Micro-Robotics launches VM2 embedded controller

The VM2 is smaller, measuring only 52mm x 48mm, costs approximately 15 per cent less, is more powerful and 15 times faster than its predecessor and has low power consumption, according to the company.

The VM1 will be produced for the foreseeable future to support existing customers and applications.

Micro-Robotics claims that its new controller provides an efficient and cost-effective control solution for many applications.

Custom boards can also be provided to optimise the performance of specific applications.

The VM2 can handle analogue and digital input/output (I/O), graphical user interfaces, flash, RAM and external memory card filing systems and TCP/IP internet protocols.

It uses the new controller in the STM32 family of ARM-based 32-bit flash microcontrollers, running at 72MHz.

The board also has an 8Mb flash containing a user application code and a flash filing system, a 1Mb SRAM (backed up by an optional battery), a 512KB fast flash containing the Venom2 operating system and a 64Kb fast SRAM.

Even during continuous operation, the VM2 consumes 45mA at 3.3V (149mW) and in 'idle' mode the current consumption of the standard board is 19mA (63mW).

For applications where fast clock speed is not important, this can be traded off against improved current consumption when the idling current can be adjusted to 6mA (20mW).

The VM2 also has a 'sleep' mode, in which it will only consume micro amps.

A copy of Venom2, the latest version of the Venom embedded control language that has many new features, is supplied with each VM2 control board.

Venom2 is an object-oriented, multi-tasking language that requires no licence fee and is designed specifically for writing control systems.

It is supported by free development tools and lifetime technical support.

Application programs are held in battery-backed RAM for a rapid development cycle and are protected in flash memory when finished.

The VM2 can communicate with other computers over the internet or over local-area networks and the Venom2 language has built-in TCP/IP networking protocols and drivers for modems, including mobile telephones.

A range of I/O and communication interfaces, including Ethernet connection, are in design, while many of the interfaces that were used with the VM1 can also be used.

In addition, a number of application boards are being developed for this controller that will be suitable for intelligent instruments, handheld devices, industrial automation, process control and security, according to the company.