Subject:
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Re: Brainstorms
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.robotics
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Date:
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Thu, 8 Aug 2002 22:29:17 GMT
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Original-From:
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Jonathan Spitz <jspiar@!NoMoreSpam!yahoo.com.ar>
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Viewed:
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811 times
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I don't know too much about electronics and micro-computing but here are my
thoughts. For modularity I would use some kind of conector plate like the
ones for old motors. This connectors would provide electricity and
communication between bricks, lets say it would be a 2x8 brick with sapce
for a battery, 4 2x2 connectors and some connectors (don't know how many),
male on one side, female on the other (image1, please use your imagination,
I made them realy fast). The same modules with some chips or whatever would
be used as I/O. Over the basic one you would be able to connect motors or
sensor (basic or with some adapter), CPU, memory, IR, RF, Display and
buttons, etc. Maybe some 3x2 blocks could be produced as well or by
combining 2 basic connectors.
I will leave the guts for the BIG guys and I hope everybody will get the
idea.
Keep up the work,
Jonathan
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Barnes" <barnes@sensors.com>
To: <lego-robotics@crynwr.com>
Sent: Thursday, August 08, 2002 5:34 PM
Subject: Brainstorms
> Ok. I've seen a similar ebb and flow of ideas for modularization in this
> newsgroup before. The difference, is that now, most people who are reading
> this a probably well familiar with the RCX, Mindstorms, etc etc.
>
> The subject of this post is intended as an invitation to anyone who would
> like to contribute their ideas, wants, wishes, desires for a new direction
> for managing a microcomputer controlled Lego creation. As far as I see it
> there are only two real candidate architectures, modular and monolithic. I
> regard the RCX as a monolithic structure in the sense that is the entire
> core entity into which you plug motors and sensors. A modular approach, in
> this context, would split that monolithic central "thing" into a number of
> constituent entities, like power source, CPU, memory, sound making • devices,
> displays etc etc.
>
> Modular?
>
> How do you connect them? By wires? By plugging modules together?
> What sort of granularity is required? All semi-intelligent? One master • with
> loads of dumb I/O slaves?
> How do you supply power to all the modules? Independently? Along the • common
> data communication interface (via the wires or plugging scheme mentioned • above)?
> How does your software deal with the variable topology possible? Do • modules
> somehow use some kind of dynamic address assignment(how does your software
> know which motor controller is which?)? Do modules have preset addresses • or
> IDs (do you really like those fiddly little DIP switches?)? Or do you have
> some kind of initialization process to give them an ID they store • internally
> in EEPROM (in which case they all look the same, and you have to try and
> remember what ID you programmed into each one to be able to talk to it • again?)?
>
> etc ... etc ... etc
>
> Monolithic?
>
> Do you want a bigger RCX? How big - 6 motors/12 sensors?
> Assuming it uses 2x2 Lego style connectors, can it have connection studs • on;
> just one face (top?)?, two faces (top and bottom to make it smaller? but
> harder to build into a model!)?
> Internal or external batteries/power?
> How much memory?
> Does it need a display? What sort?
> Does it need buttons? How many?
> Does it need both IR and RF comms?
> Does it need to be able to comm with other ones of its own kind?
>
> Please let your imagination wander and contribute your thoughts. Just
> remember to keep practicality in the back of your mind when blue-skying
> this. I may well decide to build a sample or two of what comes out of • this,
> assuming something does. So it needs to be able to be done with existing
> commonplace technology.
>
> JB
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Message is in Reply To:
 | | Brainstorms
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| Ok. I've seen a similar ebb and flow of ideas for modularization in this newsgroup before. The difference, is that now, most people who are reading this a probably well familiar with the RCX, Mindstorms, etc etc. The subject of this post is intended (...) (22 years ago, 8-Aug-02, to lugnet.robotics)
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