What is MT System and TinyC?

MT-MB2 - MicroBoard fitted with MT-40r2
The MicroBoard is a palm-size, battery powered single board computer system, ideal for educational robotics and other interface projects. This general purpose embedded controller board can also be used for data logging, smart instruments, and custom control applications. It has a pre-loaded run-time system designed to execute pseudo-code produced by the TinyC compiler and it can store up to 5 user programs on board.
TinyC is a subset of the standard C language with various functions tailored for robotics applications. The primary design of this controller board is for robotics applications, but it can easily be adapted for other control applications as well.

The Microboard comes completely assembled (heatsinks may be supplied separately) and includes a serial download cable, power cable and a set of jumper wires.

Tiny C Reference Manual
Sample programs, including movie/sound clips, for Microboard

SYSTEM FEATURES

• MicroTech Integrated Development Enviroment (IDE) for developing and downloading programs (includes sample programs)
• Dual regulated and separate 5V and 6V power supplies to improve system stability
• Accepts 7 to 10V DC supply, suitable for battery operation
• 8-digit, 7-segment display
• 20 LED bar display
• 14 buttons for system functions and programmable data input
• An L293D chip capable of driving 2 small DC motors
• A ULN2003 chip with 7 open collector outputs for driving resistive and inductive loads
• 2 x EEPROMs, 24C02 and 95C56 (both 256 bytes) for data storage.
• The MCU is able to store up to 5 programs of 4K bytes each, plus an internal 2K bytes of EEPROM for data storage
• A 3-pin connector for program download and serial RS232 communications, including LEDS indicating data going in and out
• A 38KHz IR receiver module with indicator LED
• Piezo speaker for sound output
• 2 sets of 5V power supply connectors for powering other circuits and 'gadgets'
• Small board size - 10cm x 8cm
• No expensive hardware programmer needed - programs are downloaded using the standard PC serial port
• Over 30 sample programs to demonstrate various features of the TinyC language

MT-MB3 - MicroBoard Base Board Unit
A simple 'ready to go' robot base board. Just mount the MicroBoard controller and battery pack, download the sample program and run. Ideal introduction to educational robotics. An optional lithium-polymer battery pack and universal charger is also available (see below). The kit is supplied assembled and includes the following items:

• MB3 baseboard
• IR Sensor Board and diodes
• 2 x 160 RPM gearhead motors and tyres
• Motor cables (not connected for easier shipping)
• 5/8" carbon steel ball transfer unit
• Jumper wires (not shown)
• standoffs, screws, nuts & washers

The Microboard and BaseBoard are combined to to make a simple robot . Sample programs are available demonstrating how to:
• Make a black line following robot
• Light seeking robot
• Autonomous object-avoiding robot

All the sample programs and movie/sound clips showing how they work are available here at the manufacturer's website.

MT-MCTRL1 - MT Motor Controller
The MT Motor Controller is capable of controlling up to four DC motors or two stepper motors. The motor controller uses a 3-wire protocol developed by MicroTech to communicate with the controlling circuitry. The onboard MCU is an enhanced version of 2051-compatible microcontroller, which interprets the incoming commands to control the running speed and direction of the attached motors. The motor controller is able to recover from any communication errors that can occur when, for example, the controlling circuitry is reset while sending data to the motor controller. The motors are controlled and driven by a pair of L298N motor control ICs.

The primary design of this controller board is for robotic applications, but can be easily adapted for other motor control applications as well. Motors work in pairs. Therefore, if two stepper motors are used, they are separately connected to the outputs of the L298N ICs. However, if only two sets of DC motors are used they both have to be connected to the same L298N to work as a pair.

MT-SC13 - MT 13 Channel Servo Controller (kit)
The MT13 Servo Controller driver module is designed to drive up to 13 R/C servo motors using parallel output mode. The servo controllers accept RS232 serial data from a host PC or MCU and output PWM (pulse width modulation) signals to control the attached servos.
Each channel also includes a speed setting from 1 (slowest) to 5 (fastest). At a speed setting of '1' the servo moves from 0 to 180 degrees in 8 seconds. Using speed control, different makes of servo motors can be moved in unison despite having different inherent moving speeds.

