Modules for the Omnii family

Hi Krzysztof!

As Jan said, I was looking on ebay and found quite a few.   I had one specific model in mind - Si-3bg - as I needed a small G-M tube to fit into the Omnii.
Here's a great table that lists a number of them with some basic details that I used: http://www.cooking-hacks.com/index.php/documentation/tutorials/geiger-counter-arduino-radiation-sensor-board

Adrian has since found a supplier in Canada that we're hoping to have some luck with... will keep everyone in the loop in a new project thread as things progress!

Hey Lee,

I thought you might find this interesting...

www.engadget.com/.../arduino-brings-the-new-goods-to-maker-faire-new-york-welcomes

Very interesting, Thomas!

Which got me thinking... I wonder if we could produce an "Arduino interface carrier board" that partners could purchase so that they could easily pop in the Arduino board of their chosing and electro-mechanically interface it to Omnii. Then, they could add some "universal plastics" (i.e. blank pods or endcap that Psion would also make) and quickly churn out a custom solution for their customers.

Crazy?

Cool idea John.  Why not?  Seems like a fairly simple proposition...

I've mentioned the same thing to some of the guys in the office over the last couple of weeks.  I think it would be a really great idea and its seems a few of us are thinking along the same lines.  I would love to see either an interface board between our standard expansion port connectors and an Arduino or a cable that gave me easier accessibility to the different pins (because that ribbon cable is tiny and I couldn't solder any connector for that!).  The only other thing we could consider is a custom Arduino board specifically designed for our devices - that would be pretty smart too.  

Either way, I believe its a great opportunity!

Hi,  I only just picked up on this thread and had the idea for a breathalyser module for the Omnii.  In some industries (mining and aviation) people that operate machinery are routinely or randomly tested for alcohol consumption before being allowed to work.  The module could even be fitted to one of our VMCs and a negative test is needed to start the forklift.  When you've built this one Lee, you can move onto my other ideas of gas and air pollution detectors!!!! 

I think you should build the breathalyser module... I can help you out if you need me to.  Don't be shy, have a go!

I volunteer my services as a test subject

Ben,

Jody Zimmerman had been talking with Ocean Optics regarding integration of their miniature spectrometers for detection of pollutants, toxins, etc.,   Maybe someone would like to pick up this torch and move it forward.

Hi Blake,

What electrical interface do these miniature spectrometers use?

Adrian.

Hi Adrian, John, Lee, et-al.

Some Spectrometers use PPI, Some I2C, and some Uses RS-232 / TTL Serial.

A Gas Correlative Spectrometer I refactored for a Client in Alliston/Barrie used a 6303-based TattleTale 5F device which is now superseded by the Arduino mini this topic has wandered over.

GasCoFil's (ReSPECT), and normal line spects use a variety of front end DAQ's to get the data into a workable format/form.

Breathalysers tend to give a status, Gas MOL percentage (compared to Clean Nitrogen purge levels.), humidity, and a GO-NO-GO status for devices like roadside analysers. This can be PPI, TTL, GPIO, and Serial (even USB for that matter).

I REALLY like the idea of the Arduino mini board on a module for the OMNII.  If the OMNII platform was in a Widescreen module, this would be a nifty device to use for Kiosk Data capture.   -sean

Lee,

I would suggest you post a blog on the Partner section with a link to these discussions so that you increaase the visibility for partners.

In my 2 cents contribution, I would suggest you integrate an ultrasonic sensor into the end cap, there are some small ones from Murata.

Pierre

I will do that Pierre.... I do have one of those sensors actually but I've not had time to build it in.  Must get onto this again very soon!

Great ! I am very interested in what you could achieve here.

The US waves are very rich information content, think about bats flying around in the dark, and capturing bugs at high speed !

Maybe we could link the zoom on the screen with the movement of the terminal in regards to the floor ? Or moving the whole screen in one direction.

Anyway, you could at least provide a distance measurement function.

Let me know when you succeed !

Pierre

Interesting.

If the SONAR and the camera are both in the same projection plane, one can do Pseudo-Stereo-Lithography as a motion capture.

One can use the accellorometers to keep orientation data, and if it is done outside, even GPS capture..

AKA: Google Hall-View...  or Google Shop-View, or Google Warehouse-View...  I better go now...   -sean