Data Sheet

Script Structure and Possibilities

Advanced Digital Motor Controller User Manual 187

SECTION 18

MicroBasic

Scripting

One of the Roboteq products’ most powerful and innovative features is their ability for the

user to write programs that are permanently saved into, and run from the device’s Flash

Memory. This capability is the equivalent, for example, of combining the motor controller

functionality and this of a PLC or Single Board Computer directly into the controller. Script

can be simple or elaborate, and can be used for various purposes:

• Complex sequences:

MicroBasic Scripts can be written to chain motion sequences based on the status

of analog/digital inputs, motor position, or other measured parameters. For exam-

ple, motors can be made to move to different count values based on the status of

pushbuttons and the reaching of switches on the path.

• Adapt parameters at runtime

MicroBasic Scripts can read and write most of the controller’s conﬁguration set-

tings at runtime. For example, the Amps limit can be made to change during opera-

tion based on the measured heatsink temperature.

• Create new functions

Scripting can be used for adding functions or operating modes that may be needed

for a given application. For example, a script can compute the motor power by mul-

tiplying the measured Amps by the measured battery Voltage, and regularly send

the result via the serial port for Telemetry purposes.

• Autonomous operation

MicroBasic Scripts can be written to perform fully autonomous operations. For ex-

ample the complete functionality of a line following robot can easily be written and

ﬁtted into the controller.

Script Structure and Possibilities

Scripts are written in a Basic-Like computer language. Because of its literal syntax that is

very close to the every-day written English, this language is very easy to learn and simple

scripts can be written in minutes. The MicroBasic scripting language also includes support

for structured programming, allowing fairly sophisticated programs to be written. Several

shortcuts borrowed from the C-language (++, +=, …) are also included in the scripting lan-

guage and may be optionally used to write shorter programs.