 OOPic is an acronym for Object-Oriented
PIC
The first PICmicro operating system to use an Object-Oriented approach to hardware
control.
The concept behind OOPic is straight forward.
Use preprogrammed multitasking Objects from a library of highly
optimized Objects to do all the work of interacting with the
hardware. Then write
small scripts in Basic, C, or Java syntax styles to control the
Objects. During operation, the Objects run continuously
and simultaneously in the background while the scripts run in
the foreground telling the objects what to do. Every aspect
of the Objects can be controlled by the scripts as the Object do
their work
with the hardware. The OOPic Object library contains
Object that know how to interact with the most popular sensors
and drive systems around which make the OOPic ideally suited for robotics
of any kind.
A list of Object can be found at:
http://www.oopic.com/objlistb2.htm
Another unique feature of OOPic is the Virtual
Circuits capability. Virtual Circuits can be thought of as
the software equivalence of an electronic circuit connecting
together Objects in various ways. This allows the Objects to pass data to each other in
the background so that your script doesn't have to.
Virtual circuits can handle the processing required for speed
control, time-out events, limit switches, emergency breaking,
and a whole myriad of other function so that your script does
not have pole for such tedious tasks. With a
library of over 130 Objects, most any Virtual Circuit can be
created. In several cases, entire applications can be
built as pure Virtual Circuits.
A simple example of Virtual Circuits can be found at:
http://www.oopic.com/virtcirc.htm
OOPic programming is simple and
straight forward
Within the OOPic
IDE programming environment, you can choose to use Basic, C or
Java syntax for your
scripts. As with its software counter parts,
OOPic shares the Object-oriented concepts used in Visual Basic, C++ and Java with
a few differences to handle embedded controllers. The IDE runs on the Microsoft Windows
operating systems. It is,
and always will be, available for
download, free of charge, at http://www.oopic.com/dload.htm. After creating the programs, a
single push of a
button sends the Object configurations and the
scripts from the PC to the OOPic's EEPROM. The OOPic will start
running the new program as soon as the PC is
finished downloading and each time the power is turned
on.
OOPics
include a built in network
An OOPic can be
used as a stand-alone device, or it can be
connected together with several other OOPics,
Components and Computers using one or both of the two included
networking systems.
Via an I2C network
created by Philips Corporation: Using the I2C network, OOPics can
communicate with other OOPics, as well as other
computers including a PC. The OOPic can also connect to several I2C coprocessors
that provide extended functionality to the OOPic.
More information on the OOPic's I2C network can be found at: http://www.oopic.com/i2cwpc.htm
Via Serial
Control Protocol (SCP) created by Savage Innovations:
In OOPic firmware
version B.2.0+, the primary serial port is dedicated to
a system called the Serial Control Protocol (SCP) which allows
the OOPic to be controlled over the serial port. SCP allows a
remote PC, Pocket PC, Palm Pilot, or any other device with a
serial port to interact with, control and debug an OOPic
application while it is running including directly interacting
with the application's Objects. In addition, the serially
attached device can be used as a terminal to the OOPic providing
user programmable I/O to such devices as a Palm Pilot, or a
Gameboy. Special considerations were made in the protocol to
allow the serial connection to be done via a wireless radio
link.
More information on the OOPic implementation of SCP can be found
at:
http://www.oopic.com/pgchap16.htm
OOPic is a ready to run solution
in several popular styles
-
No additional expensive
programming hardware to buy. A
cable to your PC is all it takes.
-
No additional EPROM eraser to
buy. The OOPic's EEPROMs erase
automatically when you download a new
program.
-
No new language syntax to learn. The
OOPic scripting languages are based on industry standard
languages.
A comparison of OOPic firmware and board
styles can be found at:
http://www.oopic.com/prodtech.htm
All contents copyright (c) Savage
Innovations LLC. 1999-2004.
OOPic® and ooPICTM are trademarks of of Microchip
Technology Inc.
These products are developed and distributed by Savage
Innovations. Savage Innovations is not an agent or
representative of Microchip and has no authority to bind
Microchip in any way. |
