Hello,
I'm a new user here. What's better to make robots? Python or CircuitPython?
What do you guys think? I can't decide between two.
I have a project that's remote controlled now, but I'm trying to make it autonomous or self driving as possible, but for that I need to use microcontrollers or a Raspberry Pi.
I already know Python, but I also heard about CircuitPython, so just need to hear some opinions.
There is also something else called MicroPython, which CircuitPython is based on.
I know there is Arduino, but I would rather stick with Python based since I'm familiar with Python.
My understanding of various Python flavors is limited, but AIUI, Circuit and Micro are for doing low-level, high-speed operations on "bare metal", like the RP2040. "Vanilla" Python, OTOH, is an interpreted language that's famous for being flexible, but rather slow.
AIUI, CP is easier to use, while MP is more powerful.
Your fast, realtime functions (like keeping motors on speed, PID loops, etc) might need to be programmed in CP or MP on a small high-speed controller. But your slower, more complex programs might need the memory space of something like an RPi.
Take industrial robots -- each joint has its own small controller, answering to a central controller. The smaller controllers are like instruments in an orchestra, with the central controller being the conductor. Each joint controller may run its control loop at several kHz, while the central controller only "checks in" every few milliseconds. So for a complex motion, the central controller does all the math to plot what ever joint needs to do, and every few ms, it "calls" each joint controller, checks that nothing's gone wrong, and tells that joint what speed to run until the next update. Then the central controller goes off to handle other things, like checking the safety logic, exchanging I/O with other robots, etc.
ok thanks for the reply
