I have never worked with a microcontroller, so please feel free to explain things like I'm 5. I am currently planning a project to build a digital dash in a project vehicle I am building. The car will have a mix of sensors that can communicate on the CANbus, and others that need to be "translated" through a microcontroller. I don't understand how this actually works, but I have seen that it apparently can be done: https://hackaday.com/2021/03/31/classic ... ital-dash/
After I read that article I jumped on adafruit to get my hands on the Teensy microcontroller, but the newest version (unsure if I even need that) is out of stock. Can anyone explain to me the attributes I need to look for in selecting a microcontroller where I will need to translate an analog signal to a digital "packet", then get the data to the Raspberry Pi? I am a Node.js developer by trade, so it would be great if I could find something that can handle Node, but that is not an absolute show stopper.
Thank you for any explanations, still learning all of this.
Looking for suggestions on microcontrollers
Moderators: adafruit_support_bill, adafruit
Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.
- dastels
- Posts: 15659
- Joined: Tue Oct 20, 2015 3:22 pm
Re: Looking for suggestions on microcontrollers
Node probably isn't likely. The primary language for microcontroller work is still C++, but there are viable options such as CircuitPython. I believe (but haven't tried) that Rust and TinyGo are feasible as well. There's also ulisp if you prefer a Lisp.
As for hardware, the Feather M4 CAN Express might be just what you need: https://www.adafruit.com/product/4759. Be sure to have a look at the tutorial guide for more information: https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-fea ... an-express.
Dave
As for hardware, the Feather M4 CAN Express might be just what you need: https://www.adafruit.com/product/4759. Be sure to have a look at the tutorial guide for more information: https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-fea ... an-express.
Dave
- YeeP
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Tue Jul 25, 2017 7:51 pm
Re: Looking for suggestions on microcontrollers
Hey Dave, I guess I wasn't clear or maybe don't understand. My current thought is that I need two microcontrollers. One to communicate with the CAN bus (was planning on using PICAN3) and another to communicate with the analog sensors. The later was what I was looking for in a microcontroller. Are you suggesting that both can be done with one, because that would be great for me as long as I had enough places to put the additional analog sensors.
Thanks.
EDIT: part of the reason I am leaning toward the PICAN, is it looks like it can interface with a "typical" node backend server. https://github.com/Mathews2115/AutoDashBackEnd
Thanks.
EDIT: part of the reason I am leaning toward the PICAN, is it looks like it can interface with a "typical" node backend server. https://github.com/Mathews2115/AutoDashBackEnd
- dastels
- Posts: 15659
- Joined: Tue Oct 20, 2015 3:22 pm
Re: Looking for suggestions on microcontrollers
As for one board to do it all, it would depend on how many sensors you need, and whether they are plain analog or I2C. I.e. how much I/O you will need.The Feather M4 CAN is built around a SAME51 MCU, with a hardware CAN interface, hardware floating point, and a moderate amount of RAM (192K). It has 6 analog inputs, but you can add I2C ADC boards like https://www.adafruit.com/product/1085 which supports 4 addresses for 16 16-bit inputs in addition to the 6 on the feather.
Dave
Dave
- YeeP
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Tue Jul 25, 2017 7:51 pm
Re: Looking for suggestions on microcontrollers
Dave - I spent some time inspecting my harness last night, and it is actually a "single wire CAN". That is to say it has CAN High, and Can Ground. In searching for single wire can microcontrollers, I found the following: https://www.mikroe.com/single-wire-can-click. Does adafruit have anything that can work with a single wire CAN?
- dastels
- Posts: 15659
- Joined: Tue Oct 20, 2015 3:22 pm
Re: Looking for suggestions on microcontrollers
AH, the CAN feather doesn't seem to be single wire. It has Gnd, H, and L. Whether Iit can be configured for single-wire, I don't know. The datasheet is here: https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/a ... 01507F.pdf
I believe that's it in the Adafruit shop for CAN support.
Dave
I believe that's it in the Adafruit shop for CAN support.
Dave
Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.