Microcontroller programming help

[FLY...Please]

Hey guys,
I am fairly new to the electrical aspect of aeromodeling, and am looking for some advice. I am trying to develop a micro ornithopter that will be controlled/powered by three piezoelectric actuators. In order to do this, I need to create a microcontroller that will cycle the three actuators at three different frequencies. Each actuator will be out-of0-phase with the other. The controller will need to cycle the voltage at +-150V and at ~30 Hz.

I think that this should be relativley straightforward to do. However, I have no microcontroller programming experience. I do know some C and C++, though. Does anyone have any suggestions as to where I should start? Should I start out with PICs or AVRs, etc. How exactly should I get started. Can PICs be programmed usig C or do you have to use assembly code?

Any advice would be greatley appreciated.
Thanks!
- John

[xorcise]

There is tons already written about free compilers and various programmers for AVR and PIC's. Try the forum "Search" and you will likely find all the information you need....and more.

[Gary Warner]

That too cool. So, it's micro, an ornithopter, uses three piezoelectric actuators AND is driven with +/-150 volts? This I got to see. Show me that this can fly and I'll write the code for you. :p

Did you mean 1.5 volts?

[FLY...Please]

I really did mean 150 volts. It might actually be more like 180, but hopefully not. And I don't know if it will work in a flight vehicle. Right now, this is only for testing.
Thanks

[pldaniels]

What sort of power output are you needing at 150~180V ?

I've just had a lot of fun making a multivibrator circuit that boosts from 0.8V -> 12V, simple, light, effective --- though I'm not sure how well it'll cope with 150V.

I'd go with the AVR's if you can, purely out of the fact that they work very well with C programming and there's no shortage of tools. Prices on the AVRs are very good, I pick up attiny13's for under $1.50.

Paul.

[GlowFly]

If you haven't already sorted out the hardware design, there are a few electroluminescent chip drivers out there with a gated control pin. The SMT chips generate 150-180v from 5v and a SMT inductor. They produce a DC rail and a pair of anti-phase AC signals at 150v.

Just a thought...
--
Steve

[coro]

Having very old PC programmers skills in C, and really no experiences with microchips, i have tried AVRStudio (free), PonyProg(free), simple parallel programmer (cost allmost nothing, single 74ls244 chip and wires) and did working programmable lab power supply controller at the first touch.
You should have allmost no problems if You will keep .pdf manual for choosen chip opened, and in case of some troubles AVRFreaks.net is kind and helpfull community.
I would start with a bit stronger mcu than You suppose being necesary, to have wide space for tests without need of optimization. After that You may fit much smaller chip, but without need of series production there is no reason to minimize cost, the size is small enough just by using smaller package of the same chip.
For development, big one in DIP is more comfortable.. for example ATmega168 should fit most of general needs, being pin compatible with hobist loved atmega8.