Formica v2 kits available for pre-order

[Robert Spanton]

Hi All,

Jeff and I have finally made some progress towards getting Formica kits
out :-D

Before we made kits available, we decided to make it easier to develop
on this platform. So we've worked two new connectors onto the platform:

1. Programming connector: Building a programming jig is not worth
it if you've got a relatively small swarm, so we've added a
connector that you can plug into a TI EZ430 programmer.
2. Hack header: You can extend your robot by attaching a
"backpack" to the robot.

All of the surface mount soldering has been done on the kits for you,
and there will be just a little through-hole soldering to get the
connectors, photodiodes, antennae and wheels attached.

The kits can be pre-ordered on my website *now* [1], and will be
shipping by the 22nd of February. We recommend that you pre-order to
guarantee that you receive a kit. We're making the EZ430 available
through our web-shop, so that it's easier to get going. Also note that
you can buy a prototyping backpack (the "protopack") through the
shop :-)

All the hardware and firmware for the new platform is available on
gitorious [2].

Happy hacking,

Rob

p.s. If you want to order more than 50 robots, get in contact with us
rather than going through the web-shop.
p.p.s. If you have any problems with the web-shop, please do get in
touch with me by email.

[1] http://xgoat.com/wp/products-page/
[2] http://gitorious.org/formica

[roboter]

Very cool!
I thought and talked about your work a little the last days at the
26C3. And i actually missed your project :)
Maybe next year?

Looking forward to work with the formica roboter framework.

One aspects would be a focus on agriculture - biochar geo engeneering
technology.

Best Regards,
roboter