live input/output to/from application

[MarkH]

Ok, to start think of the loader included with EasyC, and the 'Online Code' feature.

If you upload their online code to the bot, can you make your own application to interface it? I discovered if you install iPodLinux on your iPod, you can write C programs that interface the iPod's serial port, so I thought I could have an ipod-controlled robot.

Anybody else ever try something similar? I really don't know anything about it, just had the idea...

-Mark H.

[lemoneasy]

It is possible to have an ipod controlled bot, yes, but ipodlinux is buggy, especially the end user c program compiling. So yes, its possible, but:

Inefficient, much faster chips to control the robot that are cheaper.
2 gigs + storage? Complete overkill.
Price, you could legally do it with a 1 gig nano or an older version, but as I said, ipod chips are not that fast in music only models. The video would work nicely, but price is too high.

It would be one of the coolest looking co-processors ever though, if you pulled it off.

Edit: If your really committed to this though, try buying an ipod connector, tear it apart so you can wire it up to a volt meter and run a program that changes one of the pins on the serial port to HIGH (1) and if you get a voltage change, then this is possible. I doubt though that ipodlinux would properly support writing to a serial port.

[Ben Englert]

I was not aware that the iPod had a serial port - is that how it interfaces with the accessories?

I thought it used a USB host controller over the dock connector.

[Rickertsen2]

After having been down the coprocessor route, i have concluded that they are unