Subject:
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RCX Replacement Firmware
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.robotics
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Date:
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Sun, 7 Nov 2004 07:42:39 GMT
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Highlighted:
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I've written replacement firmware for the RCX with the objective that it
is compatible with Lego's byte-code opcodes. I'm looking for volunteers
willing to give it a test and provide feedback on any problems/bugs.
Please send me a private e-mail if you're interested.
I have two versions of firmware . One operates ten times faster than
Lego's firmware and the other runs 100 times faster. It is the 10X
version that is ready for testing; if testing goes well, then I plan to
release it as freeware. The 100X version may end up being distributed as
shareware.
I've been using this firmware for several years and it's proven very
stable in my applications. I do minimal programming using tasks and
events and this is the one area is pretty much untested.
Some of the key firmware enhancements include:
- Very fast real time performance.This is the key enhancement. Programs
tend to behave better with more real time. For example, line followers
stick closer to the line with less zig zagging because of more frequent
updates.
- Near perfect rotation sensor support. At speeds up to 2,000 ticks per
second (vs 333 ticks in Lego's software)
- Accurate timer using 1 millisecond resolution.
- Expanded messaging and IR capabilities.
- Number of variables expanded to 256
- 128 motor power levels.
- 32-bit integer and floating point support.
- Breakpoints and single step support for PC based IDEs.
- And many more.
I'll provide a more comprehensive list and information to those who show
interest.
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Message has 4 Replies:
 | | Re: RCX Replacement Firmware
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| (...) Hello Dick, That sounds great, almost too good to be true (especially for the 100x version!) Would you have also a modified NQC version to enable new features? Philo (20 years ago, 7-Nov-04, to lugnet.robotics)
| | | Re: RCX Replacement Firmware
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| Uhmm... I get the impression that you're not intending to open the source code to your replacement firmware, but I'm not sure if that's a particularly good idea for something like this. I suspect that the "hacker" mentality that drove the creation (...) (20 years ago, 7-Nov-04, to lugnet.robotics)
| | | Re: RCX Replacement Firmware
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| (...) This sounds fantastic! This may be the answer for people that need the speed but don't have the time, patience and understanding to get BrickOS up and running. Will there be a collaboration between yourself and John H. to sort out NQC support (...) (20 years ago, 8-Nov-04, to lugnet.robotics)
| | | Re: RCX Replacement Firmware
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| (...) Wow, I'm impressed and interested. Unfortunately it's our busy season for work and I won't get a chance to play with my Mindstorms for a couple of months. But I look forward to seeing this progress! Dean (20 years ago, 8-Nov-04, to lugnet.robotics)
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