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VEX ARM® Cortex®-based Microcontroller

$249

In stock

SKU

276-2194

Works with

BEST legal.

The VEX ARM® Cortex®-based Microcontroller coordinates the flow of information and power on the robot. All other electronic system components must interface to the Microcontroller - it is the "brain" of a robot.

STMicroelectronics ARM® Cortex® M3 user processor
(8) Standard 3-wire Motor ports
(2) 2-wire Motor ports
(1) I2C "smart sensor" port
(2) UART Serial Ports
(8) Hi-res (12-bit) Analog Inputs
(12) Fast digital I/O ports which can be used as interrupts
Programmable with easyC v4 or ROBOTC for VEX Robotics v4.x

Details

Kit Contents

Docs & Downloads

Weight

Inputs

I/O Ports

Outputs

Other Info

CAD Files

The VEX ARM® Cortex®-based Microcontroller coordinates the flow of all information and power on the robot. It has built in bi-directional communication for wireless driving, debugging and downloading using the VEXnet wireless link. The Microcontroller is the brain of every VEX robot.

VEXnet devices contain internal processors and run on special software called Firmware (or Master Code). Firmware is updated periodically to provide additional functionality or fix bugs. To fully unlock the potential of VEX Robotics VEXnet devices, it's important to ensure that all applicable drivers are installed and firmware is updated.

Please visit this page to download the correct firmware for your device.

(1) VEX ARM® Cortex®-based Microcontroller

VEX ARM® Cortex®-based Microcontroller / VEXnet Joystick User Guide
VEX ARM® Cortex®-based Microcontroller Pinout Guide
VEX Robot Troubleshooting Flow Charts

0.302 lbs (137 grams)

Actual weight of one item (no packaging)

Analog Input Impedance:

The 8 analog inputs each consist of a 470K pull-up to +5V, a series resistance of 10K and a 20K pull-down resistance to the uP

Analog characteristics:

3 dB bandwidth of 16 kHz
Analog input range: 0.0 v to 5.0 v
Tolerant of -0.5v to +5.5v
Only configurable as analog inputs

Digital Input Impedance:

The 12 digital inputs each consist of a 1K series resistance and a weak processor pull-up to +3.3V. Each Digital Input can also be configured as a Digital Output

Interrupts:

All digital inputs can be configured as interrupts except for Digital 10

(8) 3-wire Motor Outputs

Usage: For 3-wire VEX motors, Motor Controller 29s or servos

Type: Hobby standard PWM

Refresh: Every 18.5 mSec

(2) 2-wire Motor Outputs

Usage: For 2-wire VEX motors

Type: H-Bridge

Refresh: Every 1 mSec

(1) I2C "Smart Sensor" Port

Usage: Future I2C Products

0 to 3.3v logic I/O

Data rate, word width, etc set by compiler

See Cortex Pin-out for wiring details

(2) UART Serial Ports

Usage: VEX LCD Module

0 to 3.3v logic I/O, 5V tolerant

Data rate, word width, etc set by compiler

Factory default: 19.2 kbaud, 8 data bits, no parity, talks with VEX LCD

See Cortex Pin-out for wiring details

(8) 12-bit Analog Inputs

Analog In: 12-bit resolution. 10 μSec access time.

(12) Fast Digital I/O (can be used as interrupts)

Digital In: 150 kHz input frequency

(1) DAC Speaker Output

Usage: Output sound, voice, and music to an external speaker

(2) Rx1 & Rx2

Connects to 75 MHz receivers

Pin 1 - Power +5 volts (the right most pin when looking at the front connector on the VEX Controller)

Pin 2 - Receiver

Pin 3 - Gnd

Pin 4 - Tether Detect (the left most pin when looking at the front connector on the VEX Controller)

Digital characteristics:

3 dB bandwidth of 150 kHz

Needs 0.0 to 0.6 volts for a low and 2.5 to 5.0 volts for a high

Tolerant of -0.5v to +5.5v

Can drive a 1 mA load to 1.6v or lower or a low and 1.4 volts or higher for a high

All digital lines can be configured as inputs or outputs

SP characteristic:

SP Output: A Digital-to-Analog (DAC) output when configured by compiler

Drive primarily limited by 5K processor resistance

Output swing into open load is 0.2v to 3.1v, typical

PWM Outputs:

These 8 ports can drive an open circuit to 0.6v or lower for a low and 2.4 volts or higher for a high

They can drive a 1 mA load to 1.0v or lower for a low and 2.4 volts or higher for a high

Pinout:

Digital, Analog, PWM Outputs: Outside pin (closest to the controller edge) Ground

Digital, Analog Outputs: Center pin (or middle pin) + 5 Volts, 1 Amp Max combined total from all pins

PWM Outputs: Center pin (or middle pin) + Battery Power, 4 Amps Max combined total from all pins for Motors 2 - 5 and 4 amps combined for Motors 6 - 9

Digital, Analog, PWM Outputs: Inside pin (furt.hest from the controller edge) Signal / Control line

2-Wire Motor Outputs:

Two pins each for Motor 1 and for Motor 10

Motor 1 shares 4 amp max with Motors 2 - 5

Motor 10 shares 4 amp max with Motors 6 - 9

STMicroelectronics ARM® Cortex® M3 Specs:

Speed - 90 MIPS (Million Instructions Per Second)

RAM - 64KB

Flash - 384KB program space

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VEX ARM® Cortex®-based Microcontroller

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