Axon 2

[kpmcgurk]

So I am thinking about getting an Axon, But it looks as if an Axon 2 is in the works. on the Store page, the picture looks as if there will be more I/O pins, Is this correct? Assuming 2 will go back up in price, will it be worth the wait/extra money for #2? (Admin, if you don't want to answer these questions, you don't have to reveal your secret business plans

-Kpmcgurk

[jamort]

It really depends if your really wanting to get into using one i would go ahead and order axon... there will always be time to order an axon 2 at a later date... depending on what country your from i think the acon 2 will be released a couple months before christmas...i havent checked the specs so i couldnt tell you if theres more i/o pins but i haven tseen but mabye one project that used all the pins on the first axon

[SmAsH]

the price will be the same, there will be a few less pins because of the 8 segment lcd.

# 58 I/O Total
# 16 ADC
# 25+ Servos
# I2C, SPI
# 3 UART + USB
# Up to 8 external interrupts
# 12 PWM Channels
# 64KB Flash, 4KB EEPROM, 8KB SRAM
# 16 MIPS throughput at 16 MHz
# 6 Timers (four 16-bit, two 8-bit)
# pre-programmed with a bootloader - no programmer required
# numerical LED display
# built in 3.3V, 5V, and unregulated power buses
# external memory support (port A)
# all software is free
# 100% open source, large support community
# Windows, Mac, and Linux compatible
# and more!
thar you go

[kpmcgurk]

Thanks a ton smash, thats what I was looking for, I found the picture, but nothing else.

Off topic a bit, but what is with the random resistor/LED floating in the water to the right of the Axon?

[SmAsH]

Off topic a bit, but what is with the random resistor/LED floating in the water to the right of the Axon?

okay... wtf... i think he just had them on the .brd file and forgot to take them off or something...

[Webbot]

there will be a few less pins because of the 8 segment lcd.

Are you sure that is correct? I know a lot of effort was put in to make sure that the AxonII provided header pins for all the hardware PWM outputs that were not available on AxonI.
AxonI had header pins on 3 sides of the board, but AxonII has additional pins available on the fourth side (just above the LED display.
If memory serves - the new LED display is driven via a port that was never made available on AxonI.
So the AxonII has more - not less.

@kpmcgurk - The AxonII has more features than the AxonI - mainly the new LED display and better hardware PWM support on the header pins. Should you wait? Well it depends on what you are using it for. Neither board is short of I/O, ADC pins.

And the smd LED in the water - well I guess it was the 'old' user LED from the Axon I that was replaced by the new LED display. But the coastguard have been notified !!

[Razor Concepts]

The original Axon had an entire port bus that was left unconnected (if you have one, look at the row of pins on the bottom - most are not connected.). I think the Axon 2 utilizes many of those pins.

[Webbot]

Yep. Port L on the AxonI was left unconnected

[kpmcgurk]

Why was this? was it to make room for the big capacitor and other stuff, or is their a functional reason for not utilizing the rest of the I/Os?

[SmAsH]

well, the headers would suck if they were under the giant cap couldn't they
this time admins gone for two smd caps instead of the big thru-hole one he had before.
i cant believe i never noticed the whole side of the 644 was left unused, damn...
although i have to say the axon II design is much more sleek looking than the original, on the other one, your eyes are drawn straight to the giant cap, this one... is pure beauty

[Admin]

the price will be the same, there will be a few less pins because of the 8 segment lcd.

# 58 I/O Total
# 16 ADC
# 25+ Servos
# I2C, SPI
# 3 UART + USB
# Up to 8 external interrupts
# 12 PWM Channels
# 64KB Flash, 4KB EEPROM, 8KB SRAM
# 16 MIPS throughput at 16 MHz
# 6 Timers (four 16-bit, two 8-bit)
# pre-programmed with a bootloader - no programmer required
# numerical LED display
# built in 3.3V, 5V, and unregulated power buses
# external memory support (port A)
# all software is free
# 100% open source, large support community
# Windows, Mac, and Linux compatible
# and more!
thar you go

Some of this data is wrong. Smash is quoting a placeholder page I have up someone found by accident. Don't quote any of this! Its mostly a copy/paste from the original Axon.

If I remember right, it can handle 2 fewer servos, but has an extra 3.3V output header. I changed the ports, too.

Off topic a bit, but what is with the random resistor/LED floating in the water to the right of the Axon?

okay... wtf... i think he just had them on the .brd file and forgot to take them off or something...

That picture is also wrong. Thats an old prototype, where 25% of the stuff has been changed since.


As for waiting or not, depends. The Axon II won't be out for at least 4 more months. And it'll cost more than the original Axon. Its definitely better, however.

[kpmcgurk]

I will probably go with getting an axon right now, then see what happens later. thank you all for the help everyone!!