NEW PRODUCT – Propeller Platform USB. The Propeller Platform USB is an open-source platform for building your own electronics projects with the new 8-core Parallax Propeller chip. This development board has the programming/debugging interface built in along with a microSD card slot.
Features!
- Design your project in Spin, a custom programming language perfect for beginners (tutorials)
- Collaborate with your PC, built in USB lets you update programs or share data with your computer
- Interact with the real world, 32 I/O pins let you read tons of sensors and control multiple devices
- Output video or advanced audio, Built in video hardware makes video easy, microSD lets you include Hi-Fi audio samples
- Expand with any breadboard or protoboard, use a custom designed module, or create your own
What Can You Do With the Propeller Platform USB?
Turning Stuff Off and On:
32 I/O pins means you can connect to many devices at the same time – multiple LED's, real-time clocks, switches, and relays. It's easy to control dozens of devices.
Robotics:
A unique architecture lets you simultaneously control multiple motors and read multiple sensors. Take a look at the Spyder, an auto-balancing quadcopter running on the Propeller. A screw terminal power connection helps to connect a battery, and the ultra low dropout voltage regulator runs with as little as 5.5V input power.
Make Videogames:
If you want to make your own games, adding video output is as simple as using 3 resistors and an RCA jack. Games like X-Racer are possible, and you can output video in PAL, NTSC, or even VGA. Advanced sound capabilities let you enhance your game, too.
Advanced Audio:
Playback 16-bit stereo wavs stored on the microSD / SDHC card, output TOSLINK (optical) SPDIF audio with a standard LED, or create your own digital effects.
Expansion Options:
- Protoboard & breadboard compatible
- Download layout templates in Eagle, Diptrace, or ExpressPCB to design your own modules
- We offer an add-on module for prototyping, other add-ons are available at Gadget Gangster
Specs:
- 80Mhz 8-Core Parallax Propeller with removable 5MHz crystal
- 64kb EEPROM for long-term program and data storage
- 5V and 3.3V 1.5A Voltage Regulators accept 5.5v min. power input
- Comes with a 2.1mm barrel power jack connector and screw terminal connector
- 2.8" x 2.5" footprint with pin sockets to add additional Platform modules or connect to a breadboard.
The Propeller Platform USB comes pre-assembled – you just a 5.5v-12v power adapter and a mini-B USB cable.
Resources:
- Software: Windows, Mac, or Linux. If you need USB drivers, they're here
- Documentation: Manual (pdf), schematic (pdf), Layout, BOM, & License (zip archive)
- Tutorials: Getting started with the Propeller, Add-on module design templates
The Propeller Platform USB is designed and assembled in California.
Is there a reasonable open source toolchain for the propeller chips yet? I love the idea of the propeller, but when I checked it out a year or two ago, the only programming option was an awful Windows-only program, totally proprietary, with no source code. It looks like Parallax now recommends someone’s hobby project, which is a reimplementation of said awful Windows-only program, but which runs on OS X, Linux, and Windows (also closed source).
Are there any open source programmers/IDE’s for this board?
bst (and related tools) are free for download, but not open source, are they?
Hey Guys!
There are a ton of programming options (check them out here: http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?t=113091). For IDE’s, most folks use BST or the Propeller Tool, which are both free, but not OSS. If you wanted a completely OSS toolchain, I would probably use propasm or catalina, but there are other options, too.
And if you’re so inclined, there’s PropellarForth.
http://code.google.com/p/propellerforth/w/list
Would it be possible to run .NET MF on it?
Hey David – Other folks have asked about .net micro for the Prop ( http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?t=124966 ). I think the consensus is ‘it’s possible’, but there are no implementations just yet. There is an awesome JVM for the Prop, though!