Both modules Basic Stamp and Basic Atom have compatible connection to serial ports and input-output pins.
This is advantage, because the same circuits can be used for both microcontrollers. Prototyping board (fig. 2)
enables fast building of designed wiring diagram without making of printed circuit board and soldering. Prototyping
boards have banana terminals and serial RS-232 Canon connector for programming. These modules should be
powered by stabilized power supply (5V). Students have more time for programming and playing with
microcontroller.
Fig. 2. Basic Atom microcontroller and prototyping board.
First steps of students are oriented to training of sending and receiving of binary signals (fig. 3). Students build
typical tasks and various combinations as logical systems etc. Both microcontrollers are only signal computers with
limitation of maximum electric current to several miliampers. Other projects are devoted to controlling of high
power systems as DC motors, relays etc (fig. 3, 4). For this purpose are available modules with transistor switch,
modules with H-bridge, modules with relay etc. Typical task is controlling of DC motor via using of pulse width
modulation (PWM). Also several modules with DC motors are available. Everything has banana terminals for fast
connecting into circuits. LED diodes have implemented also resistors for limiting of current to maximum 2 mA.
Also transistor modules and relay modules consist of transistor switch adjusted for using with microcontroller.
Fig. 3.