Software help for a wireless, maybe commercial, daughterboard?

[Thomas]

Hi,

I'm a HW / RF expert by profession and very interested on embedded
stuff, like the Beagle board. I'm very capable of doing high quality
schematic and layout designs and I own the design tools to do those
things.

After this "ad" to the point... Currently my plan is to design a
wireless daughterboard for the Beagle board. The board might actually
have variations, one version for robotics hobbyists (including a GPS
module, a Bluetooth or a Zigbee module, servo control outputs and MEMS
acceleration / gyro sensors), the other version for vehicle tracking
and control (GPS and GPRS modules, voltage monitoring, vibration
sensor, Li-Ion battery & charging and relay control outputs). The
board would have the same size and form factor as the Beagle board and
it would be connected to the screw holes of Beagle. The extension
connector would be used for logical connection between the boards.
This method would spare the other Beagle board connectors (like the
USB) for other purposes and the overall physical size of the setup
would still be small.

The reason I'm writing this post is the problem of my limited C
programming capabilities. I have done some embedded coding for an ARM7
(making peripherals work etc.) but that's it. My Linux coding
capabilities are poor, for example. So now I'm humbly looking for help
for this project. Maybe there would be other enthusiasts out there,
but in the software side? The project would start without any pressure
and if it is successfull, we could sell the board in the net and split
the profits. Depending on the interest level and available time, we
could develop all kinds of project and product ideas further or
eventually even start a company!

So, if you have similar interests and you own programming abilities,
drop an email to thomas...@gmail.com . I'm also interested in
hearing comments on the wireless daughterboard idea (features,
requirements, interest level etc.), and the idea of starting this sort
of commercial project.

Thanks,
Thomas

[Bill Gatliff]

Thomas wrote:
> So, if you have similar interests and you own programming abilities,
> drop an email to thomas...@gmail.com . I'm also interested in
> hearing comments on the wireless daughterboard idea (features,
> requirements, interest level etc.), and the idea of starting this sort
> of commercial project.
>

Bring it on! I can help you with the programming side.

b.g.

--
Bill Gatliff
bg...@billgatliff.com

[deep...@gmail.com]

Hi,

Pretty interesting and can join forces for sure.

Why not register the project here, http://beagleboard.org/project

-D

> drop an email to thomas.eri...@gmail.com . I'm also interested in

[yoheeb]

On Nov 9, 6:12 am, "deepa...@gmail.com" <deepa...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Pretty interesting and can join forces for sure.
>

>  Why not register the project here,http://beagleboard.org/project

Consider low power, short distance communications, such as low power
bluetooth, WiMi, or Xbee (say 10-20 feet), as well as "standard" uses,
including for example a usb receiver board for development.
An 802.11 module might be nice for wireless networking.
RFID I suspect would also be popular

Many of these are available via SD/MMC modules, however, if you can
get the cost comparable, a dedicate board would be a nice addition,
especially if designed with good EMC protection in mind.

As for non-wireless, I'd love to see a true HDMI interface with
drivers to support audio and remote control feedback interface.
(threw that one out there for Mr. Gatliff, to stretch his kernel
prowess a bit.) Although, you do have audio out, video out, and SPI/
I2C in, so probably overkill

I hope you get this going, I look at how the Ardunio has grown due to
specialty daughterboards, and would love to see the BB sprout the same
kind of success!