Raspberry Pi

A not for profit organization producing educstional easy to program micro computers

The Raspberry pi micro computer

Designed in Cambridge and manufactured in Wales, the raspberry pi is looking to be a catalyst towards solving the world’s computing issues by educating and empowering today’s youth about programming. 

The raspberry pi foundation is a non-profit organization that spent 6 years developing their first raspberry pi. raspberry pi is a computer the size of a credit card, at a price of $25, designed to activate mainly kids into coding computers. 

According to an article by the BBC they are able to keep the costs down due to the goodwill toward the project. The software is open-source, chip manufacturers have kept their prices low, and the majority of the profits are funneled towards improving the devices and creating incentives to get children programming. Ravi Naidoo adds that 'we must prepare kids better for a more digitalized world, not just envelope them in ready-made tech. We don't want to live edited lives, we want to live creative lives.'

ROBOTEQ NAVIGATION COMPUTERS

Roboteq is offering a high-performance, and very low cost computing platform for Robot control based on the highly popular Raspberry PI computer and a smart expansion card we call RIO. The result is a compact stack of only 85 x 56 x 20mm, running Linux from SDFlash on a 700MHz ARM SoC. The RIO will connect to sensors and switches via 13 inputs that can be configured as Digital, Analog or Pulse inputs. Eight Digital outputs are provided for driving loads up to 1A each at up to 24V. The processor onboard RIO can be programmed using the MicroBasic [add link] programming language to perform logic, conditioning and other processing of the I/O.

RIO also features several communication interfaces, including an RS232 serial port for connecting to standard serial devices, a TTL serial port for connecting to Arduino and other Microcontrollers not equipped with RS232 transceiver, and a CANbus interface.

A version of RIO is available with motion sensors, including 3 axis accelerometer, 3 axis gyroscope, 3 axis magnetometer, and a fusion algorithm for creating a precise Attitude and Heading Reference System (AHRS). Added to Roboteq's extensive offering of motor controllers, the RIO-AHRS opens a world of applications in sea, land or airborne unmanned robotics vehicles applications.

ROBOTEQ RIO

RIO is an intelligent I/O expansion card to turn Raspberry PI into a powerful and inexpensive embedded computer for robotics navigation, unmanned vehicles, machine control, industrial & home automation, automotive, automated test equipment and any other applications that need interfacing to the real world.

RIO includes a 3A DC/DC converter that may be connected to a 10V to 40V DC supply, and generates the 5V needed by the PI and the RIO cards. The card features 8 Digital Outputs and 13 inputs that can be configured as digital, 0-5V analog, or as timer inputs. In the timer mode, the inputs can capture pulse width, frequency, quadrature encoder counts, or duty cycle. Most of the input pins can also be configured as PWM outputs for driving RC servos, or dimmable lights.

The card also includes a 32-bit ARM microcontroller for processing and buffering the IO, and managing the communication with the processor on the PI module. The processor can be configured to perform, on its own, a long list of conversion, capture, filtering, or conditioning on the IO so that the PI processor is relieved of these functions.

RIO comes with drivers and function library for configuring and accessing the I/O quickly and transparently. 

The card uses a 40 automotive-grade connector type MX34 (JAE). Contacts are rated up to 3A and can be fitted on AWG22-24 wires. RIO can be fitted with an AHRS module (RIO-AHRS card), including 3 axis accelerometer, 3 axis gyroscope and 3 axis magnetometer, and a fusion algorithm for precise attitude and heading measure.

The RIO card firmware can be updated in the field to take advantage of new features as they become available.

PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE

One of Roboteq's controller’s most powerful features is the ability for the user to write programs that are permanently saved into, and run from the controller’s Flash Memory. This capability is the equivalent of combining the motor controller functionality directly into the controller.

Script can be simple or elaborate, and can be used for various (complex) purposes:

MicroBasic Scripts can be written to chain motion sequences based on the status of analog/digital inputs, motor position, or other measured parameters. For example, motors can be made to move to different count values based on the status of pushbuttons and the reaching of switches on the path.

Adapt parameters at runtime - MicroBasic Scripts can read and write most of the controller’s configuration settings at runtime. For example, the Amps limit can be made to change during operation based on the measured heatsink temperature.

Create new functions - Scripting can be used for adding functions or operating modes that may be needed for a given application. For example, a script can compute the motor power by multiplying the measured Amps by the measured battery Voltage, and regularly send the result via the serial port for Telemetry purposes.

