Author Topic: admins secret new product (Read 48545 times)

Admin · « **Reply #120 on:** June 24, 2011, 04:17:20 PM »

Quote from: Gertlex on June 24, 2011, 04:10:13 PM

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

I'm just curious, which devices? I'm asking because about 2/3rds of the stuff out there will work at 3.3V.

Gertlex · « **Reply #121 on:** June 24, 2011, 04:36:17 PM »

Quote from: Admin on June 24, 2011, 04:17:20 PM

Quote from: Gertlex on June 24, 2011, 04:10:13 PM
I don't think I'll be buying one, for now, since I use 5V regulated stuff for everything currently.
I'm just curious, which devices? I'm asking because about 2/3rds of the stuff out there will work at 3.3V.

You might be right. The one example I can verify at the moment is the ICs I use for my tristate buffer for AX-12 servos. But maybe the ICs work at 3.3V... The TTL-> serial connection adapter that I use is powered with 5V, not sure if it works at lower voltages. I need to investigate further, really. I think a lot of the stuff is communications hardware which the built-in zigbee might free me from in general.

Admin · « **Reply #122 on:** June 24, 2011, 06:33:10 PM »

For a 5V device to send a signal to a 3.3V device, you can use a two resistor voltage divider (although probably not feasible if you have many AX-12 servos). 5V devices can accept 3.3V signals without an adapter.

IMU's/gyros/accelerometers, I²C devices, uSD, and GPS are almost all 3.3V. Servos can accept a 3.3V signal. Most analog sensors can take 3.3V, including sharp IR. The DroneCell, Razor IMU, and the Blackfin camera are all 3.3V.

You can power the Mote directly from your USB, an $8 solar panel, or a small cheap 3.6V battery - something unheard of with 5V microcontrollers

salesman_mode(OFF);//hehe

madsci1016 · « **Reply #123 on:** June 24, 2011, 06:47:09 PM »

Quote from: Admin on June 24, 2011, 06:33:10 PM

5V devices can accept 3.3V signals without an adapter.

Well, the great Xbee adapter conspiracy says otherwise. *Most*can accept.

Admin · « **Reply #124 on:** June 24, 2011, 07:17:47 PM »

Quote from: madsci1016 on June 24, 2011, 06:47:09 PM

Quote from: Admin on June 24, 2011, 06:33:10 PM
5V devices can accept 3.3V signals without an adapter.

Well, the great Xbee adapter conspiracy says otherwise. *Most*can accept.

The Xbee doesn't send a 3.3V signal, otherwise it'd work without an adapter

(I think it was like 2.9V if my memory is right)

madsci1016 · « **Reply #125 on:** June 24, 2011, 07:23:42 PM »

Like all devices, it has a range of tolerances. From 2.7 to 3.3V. Mine read at 3.2V. Anything below 3V isn't readable by an 5V Atmega

madsci1016 · « **Reply #126 on:** June 24, 2011, 07:29:38 PM »

Actually, the min voltage out for the Mote is 2.9V, meaning it could have trouble talking to 5V AVRs that require a min of 3V.

Admin · « **Reply #127 on:** June 24, 2011, 07:59:12 PM »

Quote from: madsci1016 on June 24, 2011, 07:29:38 PM

Actually, the min voltage out for the Mote is 2.9V, meaning it could have trouble talking to 5V AVRs that require a min of 3V.

Commanding the pin just to stay high, I'm measuring 3.329V from the Tx pin. I don't have an oscope at home, so it's possible it might be lower at high frequencies . . . what page in the datasheet did you see that info?

madsci1016 · « **Reply #128 on:** June 24, 2011, 08:03:35 PM »

Electrical characteristics table. I don't have it open anymore.

Like I said, it's all tolerances, not absolutes. Tolerance for the Mote is min VDD-0.4

totalis · « **Reply #129 on:** June 25, 2011, 12:59:37 PM »

How much will they be (expected) and when can i order 2 of them? I am fed up of trying to make bluetooth work

T

Admin · « **Reply #130 on:** June 25, 2011, 01:50:49 PM »

Quote from: totalis on June 25, 2011, 12:59:37 PM

How much will they be (expected) and when can i order 2 of them? I am fed up of trying to make bluetooth work

Likely some time around mid-July, but it's up to my manufacturer on how long they take. Preorders will start when I'm more certain of a shipping date.

One advantage the Mote has over bluetooth is that the Mote allows for mesh networks. This means you can use them as repeaters if you'd like. Bluetooth doesn't allow this.

TrickyNekro · « **Reply #131 on:** June 25, 2011, 04:54:33 PM »

Also zigbee is targeted for power conserving applications. Bluetooth is quite a power hungry protocol.

The bad thing from the other point is that zigbee modules for pc are nowhere that cheap as bluetooth modules,
like these fire and forget usb bluetooth...

blackbeard · « **Reply #132 on:** June 27, 2011, 06:52:01 PM »

is that wifi?

TrickyNekro · « **Reply #133 on:** June 27, 2011, 08:39:46 PM »

Quote from: blackbeard on June 27, 2011, 06:52:01 PM

is that wifi?

My microwave oven works at 2.4Ghz. That doesn't make it wifi.

Zigbee is for Zigbee, like V for Vendetta... Ahh and G for Google.

It's a low power mesh network communication protocol. And it's not materialized only on the 2.4Ghz....

Humans can make sounds with their mouth... They place these sounds in order and they build something that's
called a language, so the members of a social group can communicate accurately with each other.
As for electronic transmitters they make electromagnetic waves. But sometime, you need a language cause
things can get pretty pretty messy in a situation of multiple individuals.
So protocols are born... like zigbee, wifi, bluetooth, GPS (I mean the transmission) and so many many more...

And it's a good idea to google, btw....

enekux · « **Reply #134 on:** June 29, 2011, 07:55:56 AM »

Tempo-Tempo... Zigduino on the way...

http://www.logos-electro.com/zigduino/

Admin · « **Reply #135 on:** June 29, 2011, 08:02:44 AM »

Quote from: enekux on June 29, 2011, 07:55:56 AM

Tempo-Tempo... Zigduino on the way...

http://www.logos-electro.com/zigduino/

Mote is better

. . . it doesn't have a uSD slot, requires 6V, doesn't have a power bus, is twice as big, uses the same ATmega128RFA1, doesn't come with a USB cable . . . and yet it costs the same as an Axon Mote

enekux · « **Reply #136 on:** June 29, 2011, 08:08:13 AM »

No doubts about it... Mote rulez!!!

BTW: the documentation that you are preparing looks great

PierceNichols · « **Reply #137 on:** June 29, 2011, 08:41:34 AM »

I'm selling Zigduinos today.

It's designed to be Arduino compatible, and therefore is the size of an Arduino. This allows you to use all of the wide range of Arduino shields (www.shieldlist.org has a list) with it. 6V is the power requirement if you use the main power connector. The 5V and 3.3V regulators are in series, so you can power it with anything down to 3.3V as long as you choose the right input pins.

I've got a cheaper and much smaller Mini version coming that wil have a uSD slot and a battery connector. It's intended to be taped to a battery, wrapped in foam, and placed via slingshot.

All competitive talk aside, congratulations. Going all the way to production is a major challenge. I look forward to seeing the Axon Mote when it hits the market. I'd love to trade hardware samples if you're interested.

Admin · « **Reply #138 on:** June 29, 2011, 09:57:12 AM »

PierceNichols, you made a mistake on your Zigduino board (I looked at your schematic). Program your board to do stuff, and let it run for a long period of time. Your program will randomly freeze some time between every 20 minutes to 3 hours. (I'm not joking, try it)

PierceNichols · « **Reply #139 on:** June 29, 2011, 06:39:44 PM »

I think I know what you're talking about -- floating CLKI, right? I'd already run some long-term tests (i.e. leaving several board overnight), but I decided to do some more in response to your comment. I ran my production test code (which gives all the I/O a workout, including the radio) on five randomly selected boards for an eight hour test. None of them hung during that period. Perhaps more recent chips are less susceptible; the date codes on the one I built this run with indicate they were manufactured at the beginning of February of this year.

However, for the sake of safety and completeness, I'll be correcting it on the next spin of the Zigduino.

Admin · « **Reply #140 on:** June 29, 2011, 06:44:35 PM »

Yeap, it's the CLKI pin that you missed.

Admin · « **Reply #141 on:** July 01, 2011, 04:19:42 PM »

The assembly company said they just started the assembly, putting them at least a week behind.

That means the earliest I can ship is now mid-July.

totalis · « **Reply #142 on:** July 10, 2011, 04:11:03 AM »

Hows the project coming?

Admin · « **Reply #143 on:** July 10, 2011, 09:01:52 AM »

Still no word from them. They are on week 3 of a 2 week job . . . $:-\$

tzankoff · « **Reply #144 on:** July 11, 2011, 01:01:49 PM »

Quote from: Admin on July 10, 2011, 09:01:52 AM

Still no word from them. They are on week 3 of a 2 week job . . . $:-\$

Sure as hell hope they do not divide by zero.

Admin · « **Reply #145 on:** July 15, 2011, 05:05:51 PM »

I poked them, and this was their response:

Quote

There are roughly 25 boards left for inspection. We should ship them out
either this afternoon or Monday morning.

Long story short, I'm very like to ship around August ~1st.

As such, I'm now taking pre-orders:
http://www.societyofrobots.com/axon_mote_test/

voyager2 · « **Reply #146 on:** July 15, 2011, 08:00:38 PM »

$70 for one seems like a fair price.
[sarcasm]Still, 4.50 for a USB cable is just too much

[/sarcasm] hehe

So does this mean I get to put a few Motes in the SOR video game?

Admin · « **Reply #147 on:** July 15, 2011, 08:32:59 PM »

ouch . . .

FYI, sparkfun sells their USB cable for $5.95 (it's longer, but it's the best A to B mini comparison they got).

Besides, an Arduino is $29.95 and a basic long range Xbee is $37.95. An Xbee Pro is $71.95.

BANE · « **Reply #148 on:** July 16, 2011, 05:04:34 AM »

3.3v really blows for me

since everything I have is 5v; is there a way to modify the ADC bus to 5v? Like scratch off the power lead to the 3.3v bus and solder a 5v regulator to it?

also, I assume they dont come with an antenna? if so will this one work? http://www.sparkfun.com/products/558

Just out of curiosity, I have a ps3 controller that i use with my laptop (I downloaded a driver that lets the computer know it's a joystick for games and stuff), is it possible for the Mote to transmit joystick data from the computer?

thanks!

corrado33 · « **Reply #149 on:** July 16, 2011, 06:48:18 AM »

Haha brand new product and he's already talking about how to modify it

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Author Topic: admins secret new product (Read 48545 times)