New gaming platform - HybridX3

Coley · 2009-03-08 11:49

I've had this under wraps for a while but there seems to be a current proliferation of multiprop boards appearing so here is my effort.

It's a variation of my Hybrid board and is primarily aimed at gamers...

It features 3 Propellers

Prop 0 - Main CPU
Prop 1 - I/O Prop
Prop 2 - Graphics Prop (compatible with PropGFX Lite)

Peripherals

SD Card Interface
PS/2 Keyboard and Mouse Ports
2 x Playstation compatible expansion ports
VGA video
Composite Video
Stereo Audio
Hydra/Hybrid compatible expansion port

I'm sending this for PCB prototyping this week and am looking to gauge how much interest there would be in making it available for sale.

edit:

added port for uController PropNIC card

Prototypes made and currently being tested......

attachment.php?attachmentid=59588

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PropGFX - The home of the Hybrid Development System and PropGFX Lite

Post Edited (Coley) : 3/24/2009 9:04:26 PM GMT

Oldbitcollector (Jeff) · 2009-03-08 12:40

Love it!

'09 is the year of multi-propeller platforms! Tri-blade, now this!
How about a design which has a PropGFX setup onboard, another Prop for dedicated sound, and a third
for main gameplay. (I'm started to perspire just thinking about it.) [noparse]:)[/noparse]

Awesome!

OBC

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Post Edited (Oldbitcollector) : 3/8/2009 1:26:10 PM GMT

Coley · 2009-03-08 13:20

Thanks OBC

OBC said...
How about a design which has a PropGFX setup onboard, another Prop for dedicated sound, and a third
for main gameplay. (I'm started to perspire just thinking about it.) [noparse]:)[/noparse]

Yup!

That's exactly what this is in a nutshell...... lol

Regards,

Coley

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PropGFX - The home of the Hybrid Development System and PropGFX Lite

RobotWorkshop · 2009-03-08 13:54

Is there connection for the Hydra Network port? If not, any chance of at least adding a couple pads where a jumper could be installed to go to an external network jack?

Robert

Coley · 2009-03-08 13:57

Robert,

SL1, SL2 and SL3 are uncommitted spare I/O so you could make a header up, I'm not familair with the Hydra network port, how many I/O does it utilise?

Regards,

Coley

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RobotWorkshop · 2009-03-08 14:08

Is there connection for the Hydra Network port? If not, any chance of at least adding a couple pads where a jumper could be installed to go to an external network jack?

Robert

Baggers · 2009-03-08 14:43

Robert, the expansion port can take ANY of the Hydra boards, including the Internet one.

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http://www.propgfx.co.uk/forum/·home of the PropGFX Lite

·

Bamse · 2009-03-08 18:02

Awesome...

Just think of all the cool games we could do on this setup...
Gridrunner 2009 perhaps...

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Living on the planet Earth might be expensive but it includes a free trip around the sun every year...

Experience level:
[noparse][[/noparse] ] Let's connect the motor to pin 1, it's a 6V motor so it should be fine.
[noparse][[/noparse] ] OK, I got my resistors hooked up with the LEDs.
[noparse][[/noparse]X] I got the Motor hooked up with the H-bridge and the 555 is supplying the PWM.
[noparse][[/noparse] ] Now, if I can only program the BOE-BOT to interface with he Flux Capacitor.
[noparse][[/noparse] ] I dream in SX28 assembler...

/Bamse

Mike_GTN · 2009-03-08 18:46

Coley,

That looks an excellent design, do you have the board size measurements easily to hand?

So PropGFX will just slot in to the Hydra Compatible expansion with the board you showed us all previously?

Is great to see that you have VGA output on prop_2

I would certainly take two PCBs if you decide to make this a commercially available product.

With Regards

Mike.

Coley · 2009-03-08 19:02

Updated top post to show pin assignments

@Bamse

Baggers is really excited about this board, he has plans for an enhanced audio subsystem like the PropGFX is for enhanced graphics.

@Mike_GTN

Thanks, PropGFX will be capable of being utilised on Prop_2 we envisage using the expansion for for extra memory by using the Hydra RAM expansion card.

It will be available in PCB form or fully assembled with PropGFX API/Firmware loaded onto Prop_2

Regards,

Coley

Edit:- Board size is 152x120mm

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PropGFX - The home of the Hybrid Development System and PropGFX Lite

Post Edited (Coley) : 3/8/2009 7:09:19 PM GMT

FredBlais · 2009-03-09 11:59

Just wanted to know, where can we find/buy the "Hydra/Hybrid compatible expansion port" part?

Timothy D. Swieter · 2009-03-09 12:55

I am also curious about part numbers for the Hydra expansion port. I did some searching months ago but got distracted.

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RobotWorkshop · 2009-03-09 15:49

Baggers said...
Robert, the expansion port can take ANY of the Hydra boards, including the Internet one.

I guess I should have been a bit more specific. I was referring to the RJ-11 network port that is standard on all the Hydra boards (not the Ethernet one). If memory serves correct I believe the Battlezone clone can use it to connect two Hydra's. Didn't see a provision for that on your board. Did I miss it? If it isn't there I thought it might be a nice feature if you added some jumpers to enable that and perhaps a small header that could be used to go to an external connector.

Robert

Coley · 2009-03-09 23:32

www.edac.net/downloads/345-395%20SeriesSpecSheet.pdf

Digikey part number EDC395202-ND
parts.digikey.com/1/parts/158562-conn-cardedge-20pos-100-x-200-395-020-520-202.html

I must admit I do modify it slightly by trimming off the sides but it works great....

Regarding the Hydra Net port, how many people actually use it I wonder.......

Like I said earlier there is a 4 way I/O header spare that you could make a connection to, I guess it would be easy for me to add 3v3 and gnd to it to make it more useful

Regards,

Coley

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PropGFX - The home of the Hybrid Development System and PropGFX Lite

Timothy D. Swieter · 2009-03-10 00:12

Hey - that looks like it may fit in a breadboard. Not to take this thread off topic, but I wonder if non-hyrda/hybrid users would want to buy that part for their own prototypes in order to use Hydra/Hybrid expansion cards without the Hydra/Hybrid.

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Timothy D. Swieter, E.I.
www.brilldea.com - Prop Blade, LED Painter, RGB LEDs, 3.0" LCD Composite video display, eProto for SunSPOT
www.tdswieter.com

trodoss · 2009-03-10 19:37

Regarding the Hydra Net port, how many people actually use it I wonder.......

I have wondered the same.··Not having multiple Hydra units makes it a challenge to use.· I suppose if it (The Hydra)·had come bundled with an RS232 to RJ11 adapter (for a PC connection), it would have been a little more useful [noparse][[/noparse]Edit:]·out of the box.

One could get a little more 'mileage' out of say, an·IR Transceiver or one of the many ethernet adapters available (The Hydra one or the one from uController.com).·

Post Edited (trodoss) : 3/10/2009 7:45:32 PM GMT

Bob Lawrence (VE1RLL) · 2009-03-24 02:14

@Coley

Looks great. Looking forward to it. My Hybrid 1 is working great,.

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Aka: CosmicBob

Coley · 2009-03-24 20:59

Thanks Bob, Prototypes are made and currently being tested.
I've updated the top post with new information and pictures.

Coley

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PropGFX - The home of the Hybrid Development System and PropGFX Lite

Spork Frog · 2009-03-25 19:43

Coley,

Looking great! Glad to see that it's almost all through-hole components.

Any ideas for prices yet? I might be interested.

Ym2413a · 2009-03-26 18:29

Looks exciting [noparse]:)[/noparse]

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Coley · 2009-03-28 09:40

@Spork Frog

No idea on pricing yet, a lot depends on how well we can make it fly!
Baggers has already got the I/O subsystem for Prop_1 started and has converted the code for PropGFX Lite to run on Prop_2
I am working on a surface mount version that is expected to be around the same size as the demo board this will have the firmware preloaded to run as an SBC.
I could offer the thru hole bare PCB if people are interested in making their own.

@Ym2413a

Andrew! Long time no see, you back on the scene or still busy?

Coley

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PropGFX - The home of the Hybrid Development System and PropGFX Lite

Karl Smith · 2009-09-25 01:42

Is this project still alive,·is thier a place where I can·purchase the HybridX3 board.

Coley · 2009-09-25 12:16

Hi Karl,

This project isn't dead but it has taken a few turns since it's initial inception.
I've made some modifications and improvements since the prototypes were made but really it needs more work doing on it.
Presently it's on the to do list but realistically won't be looked at till early next year, right now we are both too busy with our day jobs..

I could look at releasing the PCB gerbers if anyone is interested in making their own.....

Regards,

Coley

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PropGFX - The home of the Hybrid Development System and PropGFX Lite

Oldbitcollector (Jeff) · 2009-09-25 13:17

That's a very temping offer. I'd have a board made if you posted Gerbers.

Without exposing the code to your current products, could you post the protocol you've established for
inter-prop communications? I'd like to do some multi-propeller experimentation. It would make sense
to have some standards in this area.

OBC

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Coley · 2009-09-25 19:32

I'll tidy up the gerbers and post them here some time over the weekend.

I'll have a good think about the code too.......

Regards,

Coley

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Karl Smith · 2009-09-26 02:16

That would be cool

Oldbitcollector (Jeff) · 2009-12-18 16:05

Coley,

I know you are pressed for time, but could you give us and update on this and the PropGFX
project? I think you have the hardware solution for a fantastic gaming platform.

Any chance you'll set some of it loose in the wild soon?

OBC

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Coley · 2009-12-18 16:28

OBC,

Well, HybridX3 and PropGFX stalled because both myself and Baggers have been so busy with real work this year.
I'm having a workshop built in my back garden at the moment I hoping that it will be more or less completed before Christmas so I will be able to start production of both boards in mid January. That will keep my Wife happy who was getting a bit concerned with components I had all over the study lol
Both boards have gone through some changes, HybridX3 now has a TV encoder built in and PropGFX Lite will also have a big brother in PropGFX+
PropGFX+ will stay in Dip40 format but have two Propellers, TV encoder and uSD connector, board is laid out, I just need to get Prototypes made.

Regards,

Coley

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New gaming platform - HybridX3

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