[Gumstix-users] It Works... Now What?

[Jeremy M. <j2...@en...>]

Greetings -

    Thanks so much to all of you (especially Dave) who have helped me
thus far; I couldn't have done it without you. Overnight I managed to:
login through hyper-terminal using the tweener, edit the bluetooth
settings such that a connection is possible, and connect using
hyper-terminal over a bluetooth connection! I am psyched. So... what now?

    I am going to go into some detail about the project I'm working on
and see what comes of it, so send any help you can/want to. I don't
expect step by step instructions, I'd just like to let everyone know
where this is going...

    My setup is a gumstix connex 400xm-bt connected to the roboaudiostix
board.


    In the most basic way possible, I have to do the following:


10    Get voltage readings from 3 roboaudiostix 5V ADCs
       (readings will be positive, between 2V and 3V)

20    Convert each reading to an 8 bit integer, something like:
        voltage_int = floor((voltage-2)*255 ))

30    TRANSMIT these three 8 bit integers across the bluetooth serial
       connection

40    RECEIVE three (different) 8 bit integers across the bluetooth
       serial connection

50    Based on these three 8 bit integers, set signals to 3 ESCs on
       3 roboaudiostix PWM channels
       (Electronic_Speed_Controllers behave exactly like servos usually)

60    goto 10;

       (not in BASIC though, probably C?)


    Now that everyone knows what I'm doing, here are my main questions:

    Where can I order headers for the roboaudiostix board? All I have
now are a bunch of holes! I really thought they would've come with. If
anyone has done this already, part numbers or a copy of the order would
be very helpful!!! I looked at Mouser and I don't really know what to
order... I could also use some connectors that fit nicely onto these
headers, but again, I don't know what to look for or where.

    I seem to understand that a build-root comes preinstalled on the
motherboard, one just has to make it in order to use it; However, it is
not the most current. Is there any real benefit to using a more current
build-root on a project this simple (at least I hope it's simple), or
should I just make the factory version?

    After making the build-root, I need to control the ADCs/PWMs on the
roboaudiostix board from my main program. I don't even know how to start
doing this. What are AVRs? I really have no idea here, so a nudge in the
right direction would be most appreciated.

    Is there a compiler on-board the gumstix once the build-root is
enabled? I don't have a linux box readily available (I'm at work, they
use windows) and would like to avoid setting one up is possible, so
maybe it would be easier to compile everything right there? I don't know.

    Basically, any wisdom is appreciated. I'd like to cut as many
corners as I can (prudently), so if there is a quick way to do this, I'd
be really happy to come across it. Thanks again for all the support. You
guys are great.


       Jeremy Marschke
       Aerospace Research, Univ. at Buffalo