The Handy Board is based on the 52-pin Motorola MC68HC11 processor, and includes 32K of battery-backed static RAM, four outputs for DC motors, a connector system that allows active sensors to be individually plugged into the board, an LCD screen, and an integrated, rechargable battery pack. This design is ideal for experimental robotics project, but the Handy Board can serve any number of embedded control applications.

Additionally, the Handy Board is compatible with Interactive C , the programming environment created for the MIT LEGO Robot Design project. Interactive C (IC) is a multi-tasking, C language based compiler that includes a user command line for dynamic expression compilation and evaluation. Originally created for student use, IC has a wide range of applicability to research and prototyping efforts.

Interactive C may be downloaded from www.kipr.org/ic. IC is provided free of charge as a service to educators and the general public by KIPR.

Here are the steps to getting started with the Handy Board and Interactive C:

1. Attach the Handy Board's separate Serial Interface board to your host computer:
   • There is Serial Interface. Connect the Serial Interface board to the host computer using a standard 9-pin to 25-pin modem cable. If using Serial Interface with USB-serial adapter. Use a USB-Serial adapter cable if your computer does not have a serial port. Install the drivers for the adapter cable if necessary. Using a wall adapter, attach power to the Serial Interface board. The board's Red PWR LED should light up.
   • Connect the Handy Board to the Serial Interface using a standard 4–wire telephone cable.
2. Initialize the board by downloading the pcode/firmware for Interactive C. Here are the steps:
   • Launch Interactive C version 4.x or higher.
   • Select Handy Board from the Controller Type dialog.
   • Choose Connect Later from the Communications Dialog.
   • Choose Download Firmware from the Tools menu. Select the proper serial port, click Download Firmware, and follow the on-screen instructions. In this step, you will put the Handy Board into a special bootstrap download mode, by holding down the Stop button while turning on system power. The pair of LED's by the two push buttons should light up, and then turn off. When power is on and both of the LED's are off, the Handy Board is in download mode.
   • After the firmware is downloaded, the Handy Board should beep, and the Interactive C welcome message should appear on the Handy Board's LCD screen.
3. You are ready to use Interactive C.

Figure 1, above, shows a labeled view of the Handy Board's ports, connectors, inputs, and outputs. In the following, each of these is briefly described.

1. Power Switch. The power switch is used to turn the Handy Board on and off. The Handy Board retains the contents of its memory even when the board is switched off.
2. Computer Connector. Via this RJ11 connector, the Handy Board attaches to a desktop computer (using the separate Interface/Charger Board).
3. 4 DC Motor Outputs and Indicators. The Handy Board's four motor outputs are located at this single 12–pin connector. Each motor output consists of three pins; the motor connects to the outer two pins and the center pin is not used. Red and green LEDs indicate motor direction. From top to bottom, the motor outputs are numbered 0 to 3.
4. Start Button. The Start button is used to control the execution of Interactive C programs. Also, its state may be read under user program control.
5. Stop Button. The Stop button is used to put the Handy Board into a special bootstrap download mode. Also, its state may be read under user program control.
6. Low Battery Indicator. The red Low Battery LED lights when for a brief interval each time the Handy Board is switched on. If this LED is on steadily, it indicates that the battery is low and that the CPU is halted.
7. Power/Ready Indicator. The green Power/Ready LED lights when the Handy Board is in normal operation,and flashes when the Handy Board is transmitting serial data. If the board is powered on and this LED is off, then the Handy Board is in special bootstrap mode.
8. 9 Digital Inputs. The bank of digital input ports is here. From right to left, the digital inputs are numbered 7 to 15.
9. 7 Analog Inputs. The bank of analog input ports is here. From right to left, the analog inputs are numbered 0 to 6.
10. IR Output and Indicator. The infrared output port is here. The red indicator LED lights when the output is enabled.
11. IR Input Sensor. The dark green-colored infrared sensor is here.
12. Analog Expansion Header. The analog expansion header is a 1×4 connector row located above analog inputs 0 to 3.
13. User Knob. The user knob is a trimmer potentiometer whose value can be read under user program control.
14. Battery Trickle-Charge Connector. The battery charge connector is a coaxial power jack to accept a 12 volt signal for trickle-charging the Handy Board's internal battery.
15. Charge Indicator. The yellow charge indicator LED lights when the Handy Board is charging via the coaxial power jack.
16. SPI Expansion Header. The SPI expansion header is a 2×4 pin jack that allows connection with the 6811's serial peripheral interface circuit. See the CPU and memory schematic diagram for a pin-out of this connector.
17. LCD Screen. The Handy Board is provided with a 16×2 LCD screen which can display data under user control.
18. Piezo Beeper. The Handy Board has a simple piezo beeper for generating tones under user control.
19. Power Expansion Header. The power expansion header is a 1×4 pin jack that provides access to the unregulated motor power and ground signals.

The Expansion Board plugs on top of the Handy Board, and provides the following features:

• 10 additional analog sensor inputs;
• 4 inputs for active LEGO sensors (reflectance sensor and shaft encoder);
• 9 digital outputs;
• 6 servo motor control signals with power supply from the Handy Board's internal battery;
• optional external power for servo motors;
• connector mount for Polaroid 6500 ultrasonic ranging system;
• general-purpose electrical prototyping area;
• pass-through connector for the Handy Board's LCD screen.

For more information and technical specification :

1. KISS institute for practical robot
2. BotBall Team Information
3. HandyBoard Hardware Detail
4. Interactive C Download
5. More Link...

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