Bot-CoPs - Co-Processors for Small Robots
--- off-load computation-intensive, real-time tasks from your main robotics processor ---

General info about robotics is available on our Projects and Robotics pages.

BCP28 BCP40

OricomTech Bot-CoPs are pre-programmed slave co-processor chips specifically designed for inexpensively extending the processing power of small robotic systems. They provide extended I/O, direct A/D, motor and servo control, increased RAM, additional EEPROM storage, and other capabilities. Bot-CoPs can be used with Basic Stamps, OOPics, Handyboards and other controllers that have RS-232 communication capability.

See the following pages, for info on specific Bot-CoPs: CHIPS Servo Controller Chips Walking Machine Controller Chips CONTROLLERS Servo Control Computers Walking Machine Controllers

Bot-CoPs use Microchip PIC controller chips. The 28-pin versions are designed to match our SBOT28 Controller Board, and the 40-pin version our BOT40 Controller Boards. Both boards have flexible configuration and prototyping areas.

Processor - co-processor. The big advantage of using Bot-CoP co-processors is that computation-intensive tasks can be off-loaded from the main processor to the co-processor, thus freeing up the main processor from low-level tasks, so it can concentrate upon higher-level robotic control. The Bot-CoP handles menial tasks, while the main processor decides how to engage the external world.

This is similar to the hiercharical control and distributed processing scheme used in the nervous systems of animals - cerebral cortex <=> cerebellum and brain-stem <=> spinal cord <=> sensory and end-organs. Sensory input comes up the chain, and motor control goes down. You can learn more about how the nervous system works on our Robotics page.

Bot-CoP General Features: