap (does not have to be a Arduino) Thanks
What do you want to connect to it?
What power supply?
Around here we only do Arduinos.
Depends on application. Don't tell me your trying to duplicate the helmet with gps and everything else in it that is super expensive. We already had a post about that. If you need more than an ATtiny85 can do then a Pro-Mini is probably the next smallest. You can get one that will run at 16Mhz.
raschemmel:
Depends on application. Don't tell me your trying to duplicate the helmet with gps and everything else in it that is super expensive.
The one with heads-up display and live video feed was the best.
fungus:
What do you want to connect to it?What power supply?
Around here we only do Arduinos.
Going to be controlling 2 leds and a servo, i would like to use a single cell lipo if i can.
Promini will do that easily.
Biggest problem will be battery source for servo - what are it's needs?
A 3.7-4.2V LiPo can like be used, with a stepup/stepdown regulator if needed.
Pololu carries a bunch of regulator options. Size in mAH will be determined by servo current needs and runtime duration.
Going to be controlling 2 leds and a servo, i would like to use a single cell lipo if i can.
These are inexpensive https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11113
You can build your own "uno'ish" with a naked 328P-PU, a couple of 18pF caps, and a 16MHz crystal, too... about $4.
It really just comes down to your flavor of ice cream.
If you want to learn about homebrew board'duinos then check out:
Ray
If you're going to do that you should probably shop for some kind of thin surface mount package for the 328.
TQFP smt package based arduino spin-off can be looked out on the search engines, those are very small as compared to an conventional DIP uC version and also very easy to solder and replace(atleast easy for the person who does it on a regular basis but thats only going to be needed if you burn one! ]
)
Get a Pro Mini. There's no point messing around building your own board for this.
mrburnette:
You can build your own "uno'ish" with a naked 328P-PU, a couple of 18pF caps, and a 16MHz crystal, too... about $4.
And a whole bunch of time and effort, especially if it's your first one..
Or ... you can get one pre-built for $3: arduino pro mini for sale | eBay
And a whole bunch of time and effort, especially if it's your first one..
Yes, entirely correct.
However, there is a certain satisfaction to being able to create an Arduino compatible from just 5 parts: uC, crystal, 2 load capacitors for the crystal, and V+ bypass. The price is right about $4 mainly because you need qty25 to get a price break on the Atmega328P-PU, which is how I buy them and then they are $2.18 but the price fluctuates like the daily price of gasoline.
And, if you can get by with 8MHz processing you can kick out the three of the components: crystal and 2 load caps.
At least I did not recommend this:
Ray
ok hey thanks for all the info
Getting into the world of Arduino includes a complete makeover of ones mind that is Hacking induced and DIY so its more natural for any Arduino lured guy to get making their own and I think making your own is encouraged too!
and I think making your own is encouraged too!
XD It is not discouraged XD
Seriously, many of the threads are about folks building their own Arduino hardware. There is even an official page:
See the topic: Building and Modifying Arduino type boards
http://playground.arduino.cc/Main/ArduinoCoreHardware#.UyiGb6hdV8E
It is a little work, some concepts are rough around the edges on the first build, but it is fun and it gets easier with 2 and 3 and...
Just one suggestion:
If you plan on building, say with a 328P-PU, then have an UNO handy for insurance. When code goes wrong, you do not want to be trying to figure out if it is hardware or software!
Some of my stuff is here:
http://www.hackster.io/rayburne
Good luck - have fun!
Ray