I'm working on the documentation now and I'll let you know when it's available "RSN".
LOL! I guess when Ken told me that he'd do the documentation, he meant that he was going to delegate it.
Good luck, Matt! Just remember to keep the switch sockets pointing straight up. That's the hardest part. (I better quit now before that job comes full circle.)
However, you could use any standard 12 SLA battery charger, and if you wanted to use it with this new Power Distribution Board, it would need a center positive 2.5mm x 5.5mm OD jack, to fit into the receptacle.
-MattG
Fitty simoleons? Couldn't poor folk like me use one of these fi'dollah types with a dollah plug?
2. The Eddie board had a 12V regulated port for a Kinect. Do you think that the Kinect could run off of the unregulated 12V from the 2 SLA batteries, or if I attach a Kinect do I need to add another power regulator for it?
3. How can I change my name on the forum? I'm not sure how I got to be "clofland" while everyone else here seems to have a proper name.
We only offer the charger as a convenience (or include it in a "full kit" like we used to with Eddie). We know where our value is and it's not in what I call the "jelly-bean" arena. We think there's a lot of value in the Arlo system, but not in ubiquitous markets like chargers, nuts, bolts, etc.
2. The Eddie board had a 12V regulated port for a Kinect. Do you think that the Kinect could run off of the unregulated 12V from the 2 SLA batteries, or if I attach a Kinect do I need to add another power regulator for it?
Don't know for sure. As I recall, (could be wrong), it seemed like the Kinect was really per-snickity on it's power source. I'd add the regulation if that's what you're planning on using.
3. How can I change my name on the forum? I'm not sure how I got to be "clofland" while everyone else here seems to have a proper name.
Send me a Private Message with what you want it to be and we'll change it for you, that way it will associate with all your previous posts too.
Although there are some with really goofy forum names used here on purpose - a great example would be "erco" - have you ever heard of one so ridiculous?
Although there are some with really goofy forum names used here on purpose - a great example would be "erco" - have you ever heard of one so ridiculous?
Agreed. Delete that clown's 12K posts and the world will be a better place.
. . .you could use any standard 12 SLA battery charger, and if you wanted to use it with this new Power Distribution Board, it would need a center positive 2.5mm x 5.5mm OD jack, to fit into the receptacle.
-MattG
Matt: Wouldn't these power distribution board kits be great prizes for all of your recent Arlo feature contest winners? Then afterwards you might have as many as 3 pieces for sale on your website...
I want one but it is going to depend on the price. I have spent pretty much all of this quarters electronics budget and the quarter is only a month old!!!
I want one but it is going to depend on the price. I have spent pretty much all of this quarters electronics budget and the quarter is only a month old!!!
Unfortunately our price on these is fairly high at $99. The Bill of Material cost is sky-high this time, but the convenience for the customer is also very good.
Unfortunately our price on these is fairly high at $99. The Bill of Material cost is sky-high this time, but the convenience for the customer is also very good.
Ken Gracey
@Ken - I thought y'all had said under a hundred bucks! What should we have expected? :-)
Great-looking unit! Per Ken, a bit pricey, but since it's all open source and the schematic is already posted online, anyone who is funds-challenged is free to roll their own. In fact, it would be downright interesting to see what people come up with. A few years ago, forumista and robotics guru Ron Czapala made his own scratch-built Stingray robot and posted some amazing dead reckoning videos of his bot in action. IIRC, better repeatability than the stock Stingray videos I have seen. Homemade is always best IMHO.
BTW, can someone please remind me what Arlo stands for? Was that a snappy acronym or someone's favorite grandpappy?
The word TWAIN is not officially an acronym, but it is a backronym. The official website notes that "the word TWAIN is from Kipling's The Ballad of East and West — '...and never the twain shall meet...' — reflecting the difficulty, at the time, of connecting scanners and personal computers. It was up-cased to TWAIN to make it more distinctive. This led people to believe it was an acronym, and then to a contest to come up with an expansion. None was selected, but the entry Technology Without An Interesting Name continues to haunt the standard."[4]
Matt said in this thread http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php/150738-Meet-Arlo-our-new-Robot-Base-System?highlight=Arlo , "Arlo has arrived and is looking for new homes and offices to play and/or work in ;-) Arlo's the latest addition to our Robotic Platform Lineup. Arlo bears a strong resemblance to his mother and father (MadeUSA and Eddie), but he also sports some new capabilities..." That was my inspiration for Amazing Robotic Left Overs...
The first (20) kits will be in stock Monday morning :thumb:
The website will show them as "available" as soon as they're put into our stockroom :thumb:
Does this mean that we should be able to order it from the web site today?
Comments
Good luck, Matt! Just remember to keep the switch sockets pointing straight up. That's the hardest part. (I better quit now before that job comes full circle.)
-Phil
I expect a finished Product Doc on my desk in the morning!
