mookins
Newbie level 1
Hello,
this isn't strictly a DSP question but DSP is definitely an option. What I have is a 3 semester project for uni. I chose to implement an ABS and traction control system in a 1/5th scale remote control car (**broken link removed** for pictures).
My original idea was to use an FPGA, Spartan 3E. I have only ever written VHDL and never used FPGA hardware but I would consider myself a fast learner. Anyway, the plan was to implement a 'soft' microcontroller inside the FPGA, 5 parallel running fuzzy logic controllers (which I have already developed in VHDL), and all the necessary peripherals, like PWM decoding and encoding, ADC interfaces, etc.
I spoke to a guy at work and he said that's overkill and I could get away with a single microcontroller about 50Mhz to 100Mhz. Still skeptical, not to mention having a hard time finding open source development tools, I conjured up the idea of using 5 smaller ATmega chips, one dedicated to each wheel's ABS running a fuzzy logic implementation and the fifth ATmega functioning as a master for data logging, wireless comms back to base, etc.
So my question is, is an FPGA overkill? Are 6 ATmegas overkill? Is a nice hefty 50MHz to 100MHz micro going to be enough?
Other considerations are cheap or free tools and ease of PCB manufacture. I consider up to 4 layers viable. Anything more isn't doable.
Any questions about details feel free to ask!
-Mikey
this isn't strictly a DSP question but DSP is definitely an option. What I have is a 3 semester project for uni. I chose to implement an ABS and traction control system in a 1/5th scale remote control car (**broken link removed** for pictures).
My original idea was to use an FPGA, Spartan 3E. I have only ever written VHDL and never used FPGA hardware but I would consider myself a fast learner. Anyway, the plan was to implement a 'soft' microcontroller inside the FPGA, 5 parallel running fuzzy logic controllers (which I have already developed in VHDL), and all the necessary peripherals, like PWM decoding and encoding, ADC interfaces, etc.
I spoke to a guy at work and he said that's overkill and I could get away with a single microcontroller about 50Mhz to 100Mhz. Still skeptical, not to mention having a hard time finding open source development tools, I conjured up the idea of using 5 smaller ATmega chips, one dedicated to each wheel's ABS running a fuzzy logic implementation and the fifth ATmega functioning as a master for data logging, wireless comms back to base, etc.
So my question is, is an FPGA overkill? Are 6 ATmegas overkill? Is a nice hefty 50MHz to 100MHz micro going to be enough?
Other considerations are cheap or free tools and ease of PCB manufacture. I consider up to 4 layers viable. Anything more isn't doable.
Any questions about details feel free to ask!
-Mikey
