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Originally Posted by mjcoss
I'm a bit concerned about the ability to manufacture in quantity a motor controller without getting a someone with deep pockets to cover the losses/expenses. Maybe sparkfun might be interested in such a project. They could in theory resell to other hobbyist.
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To a certain extent I can fund this effort. I can't afford to buy everyone development kits. I don't want to be responsible for figuring out how to direct resources to developers like that. I'm sure SparkFun would be willing to provide PCBs for a project for a low cost when they run batches. However the issue becomes if we have the time to stockpile based on their production time tables (not our time tables).
I think after we sell 50 to 100 which I can finance we'll be in a much stronger position to justify further expense. I can bank roll this that far. Then we can shop it around like LinxuBoy is doing with his CAN terminators and see who wants to help. It's a hard sell right now. Some people will be skeptical of the ability of anyone to make the project. Some people are in serious financial trouble. Some people will place terms on this project that might not fit a project of this nature.
SparkFun or other sources are certainly welcome to take from the project and manufacture so far as I'm concerned as long as they give credit where it's due.
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I really like the module design, and as an embedded software guy would be more than willing to help on a ROTS/Firmware development project. But I suspect that the timeframe would be at least 12 - 18 months out.
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I have my concerns as well about making this happen from start to finish this year. From the research I've done there's several hundred Jaguars still floating in the supply chain that people can buy. I should think that would be sufficient for some teams to get what they need for new robots if they reuse some of their older controls (it's not like they'll get new features or designs anyway).
I'm okay with funding this well into next year and further if it gets to production. I'd rather ship a really well designed product than something we slammed together just to cross the finish line. If somehow FIRST finds a supply source of the Jaguar in the meantime, good for them it just takes more pressure off this project (I'll still fund it).