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Propeller Cognition

HumanoidoHumanoido Posts: 5,770
edited 2011-02-13 12:21 in General Discussion
Cognition
New Newsletter for the Propeller Chip!

Want to learn more about putting together multiple Propeller chips? I have created an open source free
resource newsletter that assembles information about this topic. Named Cognition, this newsletter is a
part of a newly formed organization, the Propeller Super Computing Open-source Group (PropCOG).

Discovery announcement

attachment.php?attachmentid=78100&d=1297381794

Cognition is all about multiple Parallax-
Propeller-based processor machines


Welcome to the first edition of Cognition, the newsletter of PropCOG, Propeller Super Computing Open-source Group. PropCOG has initiatives to design and build large working open-source super computing machines using multiple Parallax Propeller chips. Cognition newsletter will assemble news, sources and collections of information about multiple Propeller projects and related ideas to save search time and inspire new ideas. Project and information contributors, and comments, are welcome.

Cognition Newsletter is designed to collect together and distribute information sources about assembling larger multiple propeller-based machines. These machines may encompass just a couple prop chips for testing or include massive machines with dozens of processors.

The newsletter contains photos, news and embedded links for access to more complete stories, schematics, sources and software for download. Cognition is an open source newsletter and anyone may comment or contribute.

Cognition newsletter will assemble news sources and collections of information about multiple Propeller projects and related ideas. It will save you lots of search time by bringing things together.

PropCOG is the Propeller Super Computing Opensource Group. PropCOG has initiatives to design and build large working opensource desktop super computing machines using Parallax Propeller chips, leading to open source working desktop super computing machines.
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Comments

  • doggiedocdoggiedoc Posts: 2,246
    edited 2011-02-10 16:02
    Very nice! I found the hyperlinks especially useful. Very nice indeed!

    Paul
  • Duane DegnDuane Degn Posts: 10,588
    edited 2011-02-12 10:27
    Humanoido,

    I enjoyed you newsletter.

    I think the name "Propeller Cognition" is great.

    The "Greenboards" look interesting. I didn't see any links associated with the article that mentions them. Are the custom made printed circuit boards?

    Duane
  • HumanoidoHumanoido Posts: 5,770
    edited 2011-02-13 03:17
    Doggiedoc: Thanks, your comments are appreciated. With enough interest I will continue on with issue #2.
  • HumanoidoHumanoido Posts: 5,770
    edited 2011-02-13 03:36
    Duane Degn wrote: »
    Humanoido, I enjoyed you newsletter. I think the name "Propeller Cognition" is great. The "Greenboards" look interesting. I didn't see any links associated with the article that mentions them. Are the custom made printed circuit boards? Duane
    Thanks Duane. Your comments are appreciated. About the Greenboards, I will post some supplemental information to the Cognition newsletter.
  • HumanoidoHumanoido Posts: 5,770
    edited 2011-02-13 03:47
    Green Boards - Supplement to Cognition 1
    Off-the-Shelf boards for Multiple Propeller Projects

    Supplement to Cognition #1
    News Caption: Breadboards or Greenboards

    Board Type
    See the higher resolution photo below - there's a big interest in these commercial greenboards. These are pre-made pre-etched off-the-shelf ready to go printed circuit boards, sold at the parts store in China. From what I can tell from the board, they are high quality, made in China for HONDA for one of their large projects, perhaps robot ASIMO or a pure prototyping project.

    Pricing
    There's no set pricing in China, you just go to the parts skyscraper, find one of the 500 stores with the boards, and barter to get good pricing. One tip for the barter technique is to hide. Yes, hide. Have a local friend buy the boards for you. When the store clerks see a "foreigner" with white skin, the price immediately goes up by several factors.

    Board Layout
    The layout is perfect for Propeller chips, putting these close together for connection in as little as .75-inch apart (could do overclocking with the minimal prop to prop distances) and there's enough end space for EEPROMs, LEDs etc. Boards are about 7 x 10-inches. Spacing is standard for sockets and Propeller chips.

    Board Utilization
    I've experimented with several layouts and there's even some islands at the board side for special circuits like external oscillators, filters, speakers, TV, and supporting components. At least 12 props fit on one board. The attached photo shows the solder pad arrangements and connections. It sort of like a giant deluxe radio shack board from Heaven.

    Mounting and Layout
    The components are normally mounted on the back side but the sockets are shown on the front side to more readily show Propeller socket positioning. The board as power and ground bus bars and the four island groupings are especially useful. There's additional space for a Prop Plug connector, decoupling capacitors, eeproms, crystal, LEDs, video, mouse, keyboard connectors, and support circuits. I started out with 10 props to a board but now it's up to 12.
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  • potatoheadpotatohead Posts: 10,261
    edited 2011-02-13 12:07
    I liked the newsletter. Well produced. Thanks!
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2011-02-13 12:21
    Humanoido,

    I have to say that your proclivity as an archivist really shines in that format. I like it!

    -Phil
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