Gumstix motherboard. and the KHR1

[TinMan]

has anyone succesfully installed a Gumstix motherboard on their KHR1. I've just ordered a KHR-2HV and i'm hoping to integrate it into the bot. I'm wondering if anyone has any advice for me about traps for newbies. I have succesfully built a few bots using the gumstix and it's robostix interface. i'm hoping to build on this and upgrade my KHR-2HV to relay real time data back to a laptop and use the processor to process the sensor outputs from the bot.

[tempusmaster]

has anyone succesfully installed a Gumstix motherboard on their KHR1. I've just ordered a KHR-2HV and i'm hoping to integrate it into the bot. I'm wondering if anyone has any advice for me about traps for newbies. I have succesfully built a few bots using the gumstix and it's robostix interface. i'm hoping to build on this and upgrade my KHR-2HV to relay real time data back to a laptop and use the processor to process the sensor outputs from the bot.

Wow....

You're going to be breaking totally new ground - "going where no one has gone before..."

The KHR-2HV has only been out for a couple of weeks. Even here in Japan people haven't had the time to assemble the 2HV and start to get familar with the RCB-3J. It will be a while before they start hacking in other interfaces and processors.

The RCB-3J is a much more powerful, and much more complex beast than the RCB-1. It allows you to deal with sensor inputs onboard, scale and mix them, and use the results to change program flow. Given that the controller design and architecture is completely different there would probably be very little that would be applicable from a Gumstix/KHR-1 implementation.

What you're proposing sounds reasonable, and should be do-able, but my gut feel is that it will take a while (weeks/months) before anyone except the guys that designed the 2HV are in a position to tackle something like that.

[SirAho]

has anyone succesfully installed a Gumstix motherboard on their KHR1. I've just ordered a KHR-2HV and i'm hoping to integrate it into the bot. I'm wondering if anyone has any advice for me about traps for newbies. I have succesfully built a few bots using the gumstix and it's robostix interface. i'm hoping to build on this and upgrade my KHR-2HV to relay real time data back to a laptop and use the processor to process the sensor outputs from the bot.

I've also just ordered a KHR-2HV. I had similar plan as you. But now my plan is to keep the RCB-3J to do all the basic stuff and have a second board do some more advanced things.
How about the serial protocol for the RCB-3J. Is it base on the RCB-1's, anyone?

TinMan, I'm looking forward to hear how it goes with your project!

[onesandzeros]

hey guys
Its nice to hear you guys with adeas with these adeas.
i really think somethign like this is long overdue


good luck guys

[SirAho]

Hi TinMan

If you not have bought Gumstix yet, maybe you should take a look at Xport ( http://www.charmedlabs.com/ ) for Gameboy Advance and Game Boy micro. It can control up to 64 servos ( http://gbaxport.sourceforge.net/rcservo.pdf )

[TinMan]

Hi TinMan

If you not have bought Gumstix yet, maybe you should take a look at Xport ( http://www.charmedlabs.com/ ) for Gameboy Advance and Game Boy micro. It can control up to 64 servos ( http://gbaxport.sourceforge.net/rcservo.pdf )

Hi SirAho,

i did look at the gameboy advance a year ago, but the interface wasn't as good as th gbaxport, so i delved into the Gumstix world and i must say it was hard work. It payed off though as i can access the gumstix from 802.11a/b/g and also bluetooth. I've also manged to get it working with an CF card GPS device. This will give me multiple options when used with the robostix interface.

I hoping to be able to fit out the KHR-2HV with a camera and sensors to which the gumstix will interface to a remote server via a wireless connection. It will stream video and sensor outputs to a central program that will control the bot, but if it looses contact the Gumstix with have several routines to allow the bot the continue the last stored program and try and restablish communications with the host. The host will colate the data and display a GUI with GIS and telemtry data.I've built a couple of mars rovers on this principle but that was a few years ago and i'm ready to try it with a humanoid type robot.

My KHR-2HV will hopefully be here by the end of the week and i my first task will be to build and test the bot while working with japanese instructions. Being a newbie to the Kondo range, i took a Japanese version of the instruction manual for the KHR-1 and tried to follow the steps of assembly using only the images. I think i'll be able to manage the assembly of the KHR-2HV apart from when it comes to assigning the servos the relevant port numbers on the RCB3, as i can't tell the japanese character set being used for the numbers.

So my project will be a long one as i'm trying to document the whole process for others to follow in the future.

Regards TinMan

[SirAho]

Gumstix is really cool. A lot of power! I want one too. As I wrote before I really looking forward how your project proceed!

I bought a Xport two years ago and it has be mostly been collected dust in a drawer since then. But last night I toke it out and wrote some simple program for the serial port (UART) on the GBA. I've not tested it yest because I have to get a cable first. After that will be to see if I can get it to talke to the RCB-3J when it arrives. My plan is to use a artificial neural network (ANN) in the GBA to control the robot.
I've used it before to control some Mindstorms robots. So now I will scale it up.

[limor]

Gumstix.com seem to have removed the CFstix module from their online store. Have you had a chance (TinMan) of using your Gumstix with a CF 802.11 wifi card?

There are a couple of other tiny Linux enabled SBC's (link) although Gumstix seems to have a substantial online support community and no extra hidden costs (other than the Hirose connector cable and/or pinouts).

Do you think that Gumstix's GPIOs can be used to push the PWM signal to the 17 ICS servos and also receive back position feedback from the servos (link) so that ANN control can be implemented?

[TinMan]

Hi onesandzeros,

Im also a complete newbie when it comes to the Kondo range. i do have a background in electronics, but most of my projects have been working with modules, ie i'll take a number of sytems and integrate them into one model.
My project does seem quite danting and i hope i cvan finish it and post the results here, biut my first task is to find an english manual. not so much for the model as that seems quite straightforward, but for the software and the Control board RCB-3J.

I think it'll take a couple of months for the english stuff to filter out i've got until friday to find some docs as thats when my KHR-2HV is scheduled to arrive.

If you have any questions please ask via the forum and i'll be happy to share what little knowledge i have gleaned.

I stand by my signature in that i have alot of imagination and spend a lot of time trying to track down the technology to keep up with it.

[TinMan]

Gumstix.com seem to have removed the CFstix module from their online store. Have you had a chance (TinMan) of using your Gumstix with a CF 802.11 wifi card?

Hi Limor,

I've already ahd a Gumstix with a robostix interface running of a CF wifi card. I had a project where i was going to build an UAV in which they were to be installed , but i never found the right platform for it. had lots of fun trying different models though and my workshop resembles a model shop now. i have to keep it locked to keep the kids at bay and keep getting comments like" but dad you've got better toys than us" i don't think robotics have the same effect on them though.

I do have a hell of alot of documentation on most of the Gumstix range if you need some, but there help forum is great for info . I highly reccommend them purely for this alone.