Rich, I'd take a close look at using Python. It's a very elegant
OOP language that looks for all the world like a simple script.
It does talk to the ports, as in bit-flipping a parallel port,
so you could do a lot of things with it. And it's orders of
magnitude simpler than getting into the Visual Studio morass.
I've gone from a few million lines of asm, through C to .NET,
and now back to embedded systems, where I'll probably stay. The
OOP world of Big Computing has gotten completely buried in
needless complexity. But Python isn't Big Computing -- and it's
free.
You might take a look at
http://sourceforge.net/projects/pyserial/ to get started. It's a
free serial IO module. SourceForge is more or less the home of
python and related free stuff.
Also, this bbs msg is the tip of an iceberg or two:
http://mail.python.org/pipermail/edu-sig/2001-June/001311.html
See the link below for embedding (sort of) a Python module in a
Win app. It's entry 1.6, called "How can I embed Python into a
Windows application?".
http://www.python.org/doc/faq/windows.html#how-can-i-embed-pytho
n-into-a-windows-application
This link:
http://www.artima.com/intv/aboutmeP.html
is about why Python is winning people over.
You could look here http://gumby.sourceforge.net/ for an
(admittedly vast) overview of the IDE alternatives for Python
RAD.
Here is the official Python GUI project (for a cross-platform
GUI in Python):
http://nz.cosc.canterbury.ac.nz/~greg/python_gui/
Basically, you can do anything in Python. It's an open source
world, so it has the chaos of a public set of tools and
developers, but once you get plugged into the right forum with a
couple of experts on your wavelength, it's a great environment.
HTH,
ac
Allen Cobb
http://timbreproductions.com
-----Original Message-----
From:
Behalf Of Rich Peet
Sent: Friday, July 14, 2006 12:12 PM
To:
Subject: [Nature Recordists] Re: sat motor drive
Status on this project is that I bought 3 of these units.
I had to be honest with the owner once research showed they were
current production $8,000 units with one of them reporting that
it was
never used. I traded time for three of these units.
I have figured out how to control these units by standard serial
port
commands. They will handle up to a 10 lb payload. Accurate to
.1
degrees with speed (built in logic for excelleration and brakes)
up to
65 degrees per second. Many commands give high flexibility.
Step
motor control for tilt and pan with servo controls for zoom and
focus
if I decide I want more control. Fully weather proof.
I am know converting the mounts to handle a 32" audio parabolic
dish.
This will be three channel (stereo with a noise cancellation
channel). This will be mounted on top of my old minivan with
another
4 channels for a surround mic and an audio narration channel
inside
the van. A simple small resolution video (aiming) camera will
complete
the setup.
Now for my question. I have been researching "Basic" and "Java"
so
far. What I need is a transparent window that reads the
coordinates
of my mouse upon a click, does some simple math, and sends a
command
string to the Gimble over the serial port. The gimble just wants
to
know a degree setting off of its north which will be the degrees
off
of the screens center to just go there. I need a transparent
window
because I wish to use Google Earth, A compass, etc as overlays
so that
I can click on an oriented object and have the mic go there with
a
simple click. What is the most simple program to pull off this
task???
I don't see Java will allow me to write to a serial port and the
price
tag on visual basic is high if this turns out to be a bad
choice.
Maybe a bit outside this groups normal post but I recall a few
programmers on this list and the goal is clearly natural sound
recording.
Rich Peet
--- In "Rich Peet"
<> wrote:
>
> Arrived on the door step this am was 8 three demensional sat
motor
> drive units with software to track on three demensions.
>
> Neat stuff. Now what do I want to track with sound with this
kind of
> stuff. This stuff is worth thousands.
>
> New game town looking for new application. Looking for ideas?
>
> Any ideas?
>
------------------------ Yahoo! Groups
Sponsor --------------------~-->
Something is new at Yahoo! Groups. Check out the enhanced email
design.
http://us.click.yahoo.com/SISQkA/gOaOAA/yQLSAA/PMYolB/TM
----------------------------------------------------------------
----~->
"Microphones are not ears,
Loudspeakers are not birds,
A listening room is not nature."
Klas Strandberg
Yahoo! Groups Links
|