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CONTEST!!! Give Us New Product Ideas! — Parallax Forums

CONTEST!!! Give Us New Product Ideas!

Matt GillilandMatt Gilliland Posts: 1,406
edited 2012-05-17 20:34 in General Discussion
Ok - here we go..."HOORAY!...ANOTHER CONTEST!!!"

WE always have a bunch of ideas about what WE think would be really cool products - but we don't want to operate in a "vacuum".

So, we want to know what YOU think we should make!

As you know, we focus on "Made in America" stuff as much as we can. We think that one of our main strengths is being able to design and manufacture cool things, right here in Rocklin, CA.

Here's the rules:
1) If we end up making what you suggest, you have no claim to ownership. However, if we do end up making what you suggest, you'll get one of them for free!

2) First post for a chosen idea is the winner. However, if somebody has already submitted the same idea you have - submit it again too! Yeah, you won't be the winner, but it may give us some insight into the popularity of the idea itself.

3) We will choose up to three "winners" (depending on how many good vs. really bad ideas we have to choose from).

4) We're under no obligation to build anything, if we decide not to.

5) Contest entries close THIS FRIDAY @ 3pm, Rocklin, CA USA TIME

6) Winners to be announced MONDAY, JUNE 27th, @ 3:00pm Rocklin Time

PRIZES!!! PRIZES!!! PRIZES!!!

So, what will the (up to three) winning entries receive? AN ALL EXPENSE PAID TRIP FOR TWO TO HAW...- just kidding ;)

We've developed a new "Ping Stand" for our Ping))) module. Each of the three winners will receive a brand-new prototype Stand Kit, and a shiny new Ping))) module. Your only obligation would be to give us some simple feedback on the attributes of the new Stand and how well it integrates with the Ping.

Ready...Set...CONTEST ON!
-Matt
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Comments

  • ercoerco Posts: 20,259
    edited 2011-06-22 08:32
    Solar tracker... motorized to move a small solar panel to track the sun. Could be one or two axis, based on cost/efficiency improvement. Minimal power required to follow the sun and reset to the east at dusk or dawn. Smaller than your big solar panel, but durable, weatherproof and large enough to charge something useful, either a standard battery pack, gel cell, or umpteen NiMH cells (maybe AA cells) for general household use. Excellent and practical learning tool suitable for demonstration, education, science fairs, and a model that could scale up as well.

    THIS would actually be better in polycarbonate than plywood. :)
  • sam_sam_samsam_sam_sam Posts: 2,286
    edited 2011-06-22 08:40
    Solar tracker... motorized to move a small solar panel to track the sun. Could be one or two axis, based on cost/efficiency improvement. Minimal power required to follow the sun and reset to the east at dusk or dawn. Smaller than your big solar panel, but durable, weatherproof and large enough to charge something useful, either a standard battery pack, gel cell, or umpteen NiMH cells (maybe AA cells) for general household use. Excellent and practical learning tool suitable for demonstration, education, science fairs, and a model that could scale up as well.

    I second this idea
  • FranklinFranklin Posts: 4,747
    edited 2011-06-22 08:42
    I've seen somewhere a chip that returns the x,y coords. for a dot on it's sensor. might work for tracking if you had a small pinpoint of light.
  • davejamesdavejames Posts: 4,047
    edited 2011-06-22 08:42
    A "BS3" - a BS2 with added A/D, D/A capability.
  • sam_sam_samsam_sam_sam Posts: 2,286
    edited 2011-06-22 08:44
    What about a board that could read voltages and amperage for a power supply controlled by a mirco controller

    With excellent and practical learning tool suitable for demonstration
  • DaveJensonDaveJenson Posts: 375
    edited 2011-06-22 08:48
    I've always wanted to build a sort of Theramin device that would produce tones based on ones surroundings. I haven't found a sensor that is fast enough yet. The device would sense distance from the operator to objects in the environment. Based on distance a different tone would sound. Close objects = higher tone. The sensor would be on a leash and the operator would swing it around, creating a different performance art for each different environment. Or the sensor could be mounted on a platform that rotates 360 degrees and has a variable speed.

