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Worthwhile Kickstarter: Open Source Robotics Board — Parallax Forums

Worthwhile Kickstarter: Open Source Robotics Board

Oldbitcollector (Jeff)Oldbitcollector (Jeff) Posts: 8,091
edited 2015-01-29 11:57 in General Discussion
Found this while browsing Kickstarter...

I'm a little surprised that this hasn't surfaced over here already, given SimplyTronics connection with Parallax.

Here's a little Kickstarter that is both worthwhile and needs your support.

Open Source Robotics/Microelectronics Educational Board
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/385110322/open-source-robotics-microelectronics-educational

Many of us have benefitted over the years from their efforts whether you knew it or not.. Time to step up and show some support.

Jeff
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Comments

  • GordonMcCombGordonMcComb Posts: 3,366
    edited 2015-01-27 11:29
    This looks like a nice board from Ari, but I guess because it has the Arduino built on it, it's not a perfect fit for Parallax, hence no shout-out here.

    They're $550 short with only six days to go. I'll see if I can dig up some cash over the next few days to support Ari and ST.
  • Ken GraceyKen Gracey Posts: 7,392
    edited 2015-01-27 11:51
    Yeah, this one deserves funding. Pony up!

    From my point of view, it's a great system. Has everything people ask for: rechargeable power supply being the most important from a feature standpoint. But entirely enabled by Parallax Arduino tutorials, too!

    Fund it!

    Ken Gracey
  • GadgetmanGadgetman Posts: 2,436
    edited 2015-01-27 12:48
    Unfortunately for me, it has those dreaded words 'Only ships to: United States' on every level...
  • Martin_HMartin_H Posts: 4,051
    edited 2015-01-27 14:37
    Wow, that's an impressive board.
  • David BetzDavid Betz Posts: 14,516
    edited 2015-01-28 04:03
    ATmega328p? Kind of a wimpy processor compared with a Propeller. :-)
  • GadgetmanGadgetman Posts: 2,436
    edited 2015-01-28 05:42
    True. But it seems to have a following of sorts...
  • GordonMcCombGordonMcComb Posts: 3,366
    edited 2015-01-28 09:30
    Funded!

    This board makes things way too easy.
  • David BetzDavid Betz Posts: 14,516
    edited 2015-01-28 10:02
    Will this work with the Parallax ActivityBot robot chassis? It looks like this board is a little bigger than the ActivityBoard.
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2015-01-28 10:06
    Seems like it will work:
    If you already own a robotics kit (like Boe-Bot or Shield-Bot) you could just buy the ST EDU and place it on top of the robot.

    It seems they want it to be compatible with the previous Robot chassis.

    I'm sure Parallax and Simpleytronics share the same mechanical file for the chassis.
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2015-01-28 10:13
    I notice it does not come with the encoders, or I am missing something.

    I hope the Activity Bot encoders:

    http://www.parallax.com/product/32501

    can be added later. They include the Activity Bot Wheels.
  • David BetzDavid Betz Posts: 14,516
    edited 2015-01-28 10:22
    So can we get access to a Propeller by plugging an ASC+ into the Arduino connectors on the top? Any reason that wouldn't work?
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2015-01-28 10:35
    GordonMcComb wrote: »
    Funded! This board makes things way too easy.

    Good for them. I'm surprised about that $2000 funding level. First, that it didn't fund faster. As Gadgetman said, there's a proven following/market for Arduino robots. Second, that $2000 goal is chump change even for a small company. There's no big profit in those prices to fund development, so it seems like they are just using Kickstarter to gauge consumer interest. IOW, free market research.
  • GordonMcCombGordonMcComb Posts: 3,366
    edited 2015-01-28 10:41
    It's a 3x4" board, same as all the BOEs.

    It's the same as a BOE chassis, so anything for an ActivityBot (or BOE Bot or PropBot) ought to work.

    I think if you wanted access to a Prop you'd just add a Propeller board nearby, and communicate via SPI, I2C, or some other means. I don't think you'd want to sandwich things together like shields, for the sake of I/O.

