Choosing A Controller
If you know nothing about controllers, you should probably read our
intro to controllers.
It describes several types of controllers, which differ in cost, ease of use, and capability.
For many haunt applications, a good choice is a controller based on the BASIC Stamp. In particular, the Prop-1 controller from Parallax EFX.
The personal computer runs the
BASIC Stamp Editor software
which is used to write the controller program and send it to the Prop-1.
At this time, the BASIC Stamp Editor software can only run on a PC that is is running Microsoft Windows.
The BASIC Stamp Editor software is used to write the controller program and download it into the Prop-1.
You can get the BASIC Stamp Editor free at the
Parallax
web site's
BASIC Stamp download area.
It is also available on the "Parallax CD" if you have that
(a copy is included with most controllers bought directly from Parallax).
Some
BASIC Stamp
modules snap onto a 9-volt battery for power,
but the Prop-1 is designed to run off a
wall wart
power supply.
Choose a power supply that matches the voltage of the gadget(s) that you intend to control.
See BASIC Stamp Output.
In order to connect the
Personal Computer's
BASIC Stamp Editor software
to the
Prop-1 controller,
you need at least a cable.
Perhaps you will also need some adapters.
It depends on the type of connections your computer has.
Please see
Hookup And Testing.
Now you are ready to make specific use of a controller in your haunt.
We will work through all the steps necessary to design and write a PROP-1 program,
using a simple example that waits for a trick-or-treater and pops up a monster to scare him.
Please see
Introduction To Programming.
Please see
Program Design.
Please see
Input/Output Design For A Prop-1 Program.
Because we did so much work up front, this will be easy.
Please see
Writing The Prop-1 Program.
Prop-1 Setup
If you choose to go with the Prop-1, you will need:
Basic Testing
Our basic test is to write a program that simply blinks a LED on and off.
You will need a simple red LED and a 470-ohm (yellow-violet-brown) resistor.
Making Use Of Controllers
This part of the roadmap assumes that you have already been through
Learning About Controllers
and can get a Prop-1 controller to flash a LED on and off.
Introduction To Programming
What is a program?
Do you need to be some kind of genius to do it?
Program Design
Before you can write a specialized program to control your props,
you have to decide what it should do.
Input/Output Design
The controller program must interact with the outside world by looking at inputs
and controlling outputs.
We start by counting them up and figuring out what goes where.
Writing The Program
Since we know what the program must do
(Program Design)
and know how it communicates with the outside world
(Input/Output Design For A Prop-1 Program),
it is now time to write the actual program.