*NEW* USB Input/Output Board -- Fusion Brain

[novorado]

Quote: Originally Posted by 2k1Toaster

I wont be doing any linux support myself, but you are welcome to port it or whatever you want. You can use the dlls, the drivers, whatever you need. I am focusing on XP and Vista though.

I apologize if some of my assumptions will sound technically non-sense, hardware is no my strong point.
Please correct than.

We have quite a few electronics engineers in the team, previously specializing in PIC programming, PLDs, FPGA, digital signal processing; and before I noticed your post on Fusion board we had plans to develop similar somewhat board for parktronic Linux application. Is your board physically capable of processing 8-zone ultrasonic transducers signals - have you tried dealing with physics of that process on low level?
Do you allow people to re-program PIC or DSP whatever is on the board, is this code also available and by your licensing model you allow to change that?

[2k1Toaster]

Quote: Originally Posted by novorado

I apologize if some of my assumptions will sound technically non-sense, hardware is no my strong point.
Please correct than.

We have quite a few electronics engineers in the team, previously specializing in PIC programming, PLDs, FPGA, digital signal processing; and before I noticed your post on Fusion board we had plans to develop similar somewhat board for parktronic Linux application. Is your board physically capable of processing 8-zone ultrasonic transducers signals - have you tried dealing with physics of that process on low level?
Do you allow people to re-program PIC or DSP whatever is on the board, is this code also available and by your licensing model you allow to change that?

Yup, you can do whatever you want. As far as dealing with transducers directly, no not directly. But we use a little PIC on a board made by maxbotix, that just translate the pulse time into an analogue signal the brain reads.

[novorado]

2k1Toaster, thanks for your answers! I hope many other people will find it usefull also though I understand it can be silly

Quote: Originally Posted by 2k1Toaster

Yup, you can do whatever you want. As far as dealing with transducers directly, no not directly. But we use a little PIC on a board made by maxbotix, that just translate the pulse time into an analogue signal the brain reads.

You mean small PIC that is located on the sensor itself so you reading analog inputs?

Silly direct straight question - do you think (or know) it will possible to connect 8x SteelMate 14D sensors to your board? Not sure if it has analog or digital output though. Autoinstaller just recommended it as higher quality solution for practical install.

For the board USB controller chip and interface, do you think Linux kernel has prebuilt support for it already?

In terms of PIC programming - do you allow people to download source code of PIC and modify it in their test environment ? Ie, how open source it actually is - could not find answers in FAQs sorry

[greenman100]

Quote: Originally Posted by novorado

2k1Toaster, thanks for your answers! I hope many other people will find it usefull also though I understand it can be silly

You mean small PIC that is located on the sensor itself so you reading analog inputs?

Silly direct straight question - do you think (or know) it will possible to connect 8x SteelMate 14D sensors to your board? Not sure if it has analog or digital output though. Autoinstaller just recommended it as higher quality solution for practical install.

For the board USB controller chip and interface, do you think Linux kernel has prebuilt support for it already?

In terms of PIC programming - do you allow people to download source code of PIC and modify it in their test environment ? Ie, how open source it actually is - could not find answers in FAQs sorry

My name is Tim Elmore, and I handle most of the hardware engineering for Fusion.

The small PIC on the MaxBotix unit outputs an analog voltage that we convert to a distance in PC software.

I am not familar with the steelmate sensors, but I have emailed the company requesting information.

Nick will have to answer your Linux question.

We do not distribute PIC source code, However, if you contact us through email, and have a specific reason, we may be able to work something out.

[dasaint80]

so have any one been able to use this with a dakota Sender??

[greenman100]

Quote: Originally Posted by dasaint80

so have any one been able to use this with a dakota Sender??

yup, me and others.

[dasaint80]

Quote: Originally Posted by greenman100

yup, me and others.

Got any info on how???


thanks
steve

[greenman100]

like that?

[dasaint80]

^^^ Exactly like that!!!! OMG GOD.

[2k1Toaster]

Also since we have our own subforum now, this thread should be kept to more general questions or just used for reference.

You can create a new thread in this subforum: http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/fusion-brain/

It will help us make the information more accessible to everyone rather than making people read over a thousand posts to get here.

[greenman100]

Quote: Originally Posted by dasaint80

^^^ Exactly like that!!!! OMG GOD.

I'll do a write-up tomorrow or Saturday. Don't worry, it's totally possible with Dakota digital equipment, and not hard either.

Do you already have a Fusion Brain?

P.S. make a new thread if you get a chance, like nick said

[Ryann]

holy mackeral, this is going to help me out so much, my truck is currently at the paintshop, so im right on board to get my software manageable... ive been away from here for a while so im pretty lost with were u guys are at with it all..

airride here we come



BTW, heres the screen in roadrunner that i was looking to use..

Top and bottom adjustment based on sliders.. *this will obviously have to be calibrated to what heights and pressures the truck runs..

and also a bunch of presets along the middle which also will be calibrated in truck,




All possible green? am i able to control FB thru Roadrunner yet? or can i just skin FB to look like that screen in roadrunner once the airride screen is called?

[Grrrmachine]

Ive read through this entire amazing thread and I love the story of the development of this product. Greenman's expertise and 2k1Toaster's enthusiasm are a wonderful combination, and I am itching to get my hands on my own Brain Of Doom to start playing with it!

I'm scared by the complexity of the software though - is it easy to customise/calibrate my sensor information without knowing any programming language? I want my brain to read engine data, and Im handy with a multimeter, but I'm concerned about how to make the brain interpret the volts I give it through the inputs! Can some other noob reassure me?

Also, has anyone built a frequency-to-voltage converter for the Brain as yet? If not, have the Fusion Team got one in the pipeline?

[h3rk]

Quote: Originally Posted by Grrrmachine

Ive read through this entire amazing thread and I love the story of the development of this product. Greenman's expertise and 2k1Toaster's enthusiasm are a wonderful combination, and I am itching to get my hands on my own Brain Of Doom to start playing with it!

I'm scared by the complexity of the software though - is it easy to customise/calibrate my sensor information without knowing any programming language? I want my brain to read engine data, and Im handy with a multimeter, but I'm concerned about how to make the brain interpret the volts I give it through the inputs! Can some other noob reassure me?

Also, has anyone built a frequency-to-voltage converter for the Brain as yet? If not, have the Fusion Team got one in the pipeline?

I know I feel the same way! As for complexity, I think with the new MDX configurator and it's UI, it's not that hard to get started. You can get a pretty functional skin started without having to deal with any skinning language at all. No programming language needed. As for the inputs... Just make sure the volts at the input will not go above 5V, and for the software you just use one of the pre-made functions. Like, for temperature, use the Volts to C or Volts to F function Block. You can of course, make your own custom function blocks as well. It's not that hard.

I'm pretty sure no one has built a FVC, I almost did, for a humididty sensor, but then I found a good analog voltage sensor. But it didn't seem too hard, lots of ready parts available.

[2k1Toaster]

Quote: Originally Posted by Grrrmachine

Ive read through this entire amazing thread and I love the story of the development of this product. Greenman's expertise and 2k1Toaster's enthusiasm are a wonderful combination, and I am itching to get my hands on my own Brain Of Doom to start playing with it!

I'm scared by the complexity of the software though - is it easy to customise/calibrate my sensor information without knowing any programming language? I want my brain to read engine data, and Im handy with a multimeter, but I'm concerned about how to make the brain interpret the volts I give it through the inputs! Can some other noob reassure me?

Also, has anyone built a frequency-to-voltage converter for the Brain as yet? If not, have the Fusion Team got one in the pipeline?

Glad your excited!

We are both engineers, so we can answer any questions you have.

The software may look daunting, but it is easy. There is a graphical configuration program, with big easy to read sections. And of course we answer all questions on the forums and through email.

Welcome to the Fusion Brain club.