• onboard depth mapping for the SVS (stereo vision system) - we have a port in the works of Bob Mottram's Sentience stereo vision code to the SRV-1 Blackfin processors. this is a feature-based mapping approach that computes distances to various object features in the overlapping stereo cameras fields of view. the project is progressing nicely, and we hope to make a firmware update with this capability available soon.
  
  
• GPS + compass + tilt + 8-channel A/D board - we have working prototypes of the new version with uBlox5 gps and new 3-axis Honeywell compass, with I2C interfaces to all onboard devices. once we have nailed down a production schedule for these modules, details will be posted. production prototype photos here (final pcb will be red):
  
  
  
  
  
  
• optical flow - we have integrated some optical flow functions into the core SRV-1 firmware, and just need to create a graphical display of results and some functions in picoC to access the vector data. this should emerge in a few weeks in a firmware release.
  
  
• autorun function for picoC - we have a tested version of code which enables the SRV-1 to launch directly into a picoC script from flash storage on system startup, and just need to generate a release version of firmware that includes this feature.
  
  
• ruggedized robot base - Inertia Labs has developed several prototypes of larger SRV-1 robot bases with 4WD, planetary gearhead motors, shaft encoders, larger battery, etc. we don't have a production schedule or pricing yet, but these new bases look GREAT, and we look forward to getting them into production. here's a photo of the latest prototype with SVS and pan/tilt head:
  
  

Posted Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:53 | HTML Link | see additional stories ...