-Matt-passthebuck-G
-Phil
Fitty simoleons? Couldn't poor folk like me use one of these fi'dollah types with a dollah plug?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/12V-1250mA-Volt-Sealed-Lead-Acid-Rechargeable-Battery-Charger-F-Car-Motor-Truck-/221438230565
http://www.ebay.com/itm/10pcs-DC-Power-Male-Plug-Jack-Adapter-Connector-2-5-x-5-5mm-2-5mm-plug-/291171489069
I'm getting such good responses here I'll keep on:
1. #700-00240 is the Eddie charger part number, so is it the same? $50 sounds kind of expensive, can you explain how this charger is superior to something like this for $23: http://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender-021-0123-Junior-Charger/dp/B000CITK8S/ref=pd_sim_p_4 that seems to be quite fancy?
2. The Eddie board had a 12V regulated port for a Kinect. Do you think that the Kinect could run off of the unregulated 12V from the 2 SLA batteries, or if I attach a Kinect do I need to add another power regulator for it?
3. How can I change my name on the forum? I'm not sure how I got to be "clofland" while everyone else here seems to have a proper name.
Thanks!
We only offer the charger as a convenience (or include it in a "full kit" like we used to with Eddie). We know where our value is and it's not in what I call the "jelly-bean" arena. We think there's a lot of value in the Arlo system, but not in ubiquitous markets like chargers, nuts, bolts, etc.
-MattG
Don't know for sure. As I recall, (could be wrong), it seemed like the Kinect was really per-snickity on it's power source. I'd add the regulation if that's what you're planning on using.
Send me a Private Message with what you want it to be and we'll change it for you, that way it will associate with all your previous posts too.
Although there are some with really goofy forum names used here on purpose - a great example would be "erco" - have you ever heard of one so ridiculous?
-MattG
Agreed. Delete that clown's 12K posts and the world will be a better place.
Erco has your solution in Post #35
I see that the Arlo Casters, Aluminum Motor Mount and Wheel Kit and top decks are out of stock anyway, so maybe you guys are just very busy?
We are one week out from availability on the Arlo Power Distribution Board. It's been a matter of documentation, the most important part.
Ken Gracey
Above you mentioned a 2.5mm jack, but the site here:
http://www.parallax.com/news/2014-03-28/arlo-power-distribution-board-arlo-robotic-platform-system-heading-kitting
says:
- Built-in 2.1 mm power jack for charging two 12V sealed lead acid batteries with our charge unit.
So is it 2.5 or 2.1?Hi ChrisL8-
It's a 2.5mm center pin device.
The Digikey equivalent is this.
If you're building your own charger, the mate for it is here.
We'll update the description on the site -thanks!
-MattG
We approved the first production kit today :thumb:
The first (20) kits will be in stock Monday morning :thumb:
The website will show them as "available" as soon as they're put into our stockroom :thumb:
I've got mine already :thumb: oh...wait...did I say that out loud?
That means we're down to (19) units already?! and it's not even on the website yet?
-MattG
Yes I'm kitting.
Unfortunately our price on these is fairly high at $99. The Bill of Material cost is sky-high this time, but the convenience for the customer is also very good.
Ken Gracey
Awesome!!!!!
@Ken - I thought y'all had said under a hundred bucks! What should we have expected? :-)
@Jen - it is a beauty!
BTW, can someone please remind me what Arlo stands for? Was that a snappy acronym or someone's favorite grandpappy?
Amazing Robotic Left Overs - the Arlo developed over time and re-purposed parts from all its ancestors. Now it is a true kit for the user to develop.
The word TWAIN is not officially an acronym, but it is a backronym. The official website notes that "the word TWAIN is from Kipling's The Ballad of East and West — '...and never the twain shall meet...' — reflecting the difficulty, at the time, of connecting scanners and personal computers. It was up-cased to TWAIN to make it more distinctive. This led people to believe it was an acronym, and then to a contest to come up with an expansion. None was selected, but the entry Technology Without An Interesting Name continues to haunt the standard."[4]
People Can't Memorize Computer Industries Acronyms.
Worked well for me...
Enjoy!
Mike
As was my made up "backronym" for Arlo. Seems like when they changed the name - they picked something friendly sounding...The REAL story on the name Arlo is found here - http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php/150736-Arlo-Robot-will-it-eventually-replace-Eddie?highlight=Arlo+Whit
Matt said in this thread http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php/150738-Meet-Arlo-our-new-Robot-Base-System?highlight=Arlo , "Arlo has arrived and is looking for new homes and offices to play and/or work in ;-) Arlo's the latest addition to our Robotic Platform Lineup. Arlo bears a strong resemblance to his mother and father (MadeUSA and Eddie), but he also sports some new capabilities..." That was my inspiration for Amazing Robotic Left Overs...
Does this mean that we should be able to order it from the web site today?
We're only gonna get 20 complete kits in today, And several of those are already spoken for. There's a shortage of several components me thinks.
(edit; I'll let you know just after I get mine)
-MattG
Announcement thread: http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php/156740-New-Product!-Arlo-Power-Distribution-Board-%28-28996%29?p=1283031#post1283031
Product page: http://www.parallax.com/product/28996
-MattG