ATmega16 MCU powers Oktopod dev platform

Oktopod Studio is an open source development platform for mechatronics, robotics and automation.

The platform – which is powered by Atmel’s ATmega16 micrcontroller (MCU) – allows Makers to more easily create low voltage electronic devices, models and home applications.

“We designed Oktopod Studio to be as user friendly as possible, [as it] features plug-and-play analog outputs, digital inputs, DC and Servo motor drivers [as well as a] graphical user interface for PC and Andriod devices,” an Oktopod rep explained.

“You don’t need to be a programmer or an electronic expert to use Oktopod Studio and make your own robotic projects.”

The Oktopod platform consists of two primary components linked via Bluetooth or USB:

• Hardware – Oktopod Board
• Software – Oktopod Control App

The Oktopod Board offers Makers a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC), along with plug and play inputs and outputs for connecting a wide range of low voltage electronic devices, including LED lights, DC/servo motors, buzzers, electromagnets, switches, as well as photo-, thermo- and magnetic sensors.

Aside from Atmel’s ATmega16 MCU, key hardware specs include:

• 

8x Analog output (up to 3A)
• 2x DC motor driver
• 3x Servo motor driver
• 4x Digital inputs
• USB/Bluetooth communication module
• Power supply input 6-12 V (reverse polarity protected), on-board 3A fuse

In terms of software, the Oktopod Control app (PC and Android) allows Makers to assume manual control of the hardware via sliders and buttons.

Meanwhile, the board is programmed by creating a so-called “wishList” of output operations using an intuitive virtual dashboard.

Interested in learning more about the ATmega16-powered Oktopod? You can check out the project’s official page here.

Sensinode showcases Atmel-powered intelligent lighting control @ SensorsExpo 2013

Sensinode is currently showcasing its Lego Street Lighting demo in the IPSO Alliance IoT Pavilion (Booth #1021) at the Sensors Expo and Conference 2013 in Rosemont, Illinois.

The demo highlights how intelligent lighting control can be comprehensively deployed using 6LoWPAN technology over 802.15.4 devices, along with embedded Web services via CoAP and eDTLS security for Web-based lighting application development.

The demo is powered by Sensinode’s NanoServices, an end-to-end solution that brings embedded Web services to devices such as Atmel’s ATmega256RFR2, which is used for controlling the street and building lights.

“Most existing M2M lighting solutions are based on proprietary protocols that fall short on critical design criteria such as robustness, security, future-proofing and scalability,” a Sensinode rep explained.

“[However, our] end-to-end system solution for lighting is entirely based on IETF standards and delivers a number of benefits including rapid application development, robustness and scalability, as well as end-to-end security.”

Additional information about the pairing of Atmel’s MCUs with Sensinode software can be found here.