I was doing some research on co-processors for our robot this year. We plan to have a pretty sweet point-based curve drive system (finally!) We have not run into any problem yet with the RC (currently we work in mili-everythings and use a trig lookup table). We try to plan ahead, so now I am looking at the different ways that we can integrate coprocessors with the IFI RC.
Many people on CD seem to use the Gumstix board. I looked at it, considered it, and said "woah, $200 for 400MHz!?
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I then started searching for deals on Micro-ITX boards (fanless ones!) I came across this:
http://www.intel.com/products/mother...GLY2/index.htm
This particular model is out of stock... EVERYWHERE.. However, you can buy a seperate mobo and cpu (1.6ghz) for around $30 more.
It's a 1.2GHz Fanless, Low Powered (35W cpu) Mini-ITX mobo/cpu combo with usb, serial, networking, the works.. Seems to run off of 12Vdc (i tried to decipher the spec PDF.) It really looks cool.. Plug in a Compact-Flash to ATA adapter.. Get $11 of ram from newegg... And you have a motionless coproc for under $100..!
However, if we decide that we need a co-proc like this, what are the caveats? Why do people use gumstix when this looks so much better/cheaper? Also, to those with experience with embedded computers, what operating system should we use? I am greatly bias towards linux/unix, but which distro would give me the fastest boot times and the least amount of overhead?