🚀 go-pugleaf

brian@mdavcr.mda.ca (Brian Lemire) writes:


>	Is anyone using (or considering using) Echelon's Neuron chip for
>robotics work ? It seems to be well suited for the task, especially for
>complex designs where a number of micro-controllers would be used, since
>it incorporates hardware and firmware to support networking via different
>media. (ex twisted pair, RF transceivers)

>Brian Lemire
>MacDonald Dettwiler

Reading University's Department of Cybernetics has a project starting to
do just this, joint with British Petroleum. BP donated one of their System 20
Cartesian robots and Echelon have given us a massive discount on one of their
LON Builders. We are negotiating with SERC (the UK's main academic funding
body) to actually purchase the beast. A follow-up project will look at using
LONs to replace a conventional NC machine controller.

LONs are exciting because they offer functionality and ease-of-use at an
exceptionally low cost, both in monetary and in programming terms. This is
definitely a "Watch This Space" cause.

Colin


***************************************************************************
*  Colin Bridgewater       *     tel: +44 - 734 - 318219      * Some day, *
*  Senior Research Fellow  *     fax: +44 - 734 - 318220      * all work  *
*  Dept of Cybernetics     *                                  * will be   *
*  Univ. of Reading        *  cybceb@uk.ac.reading.cyber      * done this *
*  Reading, UK             *  shsbriwa@uk.ac.reading.susssys1 * way.....  *
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