SparkFun Forums

[tswa]

Please recommend an embedded platform.

Building a battery powered serial datalogger. It will be used to collect and time stamp serial data and later connect to PC via USB (or removable flash) to dump.

Needs:
1 USB port (device mode)
1 asynch serial port (RS232 levels) 9600 baud
Real Time Clock
C or similar dev tools
non volatile storage (flash or EE)
generally in stock

Nice to have:
removable Flash memory support (USB or SD)
USB host mode
low height profile
DC-DC converter for 2AA NiMH power
200 hr battery life (avg 1 logged record per hour)
Industrial temperature range
extensive code library

Wishlist:
Optional Ethernet, WiFi, Xbee on other versions of the hardware platform


Recommendations? Stamp? Arduino? Other?

Thanks,
pb

[busonerd]

I built almost exactly this for a client using the LPC2148 ARM processor. The bits it didn't have - RTC Clock, are easily added by adding a watch crystal + enabling the peripheral.

It used a microsd card for storage and was < 5mm thick. It would probably meet 200hour battery life with careful programming.

I can't provide that design because it was a work-for-hire, but it was pretty simple and didn't take too much effort. I'd encourage you to check out something based on the LPC2148, or its more modern brethren.

--David Carne

[leon_heller]

One of these seems to have most of what you want:

http://shop.ngxtechnologies.com/product ... ucts_id=28

They are very cheap. I reviewed it for the LPC2000 Group and was very impressed with it.

Leon

[SpinDrah]

Please recommend an embedded platform.

Recommendations? Stamp? Arduino? Other?

Thanks,
pb

just don't go with the stamp, it is a super easy chip to use but as soon as you get over that and need it to do something with it, you will realize how worthless it is.

[TheDirty]

If you really want low power an MSP430 with an FTDI chip for the USB access, but with 1 log event per hour for only 200 hours, I can't see that it's needed. An LPC2xxx seems to be overkill, unless you are implementing full FAT access on the SD card.

EDIT: Just read the 'wish list'. It's not overkill if you want to implement any of those things.

[rockom]

msp430!

[joshartman]

I would look at the following:

http://www.acmesystems.it/

It is not Arduino etc, but this is real easy to work with.

[Pyrofer]

I just heard about the mbed device at mbed.org
Its pretty darn cool, take a look.

[theatrus]

Battery power is best served by MSP430, or maybe an XMEGA.

[tswa]

Many thanks for all the replies.

That Blueboard looks like an incredible deal for around $40 for all it does.

mbed.org looks nice too once it is in production.

Agreed on the STAMP, most of the time I revert to a PIC program to finish a project I started with a STAMP.

I failed to mention that I do need to find one that has a quick prototype board already built with all those features so I can get the first few units into a pilot.

LPC2148 and MSP430 do look like the things for the job and have the eval boards available. If you'll forgive a follow on question, what tool chain do you recommend for those two micros? Are there any Arduino style libraries out there for a quick proto?

Thanks again,
pb

[leon_heller]

I use Rowley CrossWorks for both ARM and MSP430 development. It's excellent.

Leon

[TheDirty]

I use Crossworks for ARM and the free 16k limited Code Composer for MSP430, but will likely get a Crossworks license for that as well some time. TI is having some serious supply chain issues right now, though.

I don't know of any Arduino style open source wrappers for LPC2xxx. There are a few RTOS's which might somewhat qualify, though.