Author Topic: admins secret new product  (Read 36454 times)

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Offline Gertlex

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Re: admins secret new product
« Reply #90 on: May 23, 2011, 10:20:34 PM »
Def in for one.  Was hoping for a second header UART (unless I'm mistaken), but I can probably adapt to the USB one, or just ditch using an external servo controller, heh.

Nicely crafted, Admin!
I

Offline TrickyNekro

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Re: admins secret new product
« Reply #91 on: May 24, 2011, 04:20:29 AM »
Following the wave eh?

Nice one there!

Only a side note, it would be cheaper to have a pcb antenna and optional external antenna via some soldering pads...
Anyhow, well done!!!

Finally... It's not a secret (and yup RF can be such a pain, no wonders for the delays)

Best Regards, Lefteris
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Offline WaterPig Master

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Re: admins secret new product
« Reply #92 on: May 24, 2011, 06:52:31 AM »
Some kind of wifi-enables Axon, I infer? Nice! That should lead to some interesting robots. What would be really cool would be a built in web server — data could then be sent from the robot to a webpage, and a robot controlled via the web easily…

Thanks,
Barnaby

Offline Gertlex

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Re: admins secret new product
« Reply #93 on: May 24, 2011, 07:51:28 AM »
Also, props for not using mini/micro/nano/etc. in the name :)
I

Offline AdminTopic starter

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Re: admins secret new product
« Reply #94 on: May 24, 2011, 07:57:16 AM »
btw, for those who do not know what a Mote is, wikipedia has an article on it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motes

It can, of course, be used like a 'mini-Axon' for robots, if you don't need as much I/O. ;D

TrickyNekro, trace antennas are over rated :P
(I considered all options, and decided this antenna was the best for robotics)

Offline madsci1016

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Re: admins secret new product
« Reply #95 on: May 24, 2011, 08:09:16 AM »
btw, for those who do not know what a Mote is, wikipedia has an article on it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motes


I still think you made that up.  :P I asked many of my co-workers, and none of them knew the 'slang' term. Some guessed it was short for re-mote, like "Throw the mote ov'r here". Guess I live too close to the swamp.

Quote
TrickyNekro, trace antennas are over rated :P
(I considered all options, and decided this antenna was the best for robotics)

I agree with Admin. I hate trace or chip antennas.

I'm surprised more people didn't guess this correctly. Heck, there was even a forum post here a few months ago, where someone was asking about a MCU and wireless radio, and Admin went so far to say "Wait until my secret product comes out". C'mon people!

Not to mention Admin needs to choose a more descrete name on some other technical forums.  ;)  ;) ;)
That was the real clue.

Offline Asellith

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Re: admins secret new product
« Reply #96 on: May 24, 2011, 09:44:08 AM »
Admin your evil.... Now I HAVE to build that swarm robot I've always wanted to try. Your release date is the end of my current work contract. So not only will this cool new Axon be out but I'll be unemployed about that time as well. Great timing :)
Jonathan Bowen
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Offline happy_hippo

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Re: admins secret new product
« Reply #97 on: May 24, 2011, 02:17:47 PM »
Will it cost more than axon/axon II ? and how many I\O can it control?
Thank you  ;)
??? -> :D

Offline TrickyNekro

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Re: admins secret new product
« Reply #98 on: May 25, 2011, 03:16:35 AM »
TrickyNekro, trace antennas are over rated :P
(I considered all options, and decided this antenna was the best for robotics)

Not saying otherwise, I'm just talking about selectable antenna via soldering jumper.

Chip antennas have many problems, but are considered a cheap alternative for a reason.
And trace antennas have also many other designing problems...

But I've seen in many 2.4GHz modules that a soldering jumper is generally preferred.
For example that configuration was present in some 2.4GHz Cypress Semi modules, I've sampled a long time ago ;)

Edit: And you're trying to compete the already existing AVR Raven... So keep that in mind for the pricing ;)
Good thing of course that your module is robot oriented and not a general development board.

