Making custom sensors: What would be the demand?

[h-g-t]

Mightor, Launchpads look interesting. How would you rate them compared to a Picaxe, or are they not directly comparable?

[mightor]

No, they are quite a bit more advanced in terms of programming skills required to work with. For one thing, they're programmed in C, not BASIC. A lot of the functionality you take for granted in the PICAXE, like PWM, you'll have to program yourself or with the use of libraries, which are also available.

- Xander

[h-g-t]

OK,thanks.

[mattallen37]

Xander, you mean low power consumption? or low processing power?

BTW, I love your sig!

[inxt-generation]

Matt, it's low power consumption. Really low power consumption. On the level of a couple hundred uAmps when active, half a uAmp when in standby, and 0.1 uAmps when off with RAM retention. That's wicked low. But, supposedly that's nothing compared to the new MSP430 chip they're releasing in june. Codename:Wolverine It's supposed to be pretty much the lowest power chip ever. Says standbye is in the nanoAmps range Now, that's low power.

[mightor]

Pretty soon TI will make controllers that actually generate power while they execute your code.

- Xander

[inxt-generation]

Pretty soon TI will make controllers that actually generate power while they execute your code.

- Xander

EDIT: in case you don't understand that smiley story:

What?! How could I not hear about this?! That's totally awesome! Hey, wait a minute, wouldn't that be a perpetual machine? Mightor, just what are you trying to pull??!?!?! OH. I get it. Yes. A joke. Ha Ha.

[mattallen37]

[HaWe]

design proposal for a NXT-compatible Super Cube Sub System:

- connected to NXT by RS485
- external power supply (1-4x 12V RC blocks 4500 mAh each)
- 12 NXT encoder motor outputs
- 6 heavy duty PWM DC motor outputs (5A each)
- 6 external i2c highspeed ports (chainable; adjustable: 400kbps highspeed for external encoders or 100kbps lowspeed for other i2c standard sensors, high current supply)
- 6 RC servo ports (chainable)
- 12 analog sensor inputs
- 12 NXT compatible "i2c" sensor inputs for single "i2c" Sensors with super-slow motion 9.6 kbps and built-in pullups
- 4GB SD card slot
- connectors placed at all sides and the face.

compared to the prices of 4 single NXTs, the prices of tetrix accessoires, and the prices of several already available 3rd party motor- and sensor muxers it may cost round 1000 US$ (or even 1000 EUR or - in case - 1,000,000,000 Future Greek Drachmes ^^)

[inxt-generation]

design proposal for a NXT-compatible Super Cube Sub System:

- connected to NXT by RS485
- external power supply (1-4x 12V RC blocks 4500 mAh each)
- 12 NXT encoder motor outputs
- 6 heavy duty PWM DC motor outputs (5A each)
- 6 external i2c highspeed ports (chainable; adjustable: 400kbps highspeed for external encoders or 100kbps lowspeed for other i2c standard sensors, high current supply)
- 6 RC servo ports (chainable)
- 12 analog sensor inputs
- 12 NXT compatible "i2c" sensor inputs for single "i2c" Sensors with super-slow motion 9.6 kbps and built-in pullups
- 4GB SD card slot
- connectors placed at all sides and the face.

compared to the prices of 4 single NXTs, the prices of tetrix accessoires, and the prices of several already available 3rd party motor- and sensor muxers it may cost round 1000 US$ (or even 1000 EUR or - in case - 1,000,000,000 Future Greek Drachmes ^^)