[dorkbotpdx-blabber] open source ART controller

Tue Mar 31 11:24:09 EDT 2009

Well, this isn't a short term project, but its not something that's a year out, so we have time to sit and come up with something.... If we can get people's ideas on what would be "nice" to see on this type of board, and its something that we could make available to the artist community, that'd be great. 

Right now, I'm thinking a small board with maybe 16 mosfet outputs, but with "headers" ahead of the mosfets that would enable or disable them so that you could use them as GPIO to control servos or input sensors... Maybe a 3-pin header?

What sorts of comm would be preffered? Do we need something that is a daisychain sort of setup so they can string controllers together? How much noise tolerance do i2c and spi have? We don't need comm for these boards, but at the very least we could do USB... If people want more than 1, use a USB hub.

-----Original Message-----
From: dorkbotpdx-blabber-bounces at dorkbot.org [mailto:dorkbotpdx-blabber-bounces at dorkbot.org] On Behalf Of Webb Sprague
Sent: Monday, March 30, 2009 10:28 PM
To: A discussion list for dorkbot-pdx (portland, or)
Subject: Re: [dorkbotpdx-blabber] open source ART controller

I would be interested in working with someone who wants to try to control a bunch of art actuators (like the solenoids) or read from sensors and drive the various things from a computer like my Mac.  I would love to team up with someone who can make the physical "bot"
happen -- I can help program the bot via Processing and definitely program the controller on the "big" computer once we have a connection running.

Any dorkbotters in Eugene, by any chance?

W

On Mon, Mar 30, 2009 at 3:12 PM, Gintz, Travis <TGintz at leviton.com> wrote:
> There could be a potential for that... I see more and more people wanting "tech" in their "art" but don't have a lot of experience in electronics/programming/etc.... So something that could be very simple to program and interface to would be great.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: dorkbotpdx-blabber-bounces at dorkbot.org 
> [mailto:dorkbotpdx-blabber-bounces at dorkbot.org] On Behalf Of Webb 
> Sprague
> Sent: Monday, March 30, 2009 3:08 PM
> To: A discussion list for dorkbot-pdx (portland, or)
> Subject: Re: [dorkbotpdx-blabber] open source ART controller
>
> I don't know if it might be helpful, but I would love to try writing a 
> Linux based remote controller program in Tcl/Tk (the GUI choice for 
> electrical engineers and telescope drivers).  Such a thing would 
> require an interface either through serial or bluetooth ; I can handle 
> the I/O once it hits the computer but a hardware dork would have to 
> get it there.  And I have to admit I haven't ever done such a thing 
> yet, though I am a competent programmer and think I can see my way 
> through it, and I wouldn't be THAT expensive ;)
>
> Also -- I would be coming to dorkbot meetings, but I am only in 
> Portland on W-TH-F. :(
>
> -W
>
> 2009/3/30 Gintz, Travis <TGintz at leviton.com>:
>> unfortunately I cannot make it tonight, totally forgot about the meeting.
>> I think 16 channels would work perfectly, i'll email you offlist.
>> ________________________________
>> From: dorkbotpdx-blabber-bounces at dorkbot.org
>> [mailto:dorkbotpdx-blabber-bounces at dorkbot.org] On Behalf Of Jared 
>> Boone
>> Sent: Monday, March 30, 2009 12:31 PM
>> To: A discussion list for dorkbot-pdx (portland, or)
>> Subject: Re: [dorkbotpdx-blabber] open source ART controller
>>
>> Travis,
>> I'm working on something informally that might work for you -- 
>> 16-channel MOSFET switch (~20W/60V) under AVR control. Will you be at Dorkbot tonight?
>> We could discuss it there.
>>
>>         - Jared
>> On Mar 30, 2009, at 11:45 AM, "Gintz, Travis" <TGintz at leviton.com> wrote:
>>
>> Oh, i know that.... I'm making sure I know all my options, I know 
>> there's quite a few other people on here that are doing something 
>> similar... This is a paid project, so if I can spread the wealth, 
>> thats what I'll do :)
>>
>> you know......Get specs, research options (this is where we're at), 
>> narrow options, choose best option, implement that option.
>>
>> Another thing, fabbing isn't my weakspot, its programming :) 
>> ________________________________
>> From: dorkbotpdx-blabber-bounces at dorkbot.org
>> [mailto:dorkbotpdx-blabber-bounces at dorkbot.org] On Behalf Of Donald 
>> Delmar Davis
>> Sent: Monday, March 30, 2009 11:42 AM
>> To: A discussion list for dorkbot-pdx (portland, or)
>> Subject: Re: [dorkbotpdx-blabber] open source ART controller
>>
>> Come on travis you are the control guy.
>> You should be able to fab this in your sleep.
>> :)
>> On Mar 30, 2009, at 11:34 AM, Gintz, Travis wrote:
>>
>> I'm doing some consulting for an ART/Technology integration project 
>> with a couple artists and right now we're just outlining what we want 
>> to do. I was thinking, this could be an open source ART controller 
>> for lots of things, lights, solenoids, motors, sensor input.... maybe 
>> there's something like this out there already.... I know more and 
>> more artists are playing this this, is there interest?
>>
>> requirements:
>> We have 200 solenoids that we want to control based on randomly 
>> generated delays 5-10 analog inputs.
>> each solenoid control is independent, but the "delays" would be based 
>> on AD input can be either 5V or 12V ideally (24V is an option as 
>> well, but not preferred).
>>
>> I was thinking about "modules" that can control groups of 10-25 
>> Transistor
>> outputs/2-4 AD inputs. I know I could make some boards, but wanted to 
>> see if there's something readily available for this project or 
>> something that someone has already worked on? (to cut down on design 
>> time/debugging/implementation).  If we need to build boards, that's 
>> not a huge deal, are there any board places that can assemble the 
>> units with components? Budget for the system is $800 for the hardware.
>> There's a budget for programming as well.
>>
>> Does anyone have any ideas as far as options go? Maybe even a cheap PLC?
>> Regards,
>> Travis Gintz
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> dorkbotpdx-blabber mailing list
>> dorkbotpdx-blabber at dorkbot.org
>> http://music.columbia.edu/mailman/listinfo/dorkbotpdx-blabber
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> dorkbotpdx-blabber mailing list
>> dorkbotpdx-blabber at dorkbot.org
>> http://music.columbia.edu/mailman/listinfo/dorkbotpdx-blabber
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> dorkbotpdx-blabber mailing list
>> dorkbotpdx-blabber at dorkbot.org
>> http://music.columbia.edu/mailman/listinfo/dorkbotpdx-blabber
>>
> _______________________________________________
> dorkbotpdx-blabber mailing list
> dorkbotpdx-blabber at dorkbot.org
> http://music.columbia.edu/mailman/listinfo/dorkbotpdx-blabber
> _______________________________________________
> dorkbotpdx-blabber mailing list
> dorkbotpdx-blabber at dorkbot.org
> http://music.columbia.edu/mailman/listinfo/dorkbotpdx-blabber
>
_______________________________________________
dorkbotpdx-blabber mailing list
dorkbotpdx-blabber at dorkbot.org
http://music.columbia.edu/mailman/listinfo/dorkbotpdx-blabber