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A secondary program built into the Studio, that emulates the BAtom, BAtom Pro, and BAtom Nano.
It would display the pins of the selected chip, and using drop down menus, you can select what the pin is connected to, from a list of common devices, such as servos, buttons, LEDs, or basic sensors like temperature, or range. And could display an emulated oscilloscope.
Buttons would be displayed, and be interactive, LED's would not be.
Temperature would have a simple input, where you input the value you want the sensor to read.
Range sensors, the same way.
Servos would display the top view of a servo, and an animated arm, that rotates to the outputs given. With advance settings for an individual servos max and minimal limits.
A basic input, that would be a bit more customizable so you can give it samples of actual inputs you'd receive from a specific sensor.
Emulated serial ports, could connect to your hyper-terminal or terminal program of your choice, Or even be linked to a real serial port, so you can connect your serial devices to it.
A person with a Lynxmotion SSC-32, could test programing of a BAPro, by connecting the SSC-32 to the PC, and sending emulated commands.
PROS:
You could test simple code on the fly.
It would allow beginners to test code, without the possibility of damaging their hardware.
New comers could experience the awesome power of the Basic Atom series, which would encourage them to make a purchase.
It could double as a coded terminal program on it's own. You could run scripts using the BAP's programing.
Would allow the poor to get interested in robotics.
CONS:
Those unable to afford a real BAPro, would simply use the emulator. They would be tethered to the computer though.
Would take a while to create, and would likely have a lot of bugs.
Newbies may be discouraged into buying any MCU if they are overwhelmed with the programming. So links to the forums would need to be easily available.
If all goes well, a person could create and test their programing, before needing to actually program their contraption.
It would attract a whole new crowd of newbies.
Once a newbie plays with it, and gets a dozen virtual servos working, or virtual pizzo speakers beeping, or LEDs flashing, the overwhelming self confidence will encourage them to go at the project in real life, with a real Basic Atom, and real parts.
My influence for this idea, comes from my own experience.
I used to play a sandbox game called Garry's Mod, which had an Addon called Wiremod.
The two together, allowed you to create a virtual contraption, using blocks, or what ever props needed, then you could program virtual motors, or LED's using Wiremod. Wiremod is quite litterally, an expression emulator.
You could write if/then/else gates, or create an ingame drivable car, that's fully automated. The power of the expression programing in the game, rivals that of a BAPro.
The advantages, you could test your contraption instantly, you didn't need to grab a serial cable, or wait for the program to compile and be sent over.
Hence, the emulator idea.
It was this, that got me interested in robotics. This is why i own a BAPro today. Because of the contraption and programing emulators, known as Garry's Mod + Wiremod Addon.
Give me feedback on the idea, let me know your thoughts on it.
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