    Ari did a presentation a while back at the Parallax Expo regarding SimplyTronics, and maybe the video feed for that is still available on YouTube. Should answer some questions about their connection with Parallax.
  • mindrobotsmindrobots Posts: 6,506
    edited 2015-01-28 10:49
    David Betz wrote: »
    So can we get access to a Propeller by plugging an ASC+ into the Arduino connectors on the top? Any reason that wouldn't work?

    David, you can do that now with the BOE shield and a Prop ASC board. The BOE shield needs some Arduino pin compatible processor board to plug into it.

    The new board combines the BOE shield with the processor parts of an Arduino UNO so it is just one board. Fewer pieces for teachers to deal with PLUS the option of rechargeable batteries.

    As Gordon mentioned, adding a Propeller to the ST EDU would be the same as adding a Propeller board to an Arduino UNO - best done via serial, I2C or SPI interface between the two processor boards.

    At least that's my take on it.
  • David BetzDavid Betz Posts: 14,516
    edited 2015-01-28 10:53
    mindrobots wrote: »
    David, you can do that now with the BOE shield and a Prop ASC board. The BOE shield needs some Arduino pin compatible processor board to plug into it.

    The new board combines the BOE shield with the processor parts of an Arduino UNO so it is just one board. Fewer pieces for teachers to deal with PLUS the option of rechargeable batteries.

    As Gordon mentioned, adding a Propeller to the ST EDU would be the same as adding a Propeller board to an Arduino UNO - best done via serial, I2C or SPI interface between the two processor boards.

    At least that's my take on it.
    Yeah, I guess that's the best approach. Otherwise you're wiring all of the I/O's on both boards together which probably isn't that helpful.
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2015-01-28 10:55
    GordonMcComb wrote: »
    Funded!

    This board makes things way too easy.

    I bet because Jeff brought this up, it got funded by a few people here, myself included.

    I saw it a week ago when I was on their site, but Jeff beat me to it.
  • David BetzDavid Betz Posts: 14,516
    edited 2015-01-28 10:58
    Publison wrote: »
    I bet because Jeff brought this up, it got funded by a few people here, myself included.

    I saw it a week ago when I was on their site, but Jeff beat me to it.
    I got the last $40 slot!
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2015-01-28 11:00
    I had to go for the $120. I can't have too many chassis. :)
  • David BetzDavid Betz Posts: 14,516
    edited 2015-01-28 11:04
    Publison wrote: »
    I had to go for the $120. I can't have too many chassis. :)
    I was trying to reduce the amount of money I spend on microcontroller boards that I will probably never use. I am addicted to buying them especially if they have Propeller chips on them. Is there a 12 step program for that?
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2015-01-28 11:52
    David Betz wrote: »
    I was trying to reduce the amount of money I spend on microcontroller boards that I will probably never use. I am addicted to buying them especially if they have Propeller chips on them. Is there a 12 step program for that?

    I guess that would be writing 12 new Propeller programs, without having to buy new hardware, based on what you have. :)
  • David BetzDavid Betz Posts: 14,516
    edited 2015-01-28 11:59
    Publison wrote: »
    I guess that would be writing 12 new Propeller programs, without having to buy new hardware, based on what you have. :)
    I hate to have to admit that I find did that and ran each of the 12 programs on a different board, I would still have lots of idle Propeller boards! :-(
  • mindrobotsmindrobots Posts: 6,506
    edited 2015-01-28 12:09
    David Betz wrote: »
    I was trying to reduce the amount of money I spend on microcontroller boards that I will probably never use. I am addicted to buying them especially if they have Propeller chips on them. Is there a 12 step program for that?

    If there is one, please share it. My step #3 always seems to turn into "buy another microcontroller". I blame it on my embedded software.

    I'm trying to be good! Now everything seems to plug into a Raspberry Pi....so I just buy more of those!!!
  • Ari SimplyTronicsAri SimplyTronics Posts: 2
    edited 2015-01-28 19:24
    Sorry for the delay in replying to this thread. My older account was not longer active and had to get a new account setup.

    Thank you for the nice words of encouragement and support. Jeff, Gordon and Ken and also Parallax supporting the Kickstarter in Facebook, in person and in this forum.

    Yes, the ST EDU board is compatible with Boe-Bot, Activity-Bot, Shield-bot, etc. In fact, all these robots use the same chassis. SimplyTronics buys from Parallax the wheels, servos, chassis and hardware packs.

    ST EDU puts together three boards in one.
    1- The BOE-Shield, to make it convenient to be used with Parallax tutorials.

    2- Integrated Arduino UNO compatible microcontroller (so it doesn't need to be plugged in the bottom of the Shield). This has several advantages, like reducing cost for schools and students and removing the possibility that they would get an Arduino-"compatible" board that would not work, being able to control power with the main board power switch, etc.

    3- Power management circuit and rechargeable battery holder. The batteries recharge as soon as a USB cable is connected or if the board is plugged to a wall-wart. The board takes power from USB so not batteries are necessary for breadboard projects while connected to USB.

    Many local schools in this Eastern WA State region signed up with PLTW (Project Lead the Way) and use RobotC in most of their classes, so they had to stick with Arduino and could not use the BASIC Stamp or Propeller versions. With this platform, most schools in the area can participate in a local robotics competition, regardless of the programming platform they use in their classes (RobotC or Arduino software).

    As Erco noticed, the Kickstarter value was very low and we actually used the Kickstarter campaign to promote the upcoming robot. SimplyTronics tends to stay behind the scenes manufacturing products for other companies. Even for the products we make as SimplyTronics, we sell most of them through distributors and not directly to customers. The Kickstarter was intended to bring exposure to the product since it will be sold mostly directly from SimplyTronics.

    Most of the schools we are working with, could not order through the Kickstarter though (jumping too many hoops with Kickstarter and Amazon payments). They are ordering directly from SimplyTronics (direct sales were about 5 times what the Kickstarter campaign gathered).

    Let me know if you have any questions.

    Ari
  • CuriousOneCuriousOne Posts: 931
    edited 2015-01-29 03:31
    Not impressed.

    Looks like Swedish army knife - impressive but useless.
  • TorTor Posts: 2,010
    edited 2015-01-29 05:10
    Presumable 'Swiss army knife'.. I don't know what a Swedish one would look like! :)
    (I did have a lot of use for my old Victorinox for many years though - wouldn't call it useless)
  • GadgetmanGadgetman Posts: 2,436
    edited 2015-01-29 06:14
    I think he meant it as some sort of joke...

    This is the knife most often caleld a Swedish Army Knife:
    http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/31029-Bushcraft-knife-knives?p=450722#post450722
    (I don't have that one, but the Mora 2000 pictured beneath is always with me on fishing trips and camping)

    You'd be hard pressed to find better steel, really.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2015-01-29 08:28
    I think he meant Swedish meatballs. Likeable and ubiquitous.
  • tonyp12tonyp12 Posts: 1,951
    edited 2015-01-29 08:39
    Or maybe he is one those who think Swiss is the name for people living in Sweden etc?
    Hint: Swiss/Switzerland is just north of Italy, Swede/Sweden is between Norway and Finland up in Scandinavia.

    sweden_switzerland.png
  • GadgetmanGadgetman Posts: 2,436
    edited 2015-01-29 08:56
    Erco; Swedish meatballs are too small and way too soft.
    Proper meatballs have at least twice the diameter and a coarser texture.
    Even their sauce is too wimpy.

    Meatballs in brown sauce, with potatoes and green peas is one of my favorites...
  • mindrobotsmindrobots Posts: 6,506
    edited 2015-01-29 09:11
    Cool! 25 posts and we're off topic!!

    Good job guys!

    I'll take good old eye-talian meatballs in a nice gravy over linguini - YUM!
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