Autonomous operation - MicroBasic Scripts can be written to perform fully autonomous operations. For example the complete functionality of a line following robot can easily be written and fitted into the controller.

Scripts are written in a Basic-Like computer language. Because of its literal syntax that is very close to the every-day written English, this language is very easy to learn and simple scripts can be written in minutes. The MicroBasic scripting language also includes support for structured programming, allowing fairly sophisticated programs to be written. Several shortcuts borrowed from the C-language (++, +=, ...) are also included in the scripting language and may be optionally used to write shorter programs.

A Raspberry Pi with the SeaVax solar powered proof of concept model boat.

RASPBERRY FOUNDATION WINS INDEX AWARD 2013 

Raspberry pi won the INDEX: award for two main reasons:

1) the ability to provide kids with a tool that can help them understand computer coding and the ability to distribute computer power widely for very little money: in our globalized world, many of us are illiterates to a language, which increasingly characterizes our world and our choices. that language is computer encoding and this illiteracy means that few of us are actually able to understand, let alone write the programs that – everyday – decide what we buy online, who we are friends with on facebook, and what answers we are offered when we are googling. raspberry pi is a part of the solution of this serious illiteracy.


2) the low price of raspberry pi ensures that creativity and play can be added to children and young people’s use of computers and programming. raspberry pi is awarded as a market leader with a very open approach to sharing, which actively encourages other companies to clone what they’re doing.

WHERE WILL THE MONEY GO?

The raspberry pi foundation will use the E100,000 from winning INDEX: award 2013 to pay one year’s salary and expenses for one new full-time and one new part-time employee for the raspberry pi foundation. Both employees will work on producing original educational support material for the raspberry pi, and on repackaging permissively licensed third-party material into a standardized format. the provision of high-quality teaching resources is the key to making an impact outside the core users which are independent schools, high-achieving state schools, children of technically literate adults, and is an area where the raspberry pi foundation is only just starting to make an investment. 

A particular opportunity is rising in the UK in the coming year since a new computing curriculum is being introduced in 2014 and many UK non-specialist teachers will require careful support to deliver a high-quality experience to their students. the raspberry pi foundation have recently sponsored the creation of a first-level 'map' of the curriculum, and by the start of the 2014-2015 academic year, the two employees funded by INDEX: award will have produced detailed support material covering the majority of this map.

Eben Upton and his colleagues at the university of Cambridge's computer laboratory sparked the idea for a highly affordable and customizable mini-computer in 2006 due to the year-on-year decline of both the numbers and skill levels of students applying to study computer science. Upton explains that in contrast to the 90′s when those applying had experience within programming gained through their hobbies, a typical applicant in present day might only have minor skills within web design. 

Due to the lack of good quality applicants, which is backed by research carried out by the royal society that shows there has been a 60% decline in the number of British students achieving an a-level in computing since 2003, they were unable to fill classes and realized something needed to be done in order to solve this increasing problem. the ability to provide kids with a tool that can help them to understand computer coding and the ability to distribute computer power widely for very little money. the low price of raspberry pi's ensures that creativity and play can be added to children and young people's use of computers and programming.

Awarded biennially in Denmark, under the attendance of HRH the crown price of Denmark, the INDEX: award is the biggest design award in the world – and probably the most important. the importance of INDEX: award lies in the unique, over-arching theme of design to improve life – a concept which has established the prize as a global, inspirational design beacon. INDEX: award is split into five categories: body, home, work, play and community, representing the entire human life, inside to out. one prize worth E100,000 is presented to the winner in each of the categories.

RASPBERRY Pi - Your computer board and other electronic components should come in protective plastic packets to prevent static electricity damage. A stand with clamps and magnifying glass will help you when it comes to fiddly soldering.

ABOUT INDEX

index: design to improve life® is a Danish non-profit organization with global reach. we inspire, educate and engage in using design to improve life-skills to develop sustainable solutions to global challenges. We do this by means of the biggest design award in the world (index: award worth E500.000), world touring exhibitions, education programs, city collaborations and investment initiatives. we inspire by showing people how their personal lives and the lives of people around them can be improved by design to improve life. We do this through index: award and index: award exhibition, showcasing the positive outcomes and effects of the world’s best examples of design to improve life. We educate by using real life challenges as learning resources in schools and the talents of school as a resource in society. We educate students, teachers, educators, designers and decision makers to create sustainable solutions through a certified education curriculum, summer schools and design challenges. we engage by using top-down and bottom-up approaches to involve governments, organizations, companies and people in long-term, valuable network collaborations – ensuring economic, social and environmentally sustainable solutions. design to improve life cities and design to improve life investment are great examples of this.