Anyhow, I wish the best to you ;) (Keep in mind that you are the beloved admin anyways :p )
« Last Edit: May 25, 2011, 03:19:23 AM by TrickyNekro »
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Offline macdad-

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Re: admins secret new product
« Reply #99 on: May 29, 2011, 04:58:24 PM »
Admin, kudos for figuring the RF out ;D (My transistor transmitters are 'meh' quality)

I'm probably gonna save up for one and get some really good projects churning out. The uSD Card connector is a nice touch and the other specs, but how is the battery going to connect to it? The headers?

And what's the transceiver's frequency?

Thanks

Offline AdminTopic starter

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Re: admins secret new product
« Reply #100 on: May 29, 2011, 05:05:27 PM »
I'm putting in the manufacturing order for it first thing Monday, so I'll release documentation and pricing in about 4 weeks.


macdad, its on the 2.4GHz spectrum. I'll give more info later.

Offline enekux

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Re: admins secret new product
« Reply #101 on: June 08, 2011, 12:21:48 AM »
Hi there!!

Any news??? What would be the functionality of the uSD card in the board? Have u maybe changed the usb-uart converter?

cOnGrAtUlAtIoNs!!!

Offline BANE

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Re: admins secret new product
« Reply #102 on: June 08, 2011, 07:44:02 AM »
what will be the approx max range between two of these be?  

Offline AdminTopic starter

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Re: admins secret new product
« Reply #103 on: June 08, 2011, 08:11:29 AM »
I'll release more information in a few weeks, when I finish up the documentation. Manufacture is about 20% done.

As for range, you'll be impressed ;)

Offline Hawaii00000

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Re: admins secret new product
« Reply #104 on: June 13, 2011, 08:31:07 PM »
Only a side note, it would be cheaper to have a pcb antenna and optional external antenna via some soldering pads...

I agree with Tricky... why not have a trace antenna built into the board with the option of using the external one?
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Offline AdminTopic starter

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Re: admins secret new product
« Reply #105 on: June 13, 2011, 08:49:45 PM »
why not have a trace antenna built into the board with the option of using the external one?
I considered that option . . . but after looking at cost/board size/signal quality I determined that the antenna option I went with was by far the best. :P

Offline BANE

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Re: admins secret new product
« Reply #106 on: June 15, 2011, 11:43:30 PM »
not trying to be an a$$ and get more info than released but will it be 64-bit compatible?  Also, is the 6 pin header for a programmer?

cant wait to buy:D

Offline dunk

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Re: admins secret new product
« Reply #107 on: June 16, 2011, 01:36:44 AM »
Only a side note, it would be cheaper to have a pcb antenna and optional external antenna via some soldering pads...

I agree with Tricky... why not have a trace antenna built into the board with the option of using the external one?
at 2.4GHz an optimal whip antenna is only around 32mm.
when dealing with these distances the extra few mm PCB trace of having a selectable jumper on the antenna will have a detrimental affect on the maximum range.

there is a shortage of long range 2.4GHz products on the market.
if Admin wants to appeal to a wider market maximizing range is a sensible option.


dunk.

Offline AdminTopic starter

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Re: admins secret new product
« Reply #108 on: June 16, 2011, 07:15:40 AM »
not trying to be an a$$ and get more info than released but will it be 64-bit compatible?  Also, is the 6 pin header for a programmer?
It's the software that we use, not the hardware, that has the 64-compatibility issue. :-X

Webbot and one other person (who's username escapes my bad memory at the moment) are working on new software to resolve these issues. It is our hope/plan that both the new software and the Axon Mote are released at about the same time.

I plan to release full documentation in about 2 weeks. Manufacturing is still on-schedule (fingers crossed).