    Just some ramblings....
  • mindrobotsmindrobots Posts: 6,506
    edited 2011-06-22 08:49
    A UAV (Unmaned Aerial Vehicle) kit.

    Either a full kit or a kit containing the hard to find components so you can just add your own plywood (or building material of you choice).

    An "airbot" for those that are tired of rolling around the floor.

    Please let me know when you need my shipping address. :lol::lol:

    Rick

    P.S. Matt, you can then have a "name the Airbot" contest!

    P.P.S If you already have an airbot on the drawing board, then I should still win a prize for guessing the new product.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,259
    edited 2011-06-22 08:50
    A working robot ARM & GRIPPER. It's time. Yeah, you could start small and go with a BoeBot sized arm, but the killer app would be sized for your MadeUSA platform. A smallish arm 3 or 4 axes would do it, mounted on a mobile platform. You would sell a TON of them. Everybody wants one, but nobody's building them. This is a great MATT project and it would be good for Parallax and EVERYONE. It would lead to future items like line followers and laser positioning for accurate base location reference so the arm can pick up items in known locations.

    Heathkit had their HERO 2000 robot with an arm, and they also sold the arm seperately for desktop use, which was arguably easier to use. You can go down that road, too.

    Be the IT company, the new Heathkit!
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,259
    edited 2011-06-22 08:58
    Multicell smart charger for various battery chemistries and cell combinations. For instance, charge 2-10 NiMH AA cells in series. Or charge 4 18650 Li-Ion cells in series. Or...

    I'm tired of taking all 6 NiMH AA batteries out of Scribbler, charging 4 of them, then charging 2 of them, and putting them back in the bot.

    I would add my own charging jack to whatever , but you could design a charger connector that would have wires and flat nickel plates that would press into standard battery connections inside a variety of consumer products.

    You'll do the right thing!
  • VonSzarvasVonSzarvas Posts: 3,509
    edited 2011-06-22 09:01
    Hi Matt... is this Friday a little short of a deadline if you want to capture as many unique (and perhaps barmy) ideas as possible?

    Certainly for me, creative thinking time (aka Einstein moments) often occur over the weekend whilst I am switched off from the office buzz..... usually hacking around the garden on the lawnmower provides suitable distraction for the thought cogs to start spinning!

    Just a thought... Good luck with the Contest!

    Max.
  • VonSzarvasVonSzarvas Posts: 3,509
    edited 2011-06-22 09:03
    ... really like Erco's robot ARM & GRIPPER idea.. Oh yeah!
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,259
    edited 2011-06-22 09:22
    Matt: Here's your one shot at redemption. Crown your plastic MadeUSA robot base with...

    A PLYWOOD ROBOT ARM! This is actually incredibly well done, laser cut & everything. Second item on the page, watch the video.

    http://www.hizook.com/blog/2011/04/27/highly-anticipated-icra-2011-talks-low-cost-arms-helicopter-manipulation-and-ball-ca
  • BeanBean Posts: 8,129
    edited 2011-06-22 09:26
    A solar MPPT charge controller based on the Propeller. Have you seen how much the commerical units cost ?

    A propeller based "retro computer". PS/2 keyboard and/or mouse. SD card for files. Program in BASIC.

    A wind mill kit for generating electricity.

