ExpEYES is an open source hardware/software learning initiative from the PHOENIX project of Inter-University Accelerator Centre, New Delhi, India. It is a framework for developing science experiments, demonstrations and projects and learning science and engineering by exploration.
The expEYES hardware, based on an Atmega32 clocked at 8 MHz and interfaced to the PC via an FT232RL, is a versatile tool for control and signal measurement, powered conveniently by USB. Unlike a standard Arduino, it offers more complexity, featuring several op amps and various components on the development board. With 32 I/O terminals, it can measure and control signals within the 5V TTL range, functioning as a signal generator, frequency counter, and low-frequency oscilloscope. A user manual provides hướng dẫn từ Casino Truc Tuyen Online for conducting about 50 different experiments, ensuring that users can maximize its capabilities in real-time measurements. Its impressive precision allows it to measure analog voltages with a 0.025% resolution and time intervals within a single microsecond, making it a valuable tool for data analysis and experimentation.
This project is based on free and open source software, mostly written in the Python programming language. The hardware schematic is also open. (Note: the schematic lists U2 as an Atmega16; however, the core MCU program, eyes.c, is set to run on the Atmega32.) The expEYES PC software is available as a Debian package for Ubuntu or Debian. On any other Linux system download expeyes.tgz, untar it and see the README.TXT. Don’t have a Linux box? ExpEYES is also included in the Phoenix Live CD distro.
While it’s not exactly the next Arduino, this project has potential in that it uses open source tools to teach students about programming and electronic principles, employing standard means such as C and Python programming.
That schematic sure shows a lot of stuff. Had anyone found a “block diagram” that sumarrizes what the pieces are supposed to be doing? This looks more like a low-cost electronics test instrument (scope/signal generator/power/etc) with experiments and SW, than a platform aimed at SW development…
I’ve always wondered just how “open source” a HW device is if the only hardware information is a printable schematic and a statement of openness…
Please have a look at
http://www.iuac.res.in/~elab/phoenix/vendor.html
The same policy of openness will be followed for expEYES also.
Ajith
IMO this is good initiative, and seems like that the current documentation is targeted at the “users”, not developers. There is a schematics, and another PDF with experiments.
I would guess lots of universities have their own uC based develop/experiment platform, but almost zero public documentation exists in english. Apparently this is and Indian university project, so they definitely had to put some effort into an publishing it in english…
I know that the two biggest universities with EE faculties in Budapest have their own ATMega128 based boards, but documentation is available mostly in hungarian, and thru intranet sites. Also, i think all documentation, sch/pcb, source code is copyright.
“measuring analog voltages with 0.025% resolution” if kind of strange way of saying 12bit resolution :P
May have a look at
http://www.iuac.res.in/~elab/phoenix/docs/index.html
the documentation of the previous unit.
ExpEYES will have similar ones. IUAC, http://www.iuac.res.in/indexhighres.html
is a particle accelerator lab and this project is not a fultime activity.
Ajith
WestfW, I think you are exactly right. This is the hardware component of an electrical engineering lab course. It seems not intended for SW or HW developers, just as a training tool for basic circuit exercises.
I do not know where to place it exactly. What I tried was to combine the power of uC to do real time measurements (coding in C) and the simplicity of Python for data analysis and graphics. The focus was on getting the best accuracy and performance at low cost and maximum number of experiments. The ultimate goal is to enable every science/engineering student to have a lab at home.
The software developers may find it interesting if they have a look at the architecture. The library eyes.py gives a set of functions to do many things. The GUI code I wrote are all just a quick job. Somebody may be able to do a much better CRO using the same library.
ajith
The details of hardware and the software are given at
http://expeyes.in/design-of-expeyes
along with the C code running on the uC and the Python library communicating to it. The main objective is to develop science experiments, for those who want to play with the micro controller, have a look at
http://expeyes.in/micro-controllers-for-hobby-projects-and-education
Website is not complete and the shematics, PCB files etc. to be uploaded
Ajith
Hello Ajith,
I think your EXPeyes is a really interesting product and initiative. I think that you can try to allow the use of ohter DAQ such as usbdux or labjack which have the objective to provide affordable DAQ devices. USBDUX choose to embrasse the comedi Driver, which is the universal Linux DAQ devices lib when labjack create python interface such as what you’ve done.
I already write some very little python comedi example and in my previous work do the same for LabJack. I think what it is very annoying is to rewrite the program each time you change the device, may be creating an abstraction layer could be great and shows that ther is no needs to pay 1000€ to measure signal or to be a god of electronic
check out the official exPEYES facebook page!!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/expEYES/409528542391877