Offline AdminTopic starter

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Re: admins secret new product
« Reply #109 on: June 16, 2011, 03:23:57 PM »
Good news . . . the PCB's are finished - two weeks early! :D

Next is assembly, ie putting components on the PCBs. This has been started, meaning that if nothing goes wrong they'll have it done by July ~5th. :)

In other words, I could ship out as early as mid-July . . . but given my luck, I won't promise anything earlier than late August :P
« Last Edit: June 16, 2011, 03:29:40 PM by Admin »

Offline BANE

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Re: admins secret new product
« Reply #110 on: June 16, 2011, 03:25:55 PM »
Quote
done by June ~5th.
im guessing you mean july?  Unless the mote is a time machine ;D

Offline AdminTopic starter

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Re: admins secret new product
« Reply #111 on: June 16, 2011, 03:31:26 PM »
Quote
done by June ~5th.
im guessing you mean july?  Unless the mote is a time machine ;D
It *is* in fact a time machine ;D

Offline BANE

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Re: admins secret new product
« Reply #112 on: June 16, 2011, 03:40:16 PM »
Quote
It *is* in fact a time machine
ha! I knew it when i saw that flux capacitor on it and you not releasing the power specs because it's actually 1.1 gigawatts  :D :D :D

Offline tzankoff

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Re: admins secret new product
« Reply #113 on: June 18, 2011, 08:23:21 PM »
...but will it allow servos to spin up to 88MPH?  :o

Offline voyager2

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Re: admins secret new product
« Reply #114 on: June 20, 2011, 07:43:04 PM »
Quote
It *is* in fact a time machine
ha! I knew it when i saw that flux capacitor on it and you not releasing the power specs because it's actually 1.1 gigawatts  :D :D :D
1.1 gigswatts is easy , just the average Matter - Antimatter driven warp core from the 24th century.
Or I can use the vortex manipulator that I borrowed from River Song  8)
And Admin said "Let there be robots!"
And it was good.

Offline Ryltar

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Re: admins secret new product
« Reply #115 on: June 21, 2011, 11:20:45 AM »
Quote
It *is* in fact a time machine
ha! I knew it when i saw that flux capacitor on it and you not releasing the power specs because it's actually 1.1 gigawatts  :D :D :D

Doesn't the flux capacitor and related systems require 1.21 gigawatts? That means the whole board is going to blow due to it drawing an extra 200,000,000 watts! I don't even want to know what an exploding flux capacitor will do to the local time/space.

Offline AdminTopic starter

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Re: admins secret new product
« Reply #116 on: June 24, 2011, 02:38:30 PM »
Rough draft documentation, using a temporary link, can be found here:
http://www.societyofrobots.com/axon_mote/

There are a few dead images in the getting started section, but just about all of it is there. The source code isn't ready for public release yet.

I'm open to questions, comments, and suggestions for the documentation.

No manufacturing delays have been reported, so I estimated the absolute earliest shipping date possible as July 8th. But don't quote me on it. I'll start taking pre-orders in a week or two - but no pre-order discounts, sorry. :P
« Last Edit: July 26, 2011, 01:25:39 PM by Admin »

Offline BANE

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Re: admins secret new product
« Reply #117 on: June 24, 2011, 03:48:18 PM »
For a demo program: could you make a program that will allow two Motes to communicate with each other?  I'm currently working on a large RC (not quite a robot yet) and communication with it as been a nightmere with ps2 controllers, radio and such.  But when i heard about your product I think it be perfect it.

Offline AdminTopic starter

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Re: admins secret new product
« Reply #118 on: June 24, 2011, 04:06:34 PM »
For a demo program: could you make a program that will allow two Motes to communicate with each other?
Oh, I wrote that demo program like 6 months ago :P
(the example code is easy to use and well commented)

There is also example code for storing stuff and using the uSD, changing frequencies, and measuring signal strength.

Offline Gertlex

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Re: admins secret new product
« Reply #119 on: June 24, 2011, 04:10:13 PM »
From my limited experience, the whole xbee/zigbee stuff is confusing.  I didn't find any statements of how the wireless is connected to 'stuff'.  An example, and/or specific hardware that it works with would be useful.
For example:
-Pair direct to a computer with a Wifi card?
-Pair with a computer-connected xbee?
-Pair with a different bot that uses an xbee?

A tutorial on adding a remote power switch might be neat, too (I imagine this would entail desoldering the current power switch, and then wiring an equivalent switch).  This would be useful for, putting the switch somewhere more accessible on a bot. Granted, I also suspect that this is a pretty dang simple task...

I don't think I'll be buying one, for now, since I use 5V regulated stuff for everything currently.
I

 


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