    Bean
  • blittledblittled Posts: 681
    edited 2011-06-22 09:36
    How about either an I2C or SPI I/O expander board that the I2C or SPI can plug into a breadboard. That way more I/O could be added to the Propeller. I believe the Microchip SPI chips can be addressed rather that using a dedicated enable line. With those chips or I2C you could set it up so you could daisy chain multiple IO boards and let your Propeller slowly take over the world!!! :)
  • MicrocontrolledMicrocontrolled Posts: 2,461
    edited 2011-06-22 09:51
    A small display, possibly a touchscreen, mounted onto a breakout board. A small size (like 2" to 3") would be preferred. This would let people wanted to implement small color displays in their projects not have to outsource, and it would be a generally cool item.
  • Peter KG6LSEPeter KG6LSE Posts: 1,383
    edited 2011-06-22 10:07
    a BS2 based USB Stick to replace the BS1USB that is EOL .
    NO SX just BS2 .

    use a MINI USB so I can use it like the $80 PropSick USB .

    32210-L.jpg

    charge 50 FLAT rate t for it . Ill buy a TON .
    Give the Optopn for the DIP male pins Like the Prop Stick OR Female Headers Just Like the Old BS1USB

    BS1USB-M.jpg
    OR OR
    make a carrier for a normal BS2 Ect to make it USB Like the Old debug thingy was .
    and again on the side Pins OR holes so I can use it Like the BS1USB..

    charge $15 for it as its Just a FTDI chip and a reg and PCB and Headders


    its like a BASIC Stamp 2 Carrier Board
    but NO DB9 ( USB)
    NO 9 V clip

    no proto area .

    its a shim to let one use USB with a BS2 Ect .


    Peter
  • piguy101piguy101 Posts: 248
    edited 2011-06-22 10:23
    This idea may be lame, but I would have used it many times if I had one. It would be a DIP (Does Parallax even make DIPs?) that would be a Decimal to Binary Converter. It would have 4 outputs and 16 inputs. It would output the corresponding binary number to the input. This would help SO much with a Microprocessor with circuit having many mechanical buttons. You would only need 4 I/O pins for up to 16 buttons. This circuit can easily be made, but you need many diodes so it would be awesome to have this IC.
  • Ron CzapalaRon Czapala Posts: 2,418
    edited 2011-06-22 10:39
    A moderately powered stereo audio amplifier, preferably 12V.

    Digitally controlled volume (digital pots) would be a neat feature.
  • Roy ElthamRoy Eltham Posts: 3,000
    edited 2011-06-22 10:42
    A servo mounting bracket, like you have for the Ping, for the upcoming LRF.

    A Prop Proto Board with an integrated I2C ADC chip and include 4 10 pin headers that can be soldered in like many people do. Also, some headers for the power and ground rails.

    An arduino shield format board with a Prop on it plus a VGA connector, 2 PS/2 connectors, and an SDCard slot.

    A new version of the MSR1 board, remove the level translation chips, fix the power off state to actually fully disconnect the power, and choose a different h-bridge chip that works better with 7.2v.

    The following are ideas I already have discussed with you guys, but I'll include them here for completeness:

    Change the 7.2v motor/wheel kit to use a different motor with better gear ratio. Include encoders, or sell them as an option.

    Make a 12v version of the 7.2v motor/wheel kit (12v versions of those motors exist).

    Make a 3 axis Gyro module based on the IGT3200 chip.

    Make a IMU board with the IMU3000 + a 3 axis accelerometer + 3 axis digital compass. Or perhaps use the IMU6000 + 3 axis digital compass.

    And then about existing products...

    Why is the Prop Stick USB $80? It's essentially the same as a Prop Proto Board USB just a smaller form factor and the pins. I don't understand why it costs so much more. Enlighten me?

    The lasercut box you make for the Propeller platform module + attached shield doesn't fit right. The middle standoffs are a little bit to long and you can't fit one of the end panels in place or get the top on correctly when using the "El Jugador" shield.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,259
    edited 2011-06-22 10:44
    piguy101: You may mean an encoder. See http://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/combination/comb_4.html
  • mindrobotsmindrobots Posts: 6,506
    edited 2011-06-22 10:45
    A weather resistent (weather proof might be asking too much) case to hold a Gangster Gadget Propeller Platform, GG Proto board and battery pack. Along with this a way to encapsulate sensors to make them weather proof (or weather proof versions of select sensors). The case would need to provide a was to pass sensor cables in and out or weather resitent connectors of some sort. This would ease construction of remote intellligent sensor modules using the Propeller and Parallax sensors.

