next topic »

[on:]

Greetings community!

  I am a new user and not familiar at all with Ardiuno - I've only heard of the name.

   I am looking to see if my application can be used with an Arduino board.

    Is it possible to post what my needs are and go from there?

    Thanks!
    VV5
   

[Reply #1 on:]

Welcome.
Please review the link below.
To start, look at some of the YouTube listings on Arduino to see what others have done with it.

http://arduino.cc/forum/index.php/topic,97455.0.html

[Reply #2 on:]

Welcome.
Sure, post something, let us know what you're thinking of doing.

[Reply #3 on:]

Hi, Maybe start with the http://ArduinoInfo.Info WIKI?

http://arduino-info.wikispaces.com/Arduino-What-IS-it    ...then go from there...

[Reply #4 on:]

All,

   Thanks for all of the feedback.

   I see there are a bunch of boards out there, but here is what I am looking to do with my Arduino board, and I hope we can narrow some options down.

   1.) I will be operating the board in low temperatures - Arctic cold.
   2.) I need the board to be battery operated. I know the boards need a minimum power, but keep in mind since I am operating in cold temperatures, I need to realize that batteries in cold temps are going to be reduced in capacity (by 50%), so I need to leave it operating for 2-3 days at a minimum in cold temperatures.

   3.) I will need GPS, an RS-232 port to read EM wave data from a radar, and slots for an azimuth reading for a gyro, angle readings from another encoder (that I already have - 2 wire lead).

   4.) I'm also going to need an SD-card capability to store the data I receive.

   5.) More of a question - I see ethernet boards. Are there any Ethernet/Bluetooth/Wifi combo boards available?

   It's a start, so hopefully we can come to something.

   Thanks!
    VV5

[Reply #5 on:]

If you are planning to operate below 0C, then you will likely have problems with commercial parts/boards, where the parts are only rated from oC to +70C.  Suggest you look at data sheets on as many parts as you can identify.
Atmega328P is -40C to +85C, while the NCP1117 regulator is only rated down to 0C. If you are running at low current draw from batteries, it may not heat up while regulating. Maybe use a board that can run from batteries directly instead as one option.

May need to mount the parts in an insulated box, and may even need to provide a small heat source.

[Reply #6 on:]

CrossRoads,

  Thanks for the reply. No offense, I'm a bit confused. Say temperatures weren't an issue (or we had them properly insulated where temperatures don't matter), then can the above configuration happen?

   From what I read you can put a lot of "shields" on the Arduino boards. Please correct me if I am wrong.

    Thanks!
    VV5

[Reply #7 on:]

Yes, the configuration sounds possible.

The shields stackup will depend on the pins being used.

[Reply #8 on:]

CrossRoads,

  Since there are many Arduino main boards (and I don't believe any are customizable by the factory from what I gather), which one is recommended to enable all of these inputs?

   Your advice?

   Thanks again!
    VV5