Interesting new controler board

[limor]

We've all read the Spring edition Botmag and on page 15 there was reference to a Japanese made controler board. What's interesting about this board is that it is tiny, it hosts a 60mhz ARM cpu, 512mb memory, and a CPLD (which is like an FPGA with less gates but some bonus flip-flops) and has an optional daughter board for JTAG programming and debugging via USB.

The site says the board can also read back and digitize the PWM signal (position feedback) that is provided by KHR and Robonova servos. It can also interface with gyros and accelerometers.

Can anyone with experience in CPLDs shed some light over how this little board would provide a significant upgrade to KHR, Robonova and Bioloid boards?

Here are some links:
http://www.teamknox.com/RoboShell/RoboShelle.html
http://www.teamknox.com/RoboLog03/RoboShellToolse.html
http://www.teamknox.com/RoboShellCompos ... osere.html

Schematics of using the CPLD to multiplex PWM signals (?):
http://www.teamknox.com/RoboLog04/PWM-SD20060425.gif

Board schematics:
http://optimize.ath.cx/ezservo/ez_servo.pdf

[inaki]

Too bulky for a Bioloid I think.

[JonHylands]

Too bulky, and the wrong kind of signals.

However, you can squeeze an ARM7 into a much smaller space than that:

http://www.newmicros.com/cgi-bin/store/order.cgi?form=prod_detail&part=Tini2138&id=T3gGCv43gA3MSHWmcK5Wvc8Ov58e4xXq

- Jon