Product Features

1. Parallel signal output - all servo signals go high at the same time
2. Independent servo operation, with each servo having its own set of speed and position settings
3. Individual servo speed control ie. different servos are capable of moving at different speeds simultaneously
4. Selectable baud rates from 600 to 19200
5. Command to retrieve current servo position
6. 19 (MT-SC13) and 24 (MT-SC21) storage positions for servo speeds and settings
7. Simple commands to operate
8. Small board size - 46 x 38mm (MT-SC13) and 65 x 41mm (MT-SC21)

MT-SC13SQ - MT 13 Channel Servo Sequencer (kit)
MT-SC21SQ - MT 21 Channel Servo Sequencer (kit)
The MT Servo Sequencers are upgrades of the MT Servo Controllers to include servo command storage and execution functionality. They share the same PCB and components with their servo controller counterpart but are equiped with more advanced microcontrollers. The MT Servo Sequencers are 'supersets' of the MT Servo Controllers.

A series of servo moving commands is called a 'sequence'. Once a sequence has been stored it can be recalled and executed without the need to re-enter the servo control commands again.

In order to make the programming task easier, software called 'MT Servo Sequencer Console' is available (free download). It is a text editor and downloader in one and allows for programming sequencing commands into the Servo Sequencers without the need to receive the servo moving commands directly from a host PC or MCU. It is also part of the RS232 Test Terminal included in the MT IDE.

The Servo Sequencer works in two modes - Controller and Player. In 'Controller' mode it behaves just like the normal servo controller. As soon as it receives a 'Play' command (or is set to 'AutoPlay' at boot up), it jumps into 'Player' mode to execute the command sequences previously downloaded. It will then remain in this mode until it encounters a 'STOP' command or has reached the end of the playing sequences, whereby it will return to 'Controller' mode. In 'Player' mode the only command it will recognise is 'Stop Play', which will interrupt the sequence and return it to 'Controller' mode.

In addition to the product features listed above for the Servo Controller boards, the Servo Sequencers have 5K bytes of memory for storing up to 256 sequences and are fully integrated with infra-red commands (see documentation).

Click here to see how powerful the MT Servo Sequencers are. The videos show a crude home-made bipedal robot using six servos, all driven by the MT-SC13SQ servo sequencer and powered by a 7.4V Li-Polymer battery.

MT40b1 - MT-40 DemoBoard
MT28b1 - MT-28 DemoBoard
MT20b1 - MT-20 DemoBoard
Each of these assembled MT demoboards are similar in structure and only differ in the type of MT chip used. The demo boards include the minimum components necessary for a basic controller, thus keeping the cost and board size to a minimum. All the pins of the MCU have been brought out side-by-side to standard 0.1" headers for interfacing to other circuits.

All demo boards include a 5 volt regulator, a system reset button and a RS232 communication circuit made of transistors. Please refer to the "MT Chips Hardware Reference" for detailed interfacing information for connection with other components and circuits.

MT-IO-1 - Input/Output Test board with cables
The IOBoard is a cut-down version of ther MT 8051 SBC (Single Board Computer) with MCU and EEproms removed. It includes the minimum components needed to carry out all I/O functions using the MT DemoBoards or ARMBoards. All pins on the board have been brought out to standard 0.1" headers for interfacing to other circuits. The board is supplied with a bundle of connecting wires for connection to the I/O pins on the demoboards.

The IOBoard has a heatsink fitted to its 5V regulator and therefore it is able to power the DemoBoards or ARMBoards directly.

Here is a summary of the I/O experiments that can be carried out using the IOBoard:

1. LED experiment
2. On/Off switch experiment
3. 7-segment display experiment
4. Speaker/Sound experiment
5. Infra-Red experiment
6. RS232 communication experiment

MT-ARM-1 - ARM board fitted with Philips LPC2132 @ 60MHz
This board includes the minimum components necessary for a basic controller, thus keeping both cost and board size down. All MCU pins have been brought out side-by-side to standard 0.1" headers for interfacing with other circuits.

The MT ARMBoard is supplied programmed with the MT System Code to run TinyC programs. However end users can erase it for normal ARM development. WARNING: After erasing the ARM chip there is no way to get the MT System Code back - you have to buy a new one!

The ARMBoard runs on 3.3V. It has a 1117-3.3V Low-Drop-Out (1V) voltage regulator which enables the board to be powered from 4.3V to 22V DC. The board also includes a system reset button and a 3.3V powered RS232 driver chip (MAX3232).

Note: When using the ARMBoard with the IOBoard for doing experiments it will be necessary to use some I/I buffering ICs, such as 74LS573, to interface between the two boards. This is due to the different operating voltages for each board.

MT-40 chip and crystal
MT-20 chip and crystal
Pre-programmed microcontroller containing the MT System code, together with 22.1184MHz crystal. Please refer to the "MT Chips Hardware Reference" for pinouts, etc.