[Gasification] Lego

[Gavin Gulliver-Goodall]

Michael,
Provided you have a bi directional printer port you have 8x digital inputs
and outputs very easily- ther are schematics for makinthte interface and you
just alternately "print" to and "read" from the port address.
Analog is a bit more tricky buthter are lots of basic datalogging packages
Advantech GENIE is one that use bus linked modules with simple programming.
Someof which is now open source. The modules ocst $$ though  but hey, what
is your time worth? For me id rateh spend a few bucks on someone else
experience than waste my time developing atool that already exists
Cheers
gavin

Matthew Hamlin
3G Energi Ltd.,
Allesudden,
Charlesfield,
St. Boswells
Melrose
TD6 0HH

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-----Original Message-----
From: gasification-bounces at listserv.repp.org
[mailto:gasification-bounces at listserv.repp.org]On Behalf Of Michael Redler
Sent: Sunday, May 21, 2006 16:36
To: gasification at listserv.repp.org
Subject: Re: [Gasification] Lego

I'm also a big fan of Lego and without trying to take away from your idea,
I've been trying to figure out what to do with the 8 computers I have in my
basement.

  I wish I could find a forum which discuss resurrecting old computers and
converting them into data collection machines and control systems.

  Mike

drew <drew at artforging.com> wrote:
  Those of you who are interested in automation of gassifiers and
governers for engines should check out the new LEGO, mindstorms
invention system. I have been following it's develpment closely and
think for prototype equiptment automation and data loging there is not
equal, especialy in terms of cost and simplicity. They do not have a
temperature sensor yet, but they are making the software open source,
and there are already other manufacturers looking to make other
aftermarket sensors for them. The motors are true servo motors and I
have been assured by a friend much more e-hardware competetent to me
that getting this controller to run larger motors will not be too
difficult.
Cost- 350 bucks for controler and includes 3 servomotors, a touch
sensor, a light/color sensor (make a nice tachometer) a ranging
utrasonic sensor, and a sound sensor.

http://mindstorms.lego.com/overview/

already one after market developer is working on other sensors and the
robotics comunity is buzzing about the open source software, this other
developer plans to release a duplexer that will double the number of
ports on the controler

Copied from the website


The NXT is the brain of a MINDSTORMS(r) robot. It's an intelligent,
computer-controlled LEGO(r) brick that lets a MINDSTORMS robot come alive
and perform different operations.

*Motor ports*
The NXT has three output ports for attaching motors - Ports A, B and C

*Sensor ports *
The NXT has four input ports for attaching sensors - Ports 1, 2, 3 and 4.

*USB port
* Connect a USB cable to the USB port and download programs from your
computer to the NXT (or upload data from the robot to your computer).
You can also use the wireless Bluetooth connection for uploading and
downloading.

*Loudspeaker
* Make a program with real sounds and listen to them when you run the
program

*NXT Buttons*
Orange button : On/Enter /Run
Light grey arrows: Used for moving left and right in the NXT menu
Dark grey button: Clear/Go back

*NXT Display*
Your NXT comes with many display features - see the MINDSTORMS NXT Users
Guide that comes with your NXT kit for specific information on display
icons and options

*Technical specifications*

* 32-bit ARM7 microcontroller
* 256 Kbytes FLASH, 64 Kbytes RAM
* 8-bit AVR microcontroller
* 4 Kbytes FLASH, 512 Byte RAM
* Bluetooth wireless communication (Bluetooth Class II V2.0 compliant)
* USB full speed port (12 Mbit/s)
* 4 input ports, 6-wire cable digital platform (One port includes a
IEC 61158 Type 4/EN 50 170 compliant expansion port for future use)
* 3 output ports, 6-wire cable digital platform
* 100 x 64 pixel LCD graphical display
* Loudspeaker - 8 kHz sound quality. Sound channel with 8-bit
resolution and 2-16 KHz sample rate.
* Power source: 6 AA batteries

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