If you are a beginner , it is always better to use PIC micro controllers from Microchip. Because now they are highly
available in Sri Lanka and other thing is they are very cheap. I found a 16F877A micro controller at a electronic
shop ( KVG Electronics) in Rathmalana for the price of Rs. 450 /=. This has 40 pins and almost have all the
features , which a AVR microcontroller have in similar capacity. It contain all the peripherals like SPI , UART , ADC ,
PWM , CAPTURE , Timer , I2C modules. So this is more than enough controller for even an advance user.
Some ideas which can do from each peripheral in 16F877A
1. SPI - you can interface a SD card and this can use as a very large memory storage. if you want to measure and logged wind speed in every minute for a period of one year - this could be ideal storage.
2. UART - you can connect your micro controller to a Computer and you can make computer control devices.
And also you can connect a GPRS modem through this UART to your PIC . using a GPRS modem you can control lots of things using sms from your phone. How about on and off your television using your phone by sms from any where in the world
3. ADC - you can connect sensors to your micro controller like wind sensors , humidity sensors , temperature sensors through ADC controller. ideal for making a whether measuring station.
4. PWM - you can control DC motors (speed control) from PWM module. How about making a bowling machine ,
for practicing cricket. You have to send your ball through two rotating discs , which have different speeds. then
the bowl will swing , before it come to the bat. Amount of swing , you can control from the disc rotating speeds using PWM module.
5. CAPTURE - you can use capture module for measuring frequencies such as rotating speeds. This is ideal for making ROBOT vehicles , you can measure the amount of ROBOT travel by using this module , easily
6. I2C - two wire protocol , most of the time using to interface external EPROM s and sensors
Now can you see how many interesting things you can do from PIC microcontroller. So do not worry about AVR MCU ,
any more. All the resouces are around you. Only thing you have to do is , come up with a good project and start
Good Luck !!!!!!!!
