How Computers Run Devices

A Member? Please Login  
type your username and password to login
Date: July 26, 2008, 06:13 AM
223737 members and 127052 Topics
Latest Member: Dabuch
Nairaland [Nigerian Forum] Home Help Search Who is currently online? Login Register
Nairaland Forum  |  Technology  |  Programming  |  How Computers Run Devices
Pages: (1) Go Down Send this topic Notify of replies
Author Topic: How Computers Run Devices  (Read 258 views)
segebee (m)
How Computers Run Devices
« on: December 16, 2007, 08:21 PM »

im just wondering,  how can my computer program run a mechanical object

that cld b robotics

i mean wot does a pc send, electricity, 1 and 0's

guru's help me oh
femu
Re: How Computers Run Devices
« #1 on: December 17, 2007, 02:41 PM »

hello if u need help in these area u can call me on
08034209301,I have some working demos that might
assist u.
webguru
Re: How Computers Run Devices
« #2 on: December 18, 2007, 04:52 PM »

thanks

if anyone can post online it would b appreciated
SayoMarvel (m)
Re: How Computers Run Devices
« #3 on: January 18, 2008, 05:28 PM »

please if you have any idea of this thing, post it here where the info can be easily accesible, a phone number is out of it, people don't normally have excess time to be spending on phone. I also need to learn more about this topic.
kanirip (m)
Re: How Computers Run Devices
« #4 on: January 18, 2008, 05:43 PM »

I don't claim to know a lot in this but I did do a course in my Uni about this and we had to program a
Lego Robot.

At the end of the day the robot could move, detect wall bumps and take apropriate actions and then calculate the distance it has travelled.

We had to the Most of the programming using a language called pbForth( although I hear that it is possible to do this as well using a more modern programming language like Java).

The programs are developed on the programmers machine and then uploaded into the Memory of the robot(using a USB connection) where it can then be executed.

If you can investigate 'Lego Mindstorm NXT' , I'm sure you will find out a little bit bout them and u will find that the hardest thing about them is the price u will need to pay for one of those Robot Kits!

As for programming other devices, i know most people use Assembly Language and C as these languages tend to allow the programmer gain direct access to the memory blocks and structures within a device.

I hope this helps!

Wallie (m)
Re: How Computers Run Devices
« #5 on: February 27, 2008, 10:16 PM »

Info edited for clarity.

Everything in a computer eventually becomes ones and zeros (bits); that's the only thing a machine understands. Whatever type of code you write in whatever language gets translated.

There are different types/levels of software required to control hardware.
1. Application (user interface) -  Word, excel
2. Middleware (drivers, operating system) - Windows XP, drivers for your printers, camera e.t.c. The middleware will be the bridge between your application and the hardware. Its job is akin to that of a language interpreter.
3. Firmware - code resident in the FPGA or ROM. This code looks at the register value or a set of registers to determine if they are set to 1 or zero and takes a predetermined set of actions based on that setting.

The bottom line is that whatever you do with your application code eventually gets translated into 1s and 0s in the hardware register.

Hope this helps! Ask specific questions if you're still confused.
Kobojunkie
Re: How Computers Run Devices
« #6 on: February 28, 2008, 05:26 AM »

I think you can take a look at this
http://www.u2u.net/Res/Article.aspx?ART=msdndelegates3

 to get an idea of how programs work on Robots. Yes, everything eventually is translated by the compiler and the underlying technology into 0's and 1's but good thing is you do not have to know all that to get your robots to work the way you want them to.
 Software Engineer!  Vb Programmer Wanted For Small Project  Oracle E-boks  Page 2
Pages: (1) Go Up Send Topic to Friend by E-mail Reply 
Google
 
Web www.nairaland.com
Sections: TV/Movies (2) Music/Radio (2) Celebrities Jobs (2) Career Romance Books Politics Sports Fashion Travel
Health Schooling Religion General(2) Business Webmaster Programming Computers Phones Cars & Trucks

Links: Page1 Page2 Page3 Page4 Page5 Page6 Page7 Page8 Page9 Page10

Nairaland is owned by Oluwaseun Osewa
Nairaland Forum | Powered by SMF 1.0.12.
© 2001-2005, Lewis Media. All Rights Reserved.