From: DJ Vollkasko (DJ_Vollkasko_at_gmx.net)
Date: Sat Jul 03 2004 - 06:26:09 PDT
>Date: Fri, 02 Jul 2004 15:14:22 +0200
>From: Jochen_Schäfer <js.josch_at_gmx.de>
>Subject: Re: [NTLK] Trade Mac/Newt stuff for Lego Mindstorm stuff
>
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>DJ Vollkasko wrote:
>..
>| I'm not sure, but 2x00 does several protocols (ASK, IrDA), so one should
>| most likely fit. Anyhow, having a fully portable, long-running development
>| environment would rock. I really can't believe there's never been anybody
>| looking into this, what with Victor even featuring Mindstorms on his
>| website and others being into it, too...
>I guess the problem how much sense there is for a Mindstorms that is
>controlled by a Newton only. And compiling the bytecode for Mindstorms
>OS, is that feasible?
I think it would be really cool. Having a graphical drag 'n' drop interface
on a touchscreen device, making it all more intuitive and literally
hands-on. Dragging the code vault along on the Newt, being able to switch
to different code and upload to the RCX. Would be way cool and handy for
e.g. competitions and off-site projects, and sketching ideas on the run.
About compiling the bytecode - if a Java-app can do it, why shouldn't
something Waba be able to do the same?
>Which reminds me of an old DDJ (Dr Doobs Journal) article about a boat
>stirred by a Newton ;-)
There was a project called the Micro Ship that had some Newton tie-ins in
1995-96 (find all
http://www.google.de/search?num=100&hl=de&ie=UTF-8&newwindow=1&q=newton+site%3Amicroship.com&btnG=Suche&meta thing I read about them, they weren't launched yet and used the Newt
maybe that's what you've been thinking of.
Last thing I read about them, they weren't launched yet and used the Newt
as a remote for the wharf's stereo system. D'oh. Anyhow, those was Digital
Ocean Tarpons (wish I had one of those for kayaking! Was anything like that
ever built from a 2x00? Or are there any useable waterproof container
solutions for 2x00?), plus some funky custom software made by Apple
consultants for this project. AFAIK these have never been released to the
public (paging Chris Burmester! ;=} ).
This is what I found about the Mac/Newton-infrastructure of Microship: "As
you probably know from earlier postings, our control network is a multidrop
collection of nodes, living under a Hub that handles all communication and
presents a unified front end. To date, that front end has consisted of a
textual interface in the form of a comm package on one of the development
Macs -- making it easy to download new code versions and interact with the
FORTH interpreter in the Hub (or any node).
This has been perfect for code development, but is obviously not the way we
want to run a ship. All along we have been planning to use HyperCard in the
console and cockpit Macintoshes as well as those in our manpacks, though
the method of smoothly switching the "point of control" via the Sexbar has
been a bit unclear. But now it all makes sense: there will be a dedicated
Mac associated with the Hub, powered on all the time (some kind of minimal,
low-power laptop -- no blazing speed needed here). This will serve as a
gateway between the serial console port and the ship-wide network
(AppleTalk or Ethernet)... one node of which is a Digital Ocean Starfish
wireless hub.
And here's the key link. In addition to the networked Macs (which can now
pass around control responsibility without having to play games throwing
remote serial switches), each of us will carry a Digital Ocean Tarpon -- an
Apple Newton embedded in a larger shell that incorporates a 2 Mbps
spread-spectrum wireless AppleTalk link. All this is protected by a rubber
boot, making this a very rugged and water-resistant unit of just over 3
pounds. In the final system, the Starfish on the boat will drive an
external antenna with optional rubber duckies at the manpacks, extending
the range substantially.
We've been thinking about this for a while, but within the last week two
major events occurred: Digital Ocean shipped a Tarpon and Starfish for the
development project, and Chris Burmester (a Newton consultant for Apple)
wrote some magic code for both ends of the wireless link. At the Mac end,
he created a tool called Serial Passage, which uses DILS (Apple's Desktop
Integration Library for the Newton) to implement a pipe between a remote
ADSP (AppleTalk) device and the second serial port. At the Newton/Tarpon
end, he wrote a simple terminal package with a pen-entry area, a virtual
keyboard for those who prefer stylus-typing, and a few basic command
buttons (CONNECT, DISCONNECT, SEND MESSAGE). And even though this is still
a long way from the layered hierarchy of views we have planned, it is
startlingly cool.
Picture this: you're walking around the lab, holding the Tarpon in one
hand, and with the other you write "COLORON". Less than a second later, the
servo-actuated vane retracts and the color camera springs to life. You
write "60 GAZE" and the turret rotates the camera to look 60 degrees off
zero at the milling machine; you jot "TURCOLOR VCR VCONNECT" and a picture
of Cecil suddenly pops up on the color TV (Cecil be da Mill). As an
afterthought, you tell the unit "CD SPEAKERS ACONNECT" and audio from a
jazz CD fills the lab. All this while untethered, even wandering around
outdoors. This low-level wireless command-line interface is the
proof-of-concept we've been needing -- adding clickable icons to eliminate
writing those obscure FORTH commands, draggable arrows for setting values,
gauges for returned variables, and a graphic hierarchical path through the
control network requires only straightforward Newton software based on
well-developed, existing tools.
Incidentally, that approximate 1-second latency I mentioned is worth
noting... it's the total of communication events between a succession of 6
processors. The command issued by the Tarpon is transmitted via 915 MHz
DSSS to the Starfish hub, which (since we don't have Ethernet on the
venerable SE/30 used for code development) requires a temporary SECOND
wireless link to make the transition to AppleTalk (via a Digital Ocean
Grouper). From here, it's but a short network cable to the Mac running
Chris' Serial Passage code, and thence out the modem port at 9600 baud to
the New Micros FORTH Hub. There, my nodescan task inhales the message,
seizes the network in a friendly sort of way, and retransmits it to the
appropriate node, which finally executes the command.
Encouraged by all this, I set to work last night on a first overview of the
Microship application that will run in NewtonScript. I'll tell you more
about this as it develops, but basically, launching the app from the Extras
drawer will automatically establish the wireless link to the ship
(reporting on signal strength, noise level, signal quality, battery level,
and Hub-node health). At this point, I'll have a screen with about a dozen
buttons, allowing access to the major subcategories of interface tools:
o Security/Watch o Position data, chart segments, manpack GPS feeds (APRS)
o Network maintenance tools
o A/V, turret, crossbars, recording devices
o Power/Solar management o Internal sensors, pressures, fluids, temps,
stresses, etc.
o Nav data and thruster controls o Voice comm systems (SSB, VHF, ham,
cellular, GMRS)
o Environmental data collection and hydroponic controls
o Email gateway and net access
In addition, EVERY view in the system will have a small row of icons at the
bottom that allow access to the universal tools:
o Alarms and emergency actions
o Text terminal to Hub o Health screen for entire Shipnet
o Time, temperature, pressure, and other basic data
o Comm link performance, signal strength, local battery o Reference data
and help files (in Newton Book form)
As well as return to the top level. Naturally, all other Newton resources
remain available without breaking the link, allowing message passing and so
on. An additional feature will be the ability to direct messages to the
Mac, instead of the FORTH network, allowing HyperCard to stay resident in
the foreground and allow Tarpon interface with high-level systems, file
servers, and so on. (We'll make the passage code a system extension.)"
(http://microship.com/microship/statusreports/hogfish/960906.html)
There's an article at Apple, too, by Chris Burmester himself: "Newton goes
sailing"
http://www.apple.com/education/LTReview/fall97/spotlight/default.html.
Contains screen shots of the turret control- and the environmental
status-apps and a sensor unit, something I haven't found in the Newton
context before, though Newtons would make great sensor data monitors. Wish
there'd be easily configurable sensoring apps available that could connect
easily via RS232 or BT to sensors.
Cheers,
DJV.
-- This is the NewtonTalk list - http://www.newtontalk.net/ for all inquiries Official Newton FAQ: http://www.chuma.org/newton/faq/ WikiWikiNewt for all kinds of articles: http://tools.unna.org/wikiwikinewt/
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