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kiiid

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Joined: 11/05/2013
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 671

Posted: 03:21pm 15 Jul 2013

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Hi guys,

Similar to Jean's approach I would like to ask you to throw in some opinions about the order of release of the next DTX module. Most of these are ready for manufacturing and some are in design at the moment, but since money doesn't grow on trees (at least I haven't seen that happening), they can't appear all at the same time and I have to give preference to some.

Needless to say, they are all in the DTX PLCC68 format, own power and common pinout as per the document I published some time ago, so the implementation in a system is basically reduced to Plug-and-Run (not to be mistaken with Micro$oft's Plug-and-Play :) ). Of course these are all slave modules on the mSPI bus.

Here is what I have in store at the moment for pending release:

1. high sensitivity GPS receiver with on-board antenna plus optional external one.
2. motor controller for two low/medium power DC brushed motors with optional feedback encoder inputs.
3. Bluetooth 4.0 transceiver with on-board antenna.
4. quad-band GSM/GPRS modem with on-board microSIM.
5. 802.11g with on-board antenna.
6. port expander for direct control of relays and other DC loads up to 1A per port plus protected analogue inputs.
7. power harvesting module with on-board storage ("eternal" battery :) ).
8. sensor hub - various integrated sensors (G, gyro, temperature, humidity, light).
9. simple camera and sound processor (machine vision and hearing).

If you can, please sort by preference, or at least one or two most liked.

Thanks in advance to all!

Kon

http://rittle.org

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Blackened

Regular Member

Joined: 11/08/2012
Location: Australia
Posts: 66

Posted: 05:00pm 15 Jul 2013

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I'd have an application for 5. and possibly 6.

Wifi is high on my wanted list :D

bigmik

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Joined: 20/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 2914

Posted: 07:01pm 15 Jul 2013

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Kon,

in order

5 If usable via MMBasic (no use if must be C driven)
6,8 (same interest
7.... Need more information as to what you mean by ETERNAL battery.

Regards,

Mick

Mick's uMite Stuff can be found >>> HERE (Kindly hosted by Dontronics) <<<

kiiid

Guru

Joined: 11/05/2013
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 671

Posted: 07:15pm 15 Jul 2013

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Mick, I probably wasn't clear enough :)
ALL these slave modules will be directly accessible with MMbasic (that's the point of making everything compatible and consistent).

http://rittle.org

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bigmik

Guru

Joined: 20/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 2914

Posted: 07:29pm 15 Jul 2013

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kiiid said
ALL these slave modules will be directly accessible with MMbasic (that's the point of making everything compatible and consistent).

Great,

I will look forward to the wirelss 802.b module for certain.

Regards,

Mick

Mick's uMite Stuff can be found >>> HERE (Kindly hosted by Dontronics) <<<

MicroBlocks

Guru

Joined: 12/05/2012
Location: Thailand
Posts: 2209

Posted: 10:01pm 15 Jul 2013

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My feeling about the DTX system is that it needs a 'killer' project. Something that is very difficult to achieve with other systems. ( i have the same problem btw.)

My bet would be number 7, that is pretty unique. Especially on a forum where solar and wind is another popular subject.

7. power harvesting module with on-board storage ("eternal" battery :) ).

If that is working you can then add:
8. sensor hub - various integrated sensors (G, gyro, temperature, humidity, light).

and then
1. high sensitivity GPS receiver with on-board antenna plus optional external one.
4. quad-band GSM/GPRS modem with on-board microSIM.
5. 802.11g with on-board antenna.
3. Bluetooth 4.0 transceiver with on-board antenna.

to enable communication for control and logging.

a 'bread and butter' expander is always good.
6. port expander for direct control of relays and other DC loads up to 1A per port plus protected analogue inputs.

2. motor controller for two low/medium power DC brushed motors with optional feedback encoder inputs.
I am not sure about a motor controller for just two motors. Have not done anything in that area so i am not qualified to have an opinion.

9. simple camera and sound processor (machine vision and hearing).
This is probably too advanced for most projects but it can be the product to put you on the micro controller map. On the other hand, it could mean large amounts of time have to be used to develop software for it, as you do need some application notes.
If this is within your field of experience, go for it. If not an expert i would source it out.

Be carefull spending money in a slowing economy, i noticed from other activities that people buy less and less and it is not picking up at all.

Microblocks. Build with logic.

Juri74

Senior Member

Joined: 06/02/2012
Location: Italy
Posts: 162

Posted: 04:14am 16 Jul 2013

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this is my order of preference:

5,8,7

it will be very interesting to have 2 module communicate wireless, or a module that send data to pc via wifi.. would be very great!

Juri

Dylan
Regular Member

Joined: 17/06/2013
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 81

Posted: 05:52am 16 Jul 2013

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TZAdvantage said My feeling about the DTX system is that it needs a 'killer' project. Something that is very difficult to achieve with other systems. ( i have the same problem btw.)

The killer app for you two, as developers, is cheap connectivity (a network of some kind) along with simplicity. It doesn't matter what is difficult with other systems, and it needs to work. Thank you, TZ, for linking to Kon's KickStarter. It can be retried.

What I like most is the concept of student->practitioner->master. In my career as a software developer I had plenty of hubris, and little pity for ignorance in others. Oh, how the tides have turned ;)

MMBasic is a nice project, and just so happens to be ideal for the purpose of teaching secondary school-age students with parents/teachers from mah... generation (ZX-81, that is). I've made the mistake of being loyal to a proprietary language and going up solo against ms (without having even been informed). So I'm glad to see that MMB is moving away from MSB compatibility ;)

So yeah. What is really needed is a host board which takes two masters and makes one a meesterknecht. Jump-wire to ~MCLR or whatever it's called. But rather than updating the firmware, it would update the "pseudo-firmware" of drive A, for want of better terminology.

Sorry for the ramble, awake 30+ hours now ;)

1st: wlan connectivity of some sort. Preferably wifi.
2nd, for personal reasons Kon is aware of, #1.

kiiid

Guru

Joined: 11/05/2013
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 671

Posted: 01:20pm 16 Jul 2013

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Thanks guys, apparently WiFi functionality is the most desired one...

http://rittle.org

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TinkersALot
Regular Member

Joined: 20/11/2012
Location: United States
Posts: 72

Posted: 05:28pm 16 Jul 2013

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how about a curve ball -- where would you rank something along the lines of Bovist's work in your project list?

kiiid

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Joined: 11/05/2013
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 671

Posted: 05:34pm 16 Jul 2013

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TinkersALot said how about a curve ball -- where would you rank something along the lines of Bovist's work in your project list?

Sorry, can you explain better the idea? What does "curve ball" mean?

http://rittle.org

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TinkersALot
Regular Member

Joined: 20/11/2012
Location: United States
Posts: 72

Posted: 05:36pm 16 Jul 2013

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ah...okay....

how about an "answer" you may not have expected. In addition to the accessories you listed above, where would you rank a touch screen interface (very much like the work being done by Bovist here on this board) as another accessory item?

kiiid

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Joined: 11/05/2013
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 671

Posted: 05:47pm 16 Jul 2013

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Ah, I see...
Touch screen interface is actually very easy and won't need a dedicated slave module. The module itself has got holes for 0.05" pitch headers to allow "stackable" plugins. So, an LCD with touchscreen as well as other things can be implanted on the top of the processing module. On the LCD's PCB there will be only be a small interface to communicate, four female receptacles at proper positions and the power will be drawn directly from the module.
Thanks for the suggestion, I will give it some thoughts and it might happen soon...

http://rittle.org

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kiiid

Guru

Joined: 11/05/2013
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 671

Posted: 11:39pm 30 Sep 2013

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Thanks to everyone who will spend a second to vote.

http://rittle.org

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panky

Guru

Joined: 02/10/2012
Location: Australia
Posts: 1101

Posted: 03:24pm 02 Oct 2013

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Hi Kon,

I have yet to begin playing with my DTX module - I am on the road caravanning - but would value an integrated Blutooth module (number 4). One of the limitations of the MM (definately no criticism , its a fabulous product) is the limited screen res and networking.

I have tested a bluetooth module on a CMM to an Android tablet running DRBasic (which makes an excellent user interface) so an integrated bluetooth module and bluetooth stack in MM Basic would be great. The open source dr basic has a bluetooth stack so this may be able to be used with appropriate permission as a template to impliment in MMB.

Cheers, Doug.

... almost all of the Maximites, the MicromMites, the MM Extremes, the ArmMites, the PicoMite and loving it!

kiiid

Guru

Joined: 11/05/2013
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 671

Posted: 03:30pm 02 Oct 2013

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Thanks Doug,
Actually most of these in the poll are ready for immediate release, but it is simply matter of budgeting according to the demand. I will take in mind your suggestion.

Regards,
Kon

http://rittle.org

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