> [email protected] wrote: >> What about a functional cluster of PI systems on the robot? Tied >> together >> with an ethernet switch? Use something like MPI for distributed >> processing >> across multiple PI devices, and use each PI as a specialized I/O module. > > I would think your I/O needs exceed your processing needs. And you've > previously established that the Pi is poor for I/O.
Yes, 1 PI is poor for I/O, but 4 PIs may be able to handle it. One PI for motor control. 3 for camera I/O. Use the GPIO pins in a distributed way. Use MPI t distribute the processing. > > Seems the more natural solution is to blend technologies, using Arduino > or something similar, as function-specific controllers, which are then > coordinated by a Pi, that provides a UI, and perhaps also handles a more > processing intensive task, like video processing for vision. I have an Arduino already, but I am using it as a USB I/O controller more than a processor. I may move motor control to the Arduino, but I still need a steady USB communication for the deadman switch. > > Would the communication between the Pi and the Arduino's tax the Pi's > USB bus? > The PI despite having two USB slots is pretty underpowered. If I understand correctly, these is only one USB controller with a built in usb hub. The two USB ports and the network interface all go through the USB. > >> Right now, I use an Intel Atom CPU to do everything and it is loaded >> with >> all the cameras and controls. > > Ah...multiple cameras? Perhaps a Pi per camera. > > >> Given the cost of a DC ATX power supply... > > I've ran across some of these lately. They seem to be increasingly > popular with builders of mini-ITX systems that want to power their > system with a cheap 12 V "brick-on-a-rope" external power supply. > > For example, here's an 80 W DC-to-DC converter selling for $20: > http://www.amazon.com/Mini-Box-picoPSU-80-Output-Input-Supply/dp/B005TWE5E6/ $20 dollars? Wow, that's really cheap. 80 watts is nothing to sneeze at either. The rub is that it must operate between 8 and 14 volts if you want to run off a battery. > > Often paired with a $11 12 V @ 6 A supply made for LCD displays. > > -Tom > > _______________________________________________ > Hardwarehacking mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.blu.org/mailman/listinfo/hardwarehacking > _______________________________________________ Hardwarehacking mailing list [email protected] http://lists.blu.org/mailman/listinfo/hardwarehacking
