Hello Im new here, and with Arduino products. My project Will have 7 DC motors with Encoders, 12 servos. I would eventually would like to control it via Excel and WiFi. I know that the Motors will require external interrupts. Which Controller should I use.
Thanks
consider using an ESP32 which as onboard WiFi, Bluetooth Classic and BLE, plenty of memory and IO capabilities
have a look at getting-started-with-esp32
Please tell us how you know this. Interrupts may be necessary, I doubt it, however, and ask you to say why.
a7
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For a grand idea like this, it doesn't matter. The project is not well enough defined, and the goals will undoubtedly change.
Even an Uno will work to get started. Work on one part of the project at a time and once you understand them all completely, add the pieces one by one. As a beginner, plan on a year or so of work.
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I Saw on You Tube that in order to do positioning control on DC motor w/encoder that you need two external interrupts.
That youtuber may have thought so, but it isn't true.
Hint: youtube is great to learn how to change a tractor tire, but it is not the place to go for advice on projects like this.
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thanks for the reply will look into it.
OIC.
You might have said
which is way less alarming. Seven motors with encoders will be a challenge whether or not you use interrupts.
I agree with @jremington's advice. Without you saying more of what you do bring already to this endeavour, it is easy to say this is biting off way too much. Pleas start with some simple projects so when the time comes you can focus on real problems without worrying about where the semicolons go and don't go, and so forth.
By analogy, you are trying to write a novel and you don't know the alphabet, let alone how to spell any actual words.
Unless you didn't share that you are not new to programming at all, and maybe not even new to this special kind of programming where the real world is being observed and affected.
a7
Perhaps we should start with the basic question of whether or not you've ever programmed anything before?
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Well To answer your question Yes I've been around computers since the Mid 70's while in the service. I'm an retired electronics tech.
I've programed, with Machine language, GW Basic, MS dos, Dbase, VBA ect.
Now I have not used python and have little experience in I/O programing.
So I'm sure I can learn.
C++ is probably the best choice as it runs on the majority of microcontrollers (in particular if you have used C in the past)
Python requires powerful microcontrollers with plenty of memory
these days IO programming is mainly calling functions in libraries - the days of reading incomprehensible datasheets and then spending weeks hacking code are (in the main) gone
recommend ESP32 as cheap, powerful, plenty of IO and uses 3.3V logic
have recently moved to it for industrial projects
The Arduino IDE works only with C/C++ and that takes some getting use to if your experience is with Basic, Dbase, etc.
For that reason, the IDE has many simple examples built in that show you how to read a button, blink LEDs, read a voltage, print on the serial monitor, get the temperature from a sensor, etc. It would be a good idea to get an Arduino board and try some of those examples.
There are also many tutorials on line, but beware that the quality varies to the extreme. Lots of tutorials are posted by people with only rudimentary or no basic understanding of electronics, so compare approaches to decide which to trust.
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