MSP430-based Robot Applications: A Guide to Developing Embedded Systems

This book provides a careful explanation of the basic areas of electronics and computer architecture, along with lots of examples, to demonstrate the interface, sensor design, programming and microcontroller peripheral setup necessary for embedded systems development. With no need for mechanical knowledge of robots, the book starts by demonstrating how to modify a simple radio-controlled car to create a basic robot. The fundamental electronics of the MSP430 are described, along with programming details in both C and assembly language, and full explanations of ports, timing, and data acquisition. Further chapters cover inexpensive ways to perform circuit simulation and prototyping.

Key features include:

Thorough treatment of the MSP430’s architecture and functionality along with detailed application-specific guidance Programming and the use of sensor technology to build an embedded system A learn-by-doing experience

With this book you will learn:

The basic theory for electronics design

                 - Analog circuits

                 - Digital logic

                 - Computer arithmetic

                 - Microcontroller programming

How to design and build a working robotAssembly language and C programming How to develop your own high-performance embedded systems application using an on-going robotics application

Teaches how to develop your own high-performance embedded systems application using an on-going robotics applicationThorough treatment of the MSP430’s architecture and functionality along with detailed application-specific guidanceFocuses on electronics, programming and the use of sensor technology to build an embedded systemCovers assembly language and C programming

1. Introduction; 2. The Parts of a Robot; 3. Building an Inexpensive Robot by Modifying a Radio-Controlled Car; 4. Beginning Electronics; 5. Computer Arithmetic; 6. Computer Logic; 7. Introducing the MSP430 Microcontroller; 8. Starting to Program – An Introduction to MSP430 Assembler; 9. Building MSP430 Assembler Programs; 10. Introducing C for the MSP430; 11. More C and Mixing C With Assembler; 12. MSP430 Parallel and Serial Ports; 13. MSP430 Timing, Counters, and Interrupts; 14. MSP430 Data Acquisition; 15. Inexpensive Ways to Perform Circuit Simulation; 16. Prototyping Circuits; 17. Collision Avoidance; 18. Adding a Tachometer; 19. Controlling Things With a Remote; 20. Troubleshooting; 21. The Working, High-Performance Robot