The Raspberry Juice, expansion board - for simple robotics. The key is keeping it as simple as possible

CONTACTS

Press & Bloggers: press@raspberrypi.org

Forum problems:  forum@raspberrypi.org 

Liz Upton answers PR questions:  liz@raspberrypi.org

Something else to say:  info@raspberrypi.org

LAYOUT - Under development for 2017 is this giant hexapod. The steel version of the frame will be a standard platform that will be made available to developers, museums and other operators for around £1,000 pounds. That gives you a 2.7m (9' foot) frame and legs for you to makes your own bodywork and static display unit. If you'd like this bodywork in GRP add another £300. If you'd like the robot programmed to interact with an audience, we can also arrange that for you, but at more cost. So why not program yours yourself. The Raspberry Pi is an ideal micro computer to act as the brains of a DinoBot.

TECHNICAL HELP & RESOURCES

Installation guides - for the new user who needs help getting their Pi up and running

Quick-start guide

RS Components Getting Started Guide (outdated, but a good reference)

Equipment guides - information on Pi equipment and peripherals 

Pictorial buying guide - For the user waiting for their first Pi to arrive who wants to know what equipment to buy, and what it does.

Camera documentation - Setup and usage information

HELPFUL DOWNLOADS/PROGRAMS TO ENHANCE YOUR Pi EXPERIENCE

RPI.GPIO (Included by default in Raspbian) – A Python interface for working with the GPIO pins Download Program, View Documentation

WiringPi – A C/C++ Program for working with the GPIO pins Main Site, Download Instructions, View Basic Setup

git-core – A program used to download code from git-hub. Instructions and download

pi-blaster – A program to provide software emulation for addition PWMs Git-hub with examples

Helpful guides - materials which can teach you how to get the most from your Pi

The Magpi
Raspberry Pi IV Beginners
The Raspberry Pi Education Manual

Other - additional places to look for ideas on what to do with your Pi

The Project List, a great resource for deciding what to do with your Pi
Projects made with the Raspberry Pi on Instructables.

Technical documents - for the advanced user

SoC datasheets - The main chip on the Raspberry Pi

BCM2835 (SoC) Datasheet
GPIO Pad Control - Electrical tolerances and low-level control. For help on using the GPIO in a program, please check the RPI.GPIO and WiringPi links above.
ARM1176JZF-S Technical Reference

LAN9512 datasheets - the chip that provides the two USB ports and the Ethernet port

LAN9512 Data brief
LAN9512 Datasheet

Raspberry Pi Videos

ARDUINO - ARM HOLDINGS  - BEAGLEBOARD - MBED - PCBs - PICAXE - RASPBERRY PI 

LINKS

Roboteq navigation computers

Satsignal Raspberry-Pi-NTP

The marine installers rant blogspot 2013 arduino weds raspberry freeboard project

Github Rob 42 freeboard server

42 freeboard

UU Gear raspberry pi arduino solution

http://www.uugear.com/uugear-rpi-arduino-solution/

http://themarineinstallersrant.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/arduino-weds-raspberry-freeboard-project.html

https://github.com/rob42/freeboard-server

http://www.42.co.nz/freeboard/

http://www.roboteq.com/index.php/roboteq-products-and-services/navigation-computers

http://www.satsignal.eu/ntp/Raspberry-Pi-NTP.html

arduino computer (open source)

picaxe microcontroller (open source)

http://www.raspberrypi.org/

http://www.python.org/

http://www.youtube.com/user/RaspberryPiTutorials

http://fishpi.org/contact.html

http://fishpi.org/forum/

http://rockblock.rock7mobile.com/

http://www.oceanbusiness.com/

https://code.google.com/p/raspy-juice/

http://www.yellowbrick-tracking.com/

http://fishpi.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_Proof-Of-Concept_Vehicle

http://fishpi.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_Prototype

http://fishpi.org/wiki/index.php?title=Hull_Design

http://www.modelsbydesign.co.uk/

http://www.raspberrypi.org/

http://international.findmespot.com/

http://www.amsat.org/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Composite_material#Autoclave_moulding

http://www.enecomitalia.com/ENG/caravans.html

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