This pages lists some of our development activities that may (or may not) result in useful products or technology .
Blueberry Research:
dIDEAS has become involved in the development of novel AI/vision based
sorting systems for agricultural products. Our focus is on
blueberries but the system will work with small fruit and coffee
beans. In 2001 we were awarded a USDA SBIR grant to research and
develop a prototype. We gave a talk and presentation at
the 2001 Southeastern Growers Conference that discusses the problem
and our proposed solution.
A presentation
by Dr. Rohrbach at the 6th International Symposium on Fruit, Nut, and
Vegetable Production Engineering.
Our Open Source Projects
dIDEAS has a few software projects that may be of use to others.
TANG274X
Source code and
executable to convert Tango DOS PCB Gerber and apertures to
RS274X. A BAT script is used to call the converter for each of the
common Gerber file extensions. The RS274X files have been
successfully verified with both GraphicCode
GC-Prevue and at FreeDFM
. [March 31] several good PCBs have been fabricated with tang274x's output.
The semi-industrious could modify the tang274x program to read other
non 274x CAD tools ((Protel DOS, easytrax, etc.) - or they could
write a simple utility to convert their program's aperture output
into a tango aperture file!
Here is the online working directory for browsing.
MP3CAT
Source code for a Linux / DOS based utility that concatenates MP3 files and processing ID3 Tags.
airo.o
Before the WAP11 - we used the Linux Router Project to implement a cross town 802.11b bridge. Here are some published files.
R&D and Current Projects
This section lists some of recent R&D efforts and projects that don't have an associated product.
High Voltage Piezo Driver
A 3 sq inch module that integrates a MCU controlled 5 to 200+
volt booster, several 1nS current pulse generators, a 200V piezo
element driver, and strain gauge amp circuit. The piezo can be operated open
loop, or closed loop to achieve a desired strain.
Embedded Compact Flash
We're developing hardware, drivers, and FAT file system IP to
interface with compact flash and IDE devices in embedded systems. The
first application is a special purpose digital video and audio
recorder.
Telephone Ring Filter/Switch
The purpose of this unit is to automatically suppress telephone rings
for caller that you don't want to hear. The ring filter uses time of
day, caller ID, and the distinctive ring pattern to decide if the
local telephone should ring. Also permits more than one answering
machine to work constructively on the same line. This is an amazingly
useful gadget for roommates that share a phone line - or those that
just want to stop those annoying calls without missing the ones they
want! We just need to solve the user interface problem.
Bright Spokes
A fun project to install a linear array of LEDs at several locations
on a bicycle rim. As the wheel rotates specific LEDs are flashed at
specified angles. When the wheel is spinning, the effect is the
illusion of a stable full color image. Great for advertising - be it
for products, self expression, or street activism. First photos : 1
2
Last modified: 02/20/2003 CEB