Author Topic: Axon II: release and design info, got suggestions? (Read 20636 times)

Gertlex · « **Reply #30 on:** March 25, 2009, 08:11:14 AM »

Quote from: Admin on March 22, 2009, 11:17:54 AM

Quote from: Gertlex
I'd suggest trying to move the reset button back to the edge of the board though, to make it easier to access.
I didn't like it where it was on the original - hard to push with the male headers in the way.

Well it certainly isn't going to be easy to push now.

Admin · « **Reply #31 on:** April 03, 2009, 11:20:43 AM »

I put a lot of thought into it, but for reasons of my cost/demand analysis, no bluetooth, SD card holder, or JTAG features will be added.

Quote

Well it certainly isn't going to be easy to push now.

You were right, the button was in a really dumb place where a finger can't fit. I moved it under the LED display . . . a bit crammed for manufacturing but better for the user.

See first post image for updated version.

I'll be prototyping the Axon II in the coming days, so if anyone has any more ideas this is your last chance to speak up!

It may just get released 2 months early with a large price drop too, but my lips are sealed for right now

galannthegreat · « **Reply #32 on:** April 03, 2009, 12:47:37 PM »

Not really a hardware idea but maybe instead of the typical green PCB's maybe make them red or some other cool colour.

TrickyNekro · « **Reply #33 on:** April 03, 2009, 01:22:28 PM »

Blue tooth is very nice.... but also hard to implement.... really....
Also a need of heavier boot loader would discourage many many users....
Also no LCD and such ports.... Hardest to implement and need a hell of a room...

I feel JTAG, if not on board should it be very easy to connect...
Basically.... only for debugging reasons I would recomment a 4 piece 7seg....
I know space is very very very tight but it can be very helpful....
Especially if you don't have a pc near or a connected LCD...

jpwalters · « **Reply #34 on:** April 04, 2009, 07:22:16 PM »

Looks great, I may just have to purchase one for myself once they come out. The little display is nice, I can see a myriad of practical uses for that thing. More PWM is always nice... with 8 servos and 2 motors on our current robot, all being controlled via PWM, we certainly could have used it. I do agree with the new button placement too, it's much better than on the original Axon. On our current project, we have piece of HDPE mounted above the Axon for a sensor, and the button is awkwardly placed between the header pins and the standoff such that the only way to press the button is to use a small flat-head screwdriver.

Nice work though, can't wait to see the finished product!

SmAsH · « **Reply #35 on:** April 04, 2009, 11:44:15 PM »

Quote from: TrickyNekro on April 03, 2009, 01:22:28 PM

Blue tooth is very nice.... but also hard to implement.... really....
Also a need of heavier boot loader would discourage many many users....
Also no LCD and such ports.... Hardest to implement and need a hell of a room...

I feel JTAG, if not on board should it be very easy to connect...
Basically.... only for debugging reasons I would recomment a 4 piece 7seg....
I know space is very very very tight but it can be very helpful....
Especially if you don't have a pc near or a connected LCD...

well you could always make one that plugs into the axon now couldn't you tricky?
or someone could release a breakout board for a 28 seg display for the axon.

noobinator · « **Reply #36 on:** April 05, 2009, 12:30:53 AM »

smash, do you mean some thing like a shield?

SmAsH · « **Reply #37 on:** April 05, 2009, 01:58:53 AM »

Quote from: noobinator on April 05, 2009, 12:30:53 AM

smash, do you mean some thing like a shield?

yea kinda, but more like a 28wire ribbon cable from the axons pins to another board with the displays mounted on it.

superchiku · « **Reply #38 on:** April 05, 2009, 02:50:20 AM »

will there be lottery picking for the axon II and free distribution for special people like me..

i need it but cant afford shipping

SmAsH · « **Reply #39 on:** April 05, 2009, 03:02:57 AM »

you live in Romania? save up a bit for the shipping or make your own board. the shipping's only like 30usd more. or you could get it sent to a member on here and they send it to you if its cheaper?

superchiku · « **Reply #40 on:** April 05, 2009, 03:07:40 AM »

nope i live in India... thats the problem..my pocket money per month is 75$ ...and i save around 10-15 $ ..i wont be earning in the coming 3 years so..i cant buy axon...i cant ask for more money coz my parents will kill me then.. .

coz i already i have a lot of overhead on them. ..

SmAsH · « **Reply #41 on:** April 05, 2009, 03:16:21 AM »

i get about $6-$7 a week but might be getting uped to $10-$12ish because im getting good results in school. and at the end of this year im getting a job at my dads work for the holidays which pays about $10-$20 an hour for 4 weeks and i may get a job soon somewhere else. and im selling my ds for about $100. so i still have bad fiances but they're getting better.
EDIT: sorry admin, i shall take my posts elsewhere!

TrickyNekro · « **Reply #42 on:** April 05, 2009, 03:25:22 AM »

Hey admin!
Have you considered replacing the ATmega640 with the ATmega32U6
64/128kB Flash and build in USB....
Atmel even has the bootbloader ready for you in C

Admin · « **Reply #43 on:** April 05, 2009, 03:45:35 AM »

Ok I am now putting up orders to get the Axon II prototyped. I'll have results in at the end of this month. Also starting to request quotes for the final manufacturing run. If I don't screw up, I could have the Axon II released as early as early August.

Quote

Have you considered replacing the ATmega640 with the ATmega32U6
64/128kB Flash and build in USB....
Atmel even has the bootbloader ready for you in C

I honestly wish those features were available in the larger ATmega chips. The ATmega32U6 unfortunately has half the I/O as the ATmega640. Only 8 ADC, 10 PWM, etc.

Quote

Not really a hardware idea but maybe instead of the typical green PCB's maybe make them red or some other cool colour.

I'm looking into the pricing difference now.

SmAsH and superchiku, stop hijacking my thread!

And save up your money, as I may just drop Axon prices by summer time.

superchiku · « **Reply #44 on:** April 05, 2009, 04:18:55 AM »

ty ty.. .sorry for hijacking...may be we could buy one

1.plzz make sure that the new axon has some funtionality for higher processing speeds so that i can apply it on some UAV's iam designing...they need faster processing.. if not then also its ok ill try to manage...

2.please some versions where the header pins are situated far apart for connection (dont mind if it gets bigger)coz the female molex connectors u used for the 50$ robot etc arent available here in my place...so i have to use more bulkier relimate connectors which are a little thick than molex connectors

Razor Concepts · « **Reply #45 on:** April 05, 2009, 11:10:52 AM »

UAVs shouldn't take that much processing... I believe the Mikrocopters, currently the most sucessful quad rotors run a mega168 at 20mhz or something.

superchiku · « **Reply #46 on:** April 05, 2009, 11:22:36 AM »

UAV DONT TAKE MUCH PROCESSING>>

are u allright..the minimum requirement for making a stable uav is around 50mhz... can manage if it is 32 mhz...

its gonna do gps processing,accelerometers ,gyroscopes,object avoiding,and some other processing and that too fast...and u say it doesnt need a fast processor

chelmi · « **Reply #47 on:** April 05, 2009, 04:50:45 PM »

Quote from: superchiku on April 05, 2009, 11:22:36 AM

UAV DONT TAKE MUCH PROCESSING>> are u allright..the minimum requirement for making a stable uav is around 50mhz... can manage if it is 32 mhz...

its gonna do gps processing,accelerometers ,gyroscopes,object avoiding,and some other processing and that too fast...and u say it doesnt need a fast processor

MHz alone doesn't mean much, without additional details (type of CPU, features of the autopilot system, etc.) it's impossible to tell...

TrickyNekro · « **Reply #48 on:** April 06, 2009, 03:53:16 AM »

I think he means having a dsp doing all the calc....
A single processor can not possibly handle all the requirements for a static model...
Dynamic models play more with thrust and drag so it's easier to calculate movements needed speed etc etc etc.....
And smaller dsp start from 50Mhz if I remember right...
So hey, give that guy a break...

Ro-Bot-X · « **Reply #49 on:** April 06, 2009, 05:57:34 AM »

Are you guys talking here about Axon II or what? Can't you make a new thread with all this side talk?

superchiku · « **Reply #50 on:** April 06, 2009, 07:03:20 AM »

sorry for hijacking...the thread...but uav's demand a lot..

Razor Concepts · « **Reply #51 on:** April 20, 2009, 05:24:39 PM »

Arduino Mega is out, basically the same microcontroller as the Axon 2. Possibly add the Arduino Mega numberings to the silkscreen as well? Having Arduino compatibility would boost sales.

Asellith · « **Reply #52 on:** April 22, 2009, 05:10:32 PM »

Admin you got proposed board dimension for the Axon II? Might be nice if we start this community module project up that the Axon II fits into the system really nice like. Will it be the same dimensions as the Axon I? I know changing the your board size will be a big expense if you have unwanted space just to fit the standard but the module can be any size within reason. Not sure if this is a good idea yet or not but I did want to get an idea of your board size

New life in the community Project can be found here:

http://www.societyofrobots.com/robotforum/index.php?topic=7682.0;topicseen

Admin · « **Reply #53 on:** April 22, 2009, 06:10:32 PM »

Its the same dimensions as the original Axon. I did this so they can be compatible.

SmAsH · « **Reply #54 on:** April 22, 2009, 06:44:12 PM »

the original axon is 2.542"^2 so it wont fit our current design platform, what about a crossover type board?

Ro-Bot-X · « **Reply #55 on:** April 22, 2009, 10:47:02 PM »

Quote from: SmAsH on April 22, 2009, 06:44:12 PM

the original axon is 2.542"^2 so it wont fit our current design platform, what about a crossover type board?

What about taking Axon as the base square and double, or halve that as necessary. The modules are not designed yet, the Axon is.

Asellith · « **Reply #56 on:** April 23, 2009, 06:43:25 AM »

I got my answer so to stop hijacking this thread I moved my topic to here:

http://www.societyofrobots.com/robotforum/index.php?topic=7726.0

dellagd · « **Reply #57 on:** April 25, 2009, 05:23:19 PM »

oooh, that would REALLY be cool. (not sarcasm

)
Axon w/ built in bluetooth

AdvsNoob · « **Reply #58 on:** May 06, 2009, 09:56:04 PM »

OMG LOOKS AWESOME!!!

HERE IS A GREAT IDEA!

PUT MY NAME ON IT!!!

I will give you a cookie!

^_^

what would be cool is if you can add a small lcd screen on there!

i do not think there will be enough room but that would be the only micro controller out there with one build it from my knowledge!

AND THEN THE DEFOULT NAME WILL BE "AdvsNoob said to place me here!"

Lol but really if you could that would be awesome! mostly because im building a robot to do hide and seek (my idea no take) (unless it is already done in which it is most likely has been) and i am making some sort of band that goes on the player to start the S.Y.T.H

SmAsH · « **Reply #59 on:** May 07, 2009, 12:27:01 AM »

lcd is really not a good idea for a standard...
maybe as an add on board but it would use too many pins, take up board space and some people would never use one...
to make an add on for the axon would not be hard at all...

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Author Topic: Axon II: release and design info, got suggestions? (Read 20636 times)