Need advice on a big project

GeoTrail · Post by **GeoTrail** » Fri Oct 06, 2006 9:36 pm

I'm planning a pretty big project which involves not only programming, but also having the program communicate with various components that I'm planning on building.

Some of the components planned for use are GPS receiver, temperature and moisture sensor and possibly a g-force sensor.

Does anyone have any experience with this? Any ideas? Which components to use? Etc, all feedback are appreciated.

Joakim Christiansen · Sat Oct 07, 2006 12:18 am

I don't have any experience with that, but it would be cool if you mentioned more about the project!

Tipperton · Post by **Tipperton** » Sat Oct 07, 2006 12:31 am

Joakim Christiansen wrote:it would be cool if you mentioned more about the project!

Depending on the situation, he may not be able to if its a contract project with a non-disclosure agreement.

PS: ROFLMAO - I love your tag line!

GeoTrail · Post by **GeoTrail** » Sat Oct 07, 2006 12:32 am

Well, I don't want to say too much about it just yet. It's just in a planning phase at the moment.
The plan is to create a device for use in cars.
If I get only parts of these crazy ideas I have to work then it might be something great

GeoTrail · Post by **GeoTrail** » Sat Oct 07, 2006 12:36 am

Tipperton wrote:Depending on the situation, he may not be able to if its a contract project with a non-disclosure agreement.

There's no contract involved, yet anyways.
It's just an idea I have, one that I just have to try to bring to life. But it's something I haven't seen done or made before, so in a way it might be a new invention. Hopefully anyways.

We have a TV show here called Skaperen. Or The Creator, or something like that. It let's people with ideas and inventions show what they have made, and they can win finacial support to further develop the project. Doubt it'll get that far, but I think it is worth to see how far I can get.

I get alot of ideas, specially at night, and I'm getting better at writing them down before I forget them. hehehe

Tipperton · Post by **Tipperton** » Sat Oct 07, 2006 1:04 am

GeoTrail wrote:It's just an idea I have, one that I just have to try to bring to life. But it's something I haven't seen done or made before, so in a way it might be a new invention. Hopefully anyways.

All the more reason not to "spill the beans" just yet. If it is something new, it could be worth something and you don't want somebody to steal your ideas. I know because I've been a victim of a stolen idea before, worst part was the person who stole my I idea I thought was a trust-worthy friend.

GeoTrail wrote:We have a TV show here called Skaperen. Or The Creator, or something like that. It let's people with ideas and inventions show what they have made, and they can win finacial support to further develop the project. Doubt it'll get that far, but I think it is worth to see how far I can get.

There was a reality show here (USA) that was similar, I forget what it was called but it was basically a contest where the winner would have their invention manufactured and marketed for them.

And you never know, some of the simplest ideas that the creator didn't think would go anywhere ended up making them millions.

GeoTrail · Post by **GeoTrail** » Sat Oct 07, 2006 1:24 am

Yeah that's true.
Just look at RoboMop. A Norwegian invention, it's as simple as it is brilliant. The guy who made it is probably really rich now. They sell it in the States too on Home Shopping Network on ABC

thefool · Post by **thefool** » Sat Oct 07, 2006 1:34 pm

The only thing i have done is reading the gps device on a pocket pc using a visual basic embedded app

mskuma · Post by **mskuma** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 12:57 am

Since there's a number of sensors involved, you might also consider using a microcontroller to manage the sensors & collect/store the data independently from the PC, then use the PC to get the data from the microcontroller when needed.

GeoTrail · Post by **GeoTrail** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 1:19 am

That sounds too complicated for me right now.
But I'd love to learn more about it.

@thefool, how did you do that? I got a pocket pc and it would be great to use that device for testing

For now, my idea is to custom build a microcomputer using mini atx motherboard with the minimum ammount of built-in stuff.

mskuma · Post by **mskuma** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 1:30 am

GeoTrail wrote:That sounds too complicated for me right now.

In that case, especially if you're building a specific-purpose PC for it, you can know in advance the available ports, and then you can select devices that already have a USB/serial interfaces & drivers, and access the data that way. Good luck.

GeoTrail · Post by **GeoTrail** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 1:32 am

Hopefully I can get away with using only USB devices. That way I don't have to worry about power supply for each unit, instead the USB devices uses power from the PC

thefool · Post by **thefool** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 11:24 am

Simple geotrail; the gps is attached at the powerpc and you can interface it (In this case it acted like on a com port!) with windows mobile edition

srod · Post by **srod** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 12:22 pm

GeoTrail wrote:We have a TV show here called Skaperen. Or The Creator, or something like that. It let's people with ideas and inventions show what they have made, and they can win finacial support to further develop the project. Doubt it'll get that far, but I think it is worth to see how far I can get.

I get alot of ideas, specially at night, and I'm getting better at writing them down before I forget them. hehehe

We have 'Dragons Den' over here which is about the only TV program I watch (apart from repeats of the Simpsons that is!) as it is absolute class. Some of the barmy ideas people bring forth are sometimes beyond belief! A plastic cucumber 'condom' comes to mind!

Anyhow, Geo, anyone who can put together something like this is worthy of total respect.

But, do not executive cars already come equipped with GPS receivers and temp. sensors and such like? And the portable devices are now so cheap (e.g. TomTom - or whatever it's called?) that it would be very very difficult to compete.

Just an immediate thought which occurs to me.

thefool · Post by **thefool** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 12:46 pm

srod wrote: But, do not executive cars already come equipped with GPS receivers and temp. sensors and such like?

it doesnt have to be an executive car even

many normal car's has temperature, gps[optional for many!] and other stuff...

The g-force sensor is interesting though