PCB have arrived fromt he states. They have allready got the usb – serial chip added, therefore all i need to do is purchase the rest of the cmponents, wjhich i have just done, i require:
2.7k resistor, low current T-1 led, 10uF and 0.1uF caps
to make up 2 boards, i got…
2.7k resistors x 2
2x ceramic capacitors
2x electrorolytic radial caps
2x yellow low current led
2x panel clips for leds
the usb socket i got was from farnell, and cost over a pound but comes with a molex style connector on it, therefore i have bought some molex 90 degree angled connector blocks to attach them to it.

i will be heading to maplins to get a box to fit these into it, so shall require a few pcb spacers to attach it to the box. im thinkin gof using plastic ones as i can cut these down easily.

the pcb header strip 2mm are still not arriving yet due to uni postage issues with payment, therefore i will try them tomorrow, i shall therefore make the rest of the board up tonight, and try to see if the drivers work.

that and my other coursework lol.

With this pcb working, we can test the board with a mac and the rest of the pcb can be nmade for the outer ball, then can be placed inside a ball, for testing.

The motor drive circuit i shall get a final copy of tomorrow from the robot football club, so shall have that ready to be made next week.

Meeting Thursday 15TH November 2007. 3.15pm dans office.

PCB amendments.

The connections to the power inputs are done so that they are soldered under the plastic, This is the same for the through hole connections to the doughterboard s, which will contain the hbridge motor controllers – from robot football.

The board size includes a 5mm border, this needs to be rounded so that it can fit inside the small ball originaly used.

The through hole connectors need to be mounted so that they are a pin extending both sides of the pcb, this is to allow connection of the light board ontop of the ball – 10×10 dot matrix display.

A NEW US BOARD NEEDS TO BE MADE as pin connections have been knocked off.

USB XBEE BOARD NOT ARRIVED. components not purchased yet as order size too small.

Shiela is not making PCB ‘s today due to Amanda being ill, therefore cannot leave the office.
Next PCB manufacturing time – Tuesday.

I have the pcb details, maybe the accelerometer can be added to the main pcb design?

PCB redesigned, to fit inside an 8cm cube, the idea being that it fill be the size of a miabot inside a hamster ball size ball, driving about.

The PCB now use an xbee module to communicate with the ouside world, with the old reciever transmitter pair connecting the outer ball, containing the hr, gsr temp and US sensors, with the inner ball, for information transmission to the drive board then to themac

the mac has a usb xbee resiever, being sent today hope=fully, to be recieved today or tomorrow, a board of 10 were bought as it was more cost effective to buy 10 half made, then source components, than it was to get 4 boards which are fully built.