Thread: Using C compiler to control a microcontroller through its programming environment

  1. 02-09-2009 #1
    eyreHP
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    Using C compiler to control a microcontroller through its programming environment

    I am trying to write a code in VS2005 to use a Novint Falcon 3D joystick to control a robot through its microcontroller. The microcontroller is programmed through an Intelitek programming environment and it writes to a *.HEX file. Is there anyway that I can use VS2005 to write code for the joystick that incorporates or controls the other programming environment or file. The Intelitek environment controls the microcontroller through connection by a USB drive. And if this information is needed the joystick uses haptic programming for coding.
  2. 02-09-2009 #2
    Salem
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    You mean one of these?
    http://intelitek-shop.com/
    If you dance barefoot on the broken glass of undefined behaviour, you've got to expect the occasional cut.
    If at first you don't succeed, try writing your phone number on the exam paper.
  3. 02-09-2009 #3
    eyreHP
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    I am using easyC Pro already, basically I want to write C code and physically run that and nothing else while concurrently using the joystick and the code will call on the easyC Pro program and the programs we write within in it to move the robot thorugh the USB port.
  4. 02-10-2009 #4
    Salem
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    Use easyC to write the code which runs on the microcontroller.

    Say
    - Listen to USB
    - interpret robot commands
    - make the robot arm do stuff.

    Use VS2005 to write code which runs on the PC to
    - Listen to the joystick
    - write robot commands to USB
    If you dance barefoot on the broken glass of undefined behaviour, you've got to expect the occasional cut.
    If at first you don't succeed, try writing your phone number on the exam paper.
  5. 02-10-2009 #5
    eyreHP
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    But I dont know how to do that, how to tell easyC Pro with VS2005 to run the program that controls the robot.
  6. 02-11-2009 #6
    Salem
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    Read the manuals.

    In easyC, you
    - write a program
    - produce a .HEX file
    - download the .HEX file to the micro controller
    If you dance barefoot on the broken glass of undefined behaviour, you've got to expect the occasional cut.
    If at first you don't succeed, try writing your phone number on the exam paper.
  7. 02-11-2009 #7
    eyreHP
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    Yes I know that is what the manual says...;.what I want to do is use c code to control easyC Pro, I want to write a program in Visual Studio that controls a software program already on the computer. Say I want to write a program in VS that controls Excel, I want to write a c code that gives me access to do work in Excel, to control that program WITHOUT physically opening and doing the work there.
  8. 02-11-2009 #8
    tabstop
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    I wonder what you think you mean by "controls Excel". You can certainly start Excel (or easyC, or your own program, or whatever).
  9. 02-16-2009 #9
    eyreHP
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    How do you run a program in c code, and then in that c code how can you tell that program to open one of its files or features.
  10. 02-16-2009 #10
    Salem
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    What exactly are you hoping to do here?

    Just use your Visual Studio Editor to edit the source code for the PC, and edit the source code for your micro controller?

    Then be able to hit "compile/build" for both subsystems?
    If you dance barefoot on the broken glass of undefined behaviour, you've got to expect the occasional cut.
    If at first you don't succeed, try writing your phone number on the exam paper.
  11. 02-17-2009 #11
    auralius
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    communication...
    that's the key dude...
    the easiest way is using rs232, i mean serial db-9 port...

    using visual studio... you design a program that will send ascii character to your uC...
    each symbol of ascii character for a certain type of movement that you want....
    put a program that will respond to this ascii character by using your easyC in your uC...
    so they communicate dude...

    if it's too slow, use i2c dude with your parallel port... may be do some googling i2c library in c....

    so..to combine two different protocol, for instance, your pc and you uC... communication s the answer...

    from indonesia with love
  12. 02-18-2009 #12
    KIBO
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    what you want is only possible if the program provides access to its internals by means of an interface or a script language or something. Its not possible to make some program do something if it was never written to be controlled from the outside.
    Excel has a programming language built into it so thats why you can do stuff in excel without ever opening it visually. Your robot program probably cant do that
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