Using a TI-83+ or TI-84+ as an auxilary controller

[Hydr0g3n]

I am currently working on developing an advanced program for our teams robot that will incorporate a TI-83+ as an auxilary controller. Hopefully when it is done i will be able to write programs on the calculator and send them over the link to the controller on the robot. This will be used as a precursor test for someday integrating a serial GPS unit on the robot.

I wanted to know if anyone has attempted integrating a calculator before and if so how and whether they succeeded or not.

P.S. Any coding hints are much appreciated!

[Astronouth7303]

Holy wow, you're crazy.

I have serious doubts that even Kevin Watson could pull this off. But then again, I haven't actually met him.

If you have any kind of success, I'd like to hear about it.

[Cuog]

Matt, why is this the first im hearing of this??

Seriously we just need to research the serialization and its all good(i hope)

[Stuart]

. . yeah your not going to solve it by using code alone. . .

first you'll have to get the calc to be able to talk to its serial port for things other than uploading/downloading(code)

then you'll have to take that serial data and change it to analog data that the IFI controller can understand(elec) . . I would suggest modifying team 862's PS2 controller circuit http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/papers/1794 (yeah thats the best controller mod I have ever seen . . so versatile)

[Cuog]

My original plan for using this when matt had wanted to use the TI 83 to calculate trajectory last year was to attach it to the TTL port on the RC and do it that way. Analog may work as well, we gots some thinking to do now.

[miketwalker]

I think this is a very interesting project, but I have to wonder why you want to use a TI-83/84 so badly? Why not simply use another made-to-integrate controller that can do calculations like you wish (such as trajectory as somebody asked before)? I think using an off-the-shelf component like that would greatly reduce the risk of problems in an event (if it breaks, replace it quickly) and you could also pass the code on open-source to teams that could easily work with and setup the hardware end of it. I do find it to be an interesting project, and definitely very respectable if you're able to pull it off... I just wonder if it is where you should focus your efforts. Either way, good luck.

[Matt Krass]

It's been quite a while since I played with my 83+ in any depth, using TI-Basic or assembly are you able to access the onboard serial port? If so I can't imagine there's much simpler a way to interface to the RC.

[Cuog]

I know Hydr0g3n up there was able to use the serial port on the TI83 and in fact wrote a program allowing 2 calculators to play each other in a game through it.

[Qbranch]

I have written multiplayer games using serial in TI-BASIC before. Its very simple, just use the Get(str) and Send(str), and the calculator will send a 4800bps serial string. I don't know the databits and such though, but you can easily figure this out through hyperterm. You'll also need to check if the serial signal runs TTL voltage... i don't believe it does.

You can use the normal kevin watson serial driver, just configure it to accept the 4800bps.

I can try and help with any other ?'s you have. just PM me.

-Q

[lupjohn]

Originally Posted by Hydr0g3n

I am currently working on developing an advanced program for our teams robot that will incorporate a TI-83+ as an auxilary controller. Hopefully when it is done i will be able to write programs on the calculator and send them over the link to the controller on the robot. This will be used as a precursor test for someday integrating a serial GPS unit on the robot.

I wanted to know if anyone has attempted integrating a calculator before and if so how and whether they succeeded or not.

P.S. Any coding hints are much appreciated!

Hi all;
I have researched this very thing. I have a TI-84Plus with usb port. Both of these calculators use a Zilog Z80 variant so software development is easy. Zilog has a free IDE that comes with an assembler for this processor. Additionally there is a GNU SDCC C compiler that works as well. I have done some much as writing a universal Hello World program that works fine. There are also programs from TI to support user program developement. This said I think the use of an embedded controller chip such as the Zilog EZ8 family of chips is much easier. The demo boards average around $40.00 USD and come with the same IDE mentioned above but with a fully capable Ansi C compiler as well. It is one of the best at any cost being equally as capable as the MPCC18 that has been used with the FIRST controller for the last 3 years. The EZ8 boards have both rs232 serial and ttl serial ports as well as an IR port that can be used in the same manner. Hope this helps. LRU

[Cuog]

Thanks a bunch on the info for those boards, do you have a link perhaps or company etc. so i can search and let matt know?

[Astronouth7303]

I believe that the link used between calculators is not straight-up TTL/RS-232. IIRC, it is more complex than that.

I would recomend asking for info on a more dedicated forum for the TI link interface. I know Cemetech is a group of some serious TI-8x fans. (There's a Calculator hardware forum even.)

You can use one of the old black/gray links, which will go to RS-232. Still doesn't help with the protocol, though.

[bear24rw]

http://www.smallrobot.com/scimath.html

Check that link out

[lupjohn]

Originally Posted by Cuog

Thanks a bunch on the info for those boards, do you have a link perhaps or company etc. so i can search and let matt know?

This is an easy answer: www.zilog.com and look for the eZ8 Encore line of 8bit embedded processors and evaluation boards. The eZ80 chips are closer to the processor in the TI83-84 but the evaluation boards are quite a bit more expensive. That link to the company that sells a TI83-84 controlled robot is also pretty neet but I think their price for the motors and two wheels is a little steep. Best wishes on your project. LRU.

[Cuog]

Well I talked to Matt(Hydr0g3n) today and he has gotten the TI83 to work with one of the old PBasic controllers so i figure it is probably going to be pretty easy to connect it to one of the newer ones.

In case that doesnt work thanks for the links.