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Need help picking a microcontroller

eristic
Prodigy 10 points

Other Parts Discussed in Thread: MSP430FG4618

Hello all.  I am an engineering student at a university working with other students on our senior design project.  I have been charged with selecting a microcontroller or board with multiple microcontrollers on it.  I have only taken 1 course which taught me basic functions of the MSP430FG4618. Note: MSP430FG4618 too expensive for mass aftermarket production)

We are designing an anti-lock braking system (ABS) for mountain bicycles using electronically controlled hydraulic actuators.  The system will provide controlled braking in situations where the mechanical alternative will not.  The ABS will also increase the braking performance resulting in a decreased stopping distance and predictable braking characteristics. The design will incorporate feedback from the tachometer in order to gauge braking pressure. Different tachometer methodologies will be considered in the implementation of the speed sensor. The ABS will revert to its fully functional mechanical system under the condition of a dead battery with the use of a failsafe mechanism. The system will consist of three components: a metered brake lever, brake caliper mounted tachometer, and a control unit interface with hydraulic actuators. When combined as a final aftermarket product, the system will be easily installed and just as easily operated regardless of rider experience.


Sensors include: flex sensor (potentiometer), two pressure sensors, and a speed sensor.  Where I'm lost is I have no clue on how to go about picking a micro. 

Any/all suggestions are HIGHLY appreciated!!

  • 0
    TI__Intellectual 1345 points

    Eristic,

     

    The first step you  want to take is to determine what types of interfaces you wa  nt to use to "talk" to your sensors with your MCU.   You want to figure out things like if you want to use I2C, SPI, USB or other serial interfaces if your sensors you have selected are capable of that.  Do you want to use wireless communication?  The CC430 has been used in similar applications and is an MSP430 chip with an RF transceiver on the same silicon.  Also, you will want to figure out how much A/D performance you will need and how may IO pins you will want to use to talk to your sensors and your outputs (actuators). 

    Once you are at the point where you know this, then you can pick the perfect chip from www.ti.com/mcutool by clicking through the settings you want.  Don't worry about memory or RAM right now and just get the chip with the most memory which more than meets your other system requirements.  You want to leave yourself some breathing room in case you need more resources on chip later in the design.

    The FG4618 is actually a very good chip to use to evaluate the 430 for your system.  If you are familiar with this device, then I am guessing you have access to the MSP-EXP430FG4618 Experimenter's board that you can use to start building and testing your design with a breadboard or what have you.  After that you will probably order free samples of the device you selected in the process above and find the appropriate development kit for the chip and package type.  This is how you move to prototyping your own PCB and building your custom system.

    I hope this helps, but remember that most of engineering is figuring this out for yourself.  I wanted to help to use this to answer future similar questions, but if I do too much more then your professor might be upset!

    Good Luck,

    Jacob

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