Welcome to JRHackett.net - a site dedicated to "spreading the word" about the PICAXE(r) line of microcontrollers.
PICAXE chips are actually MicroChip PIC chips with a built-in proprietary BASIC interpreter. The PICAXE processors are the result of a major educational initiative in Great Britain. Developed by Revolution Education and available in 8, 14, 18, 20, 28, and 40 pin versions, these amazing chips are a great way for anyone to get started in the field of embedded microcontrollers and amateur robotics, for three major reasons:
- Inexpensive
For example, a PICAXE-08M costs less than $4.00 and the development software is free!
- Simple to Program
PICAXE BASIC is very similar to most other BASICs, which makes it very easy to learn. - Powerful
PICAXE BASIC includes a full range of built-in commands well-suited for embedded control and amateur robotics.
The 08M is the smallest microcontroller in the PICAXE line, and probably the easiest one with which to begin. It's a pretty amazing chip: no bigger than a 555 timer; yet it's a complete microcontroller with its own built-in memory, easily programmed in BASIC, and costs less than $4.00! The 08M has 5 general-purpose input/output pins and can store up to 80 lines of BASIC code. This may not seem like a lot, but you will be surprised at the complexity of tasks that can be carried out by the 08M.
The 08M has a built-in 4 MHz resonator which is switchable to 8 MHz under program control. Therefore, no external crystal is required, which simplifies circuit design and frees up two of the 08M's pins for general purpose I/O.
A surprising amount of I/O and computing power is built into the 08M. For example, it's capable of sending and receiving serial transmissions at several baud rates, as well as infrared signals to and from other PICAXES, or receiving them from ordinary TV remote controls! It can also control DC motors and RC-type servo motors and perform 10-bit analog to digital conversions- all using simple BASIC commands. In addition, the "M" stands for "music; the PICAXE-08M can store and play a variety of notes and musical tunes.
If you are intrigued by the capabilities of the PICAXE-08M, check out the "Getting Started" section, which presents a simple project to, well... get you started!
If you have any questions about getting started with PICAXE programming, you can email me at Ron@JRHackett.net