XMOS XK-1 finally proving useful!

Though not due to any fault of the XK-1 or XMOS I have finally been able to get something useful out of the XK-1 I was provided for the XMOS Challenge. With some help from the gang @ xmoslinkers.org I was able to get my servo sweeping... now to get another servo in the mix.

Once I get that accomplished I will start integrating the other microcontroller data.

I have 2 Maxbotix EZ-3 Ultrasonic Sensors that will be attached to the servos and provide ranging data along with a stationary EZ-0. I will have an Arduino sending the ranging data to the XK-1 and an ArduIMU+(Arduino based 6DOF Inertial Measurement Unit) that will send data as well. Once I get the 2 servos sweeping I plan on concentrating on reading the data into the XK-1 from the arduinos...

Hurdles and trying to learn a new platform...

I am definitely up against a steep learning curve here but its nothing I can't handle...

Major hurdles that will also help me mark milestones in the coming months:

Moving in with my Fiancé in the next 4-6 weeks, My goal is to move my son and I in just before new years

Possibly adding another XK-1 to the mix after the holidays, I'm planning on reading Arduino serial data on xmos that seems to take up threads so I may need the second core I'm still debating this.

Learning how to interface and program this new platform is proving to be challenging, Honestly I think the http://www.xmoslinkers.org community will spring into action as I believe the xmos challenge is drumming up alot of buzz about the XMOS, couple that with Sparkfun now carrying a dev board and the XTag adapter hopefully we will see more powerful dev boards and more community users.

General Updates: Whats working, whats not and where we are going from here!

The ArduIMU, Which handles the accelerometer and GPS data is working well, I need to fine tune the accelerometer output but its functional.

My initial plan was to then control my sensor array from the XMOS, well that turned out to be a bad idea... The XMOS doesn't have any built-in support for analog sensors and since I'm using infrared and ultrasonic sensors that output analog data thats a no go...

Solution?... Use an Arduino to control the array and send the data back to the XMOS via serial, I haven't decided exactly how I'm going to do that yet but here are my ideas... It looks like I can setup a UART for each controller (ArduIMU and Arduino) and funnel data directly from the uC to the XMOS. If thats not possible my other alternative is to go through a PC intermediary... I already have a PicoITX system on the ROV now so thats not really a problem if I have to go that route... my main concern is using up too many threads on serial communication.

Now I'm having a hard time getting my arduino to behave the way I want it to with this sensor array :( but I'm hacking it out. I'll try and get some screen shots and code posted soon.