Matrix user forums

Hi I am thinking of asking Santa for a copy of FlowCode 5
But wich one do I need here is what I am trying to do
I want to make an ROV controler I would prefer to use arduino as I have some of these units but will use any microprosesor if I have to
Topside I want a playstation 2 controler conecting to an arduino master that will allow me to use all the buttons to outputs on the bottom side slaves
I also want feedback from the bottom slaves which will be 2 arduino UNOs or whatever microprosesor system i use
The top side will conect to the bottom side over cat 5 cable
From the bottom side I need to control the following
5 pwm motors
Lights bright or dim
Feedback from the bottom will be seen on an LCD display and will include the following
3 temrature readings
I compass heading
Depth
Leak detector
Is this feasible in flowcode or am I better to learn c++ and do it that way
Al

Hi
If you want to use the Arduino you will need the AVR version of flowcode. It supports the Arduino boards directly (Not sure if all the Arduinos are supported).

I really recommend you get the Professional version though for what every micro you choose to use. The home version is quite limited in the more advanced components. (Though the upgrade price from home to professional is simply the difference in price between the two, so it doesnt cost any more to go down that path)

All the things you want are certainly do-able, though maybe not all on one Adruino.
You will need some sensors for the temp, compass etc. Using an I2C bus for example will make reading them quite easy.

The learning curve for flowcode is a lot easier than for C. (Dont see from your post if you have used flowcode before, but you will be creating advanced projects in a very short space of time. Just browse the forums and look at the various projects posted on here.
Plus the support you get from both Matrix and the users on the forums is the best.

Thank you will have to ask santa nicely are any other microprosesors better than arduino for the task I want
Al

Hi Al

I mostly use PICs, though I have played with AVR, ARM and dsPIC
ARM is the most powerful (32bit), but if you have Arduinos already that is proberbly the cheapest way to go on the hardware.
Dont think you can really say any type is better or worse generally, you need to consider what you need them to do and select from that.

Have you downloaded the free version of flowcode and tried some simple programs with it.

The advantage of flowcode over other languages are the flowchats are all developed in the same way, and are to most intents processor independant until you compile them. (Also a program in one version of flowcode can be easilly imported into another. i.e. a pic program can be imported to a AVR with little or no changes.