    Partnered with this a propeller Platform daughter card with space for an Xbee and connection points for sensors (a group of 3 wire - signal, pwr, gnd, connectors with the signal pin selectable). What good is remote sensing if you can't send results back through the ethers! :smile:

    Rick
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,259
    edited 2011-06-22 10:54
    Arm/Gripper update: just 2 axes will let you pick up a beer can, like the OWI Kabuto Mushi robot: http://electronickits.com/robot/OWI8800.htm

    Surely you can sell a kit this simple for $250 or less. Do it!
  • Ken GraceyKen Gracey Posts: 7,401
    edited 2011-06-22 10:54
    Roy Eltham wrote: »
    Why is the Prop Stick USB $80? It's essentially the same as a Prop Proto Board USB just a smaller form factor and the pins. I don't understand why it costs so much more. Enlighten me?
    .

    Enlighten me, too! I'll ask Lauren to change it to $49.99.

    Ken Gracey
  • Oldbitcollector (Jeff)Oldbitcollector (Jeff) Posts: 8,091
    edited 2011-06-22 10:54
    How about a balance bot kit?

    A small servo version and then a larger version based on the parts used in Madeusa.

    OBC
  • Roy ElthamRoy Eltham Posts: 3,000
    edited 2011-06-22 11:01
    That's excellent, Ken. Thanks. I feel enlightened!
  • Heater.Heater. Posts: 21,230
    edited 2011-06-22 11:08
    Yes, yes, yes. A balancing bot kit. I'm in for one already.
  • icepuckicepuck Posts: 466
    edited 2011-06-22 11:16
    The Parallax Stamp2 Module. this has been an idea i've been thinking of building.
    Take a BS2 and program a 16F57 or 16F876A with just a boot loader.
    This would allow the use of any programing language and any host os.
    Being pin compatible with the bs2 would allow old bs2 projects to be upgraded to something faster.

    The same could be done for the bs1 as well. use a 16F54 or 16F627A.
    Parallax could probably build a prototype in an afternoon to test it.
    -dan
  • WBA ConsultingWBA Consulting Posts: 2,935
    edited 2011-06-22 11:29
    I will add another vote for a gripper, in the aspect of a low cost servo mounted gripper. I'll actually have a prototype in the next week or so that is derived from a gripper used for surgical needs. I'll throw my design files into your hands and give you a prototype if you want it. It is Delrin based, so it can be made with your laser and could easily be sold in kit form for even more cost savings.

    It would be nice to have a Li-Poly charger/booster/switching power supply combo board that is geared for propeller use in a small form factor (2.5" square, 0.5" thick for all parts). 3.7v Li-Poly pack, charging circuit for USB or DC jack, and 5v/3.3v outputs capable of at least 500mA. I am working on a project now that will have similar features, but I am hacking together parts from Parallax, Sparkfun, Jameco, and Digikey and in the long run, the cost will prevent anyone else from wanting to copy my project.
  • BeanBean Posts: 8,129
    edited 2011-06-22 11:38
    A camera for the propeller. Something that returns the image in a simple format that would be easy to process (like RGB,RGB,RGB, etc). Even QVGA would be fine.

    Bean
  • iDaveiDave Posts: 252
    edited 2011-06-22 11:40
    Well....I need some way to fasten a laser to the head of a shark, some sort of adapter or whatnot. If prototyping proves too dangerous then my 2nd suggestion is.....

    A good quality biped robot! Something about the size of lynxmotion brat. If parallax had something comparable to that I would go with parallax, and preferably cheaper.

    We need more bots! (with lasers?)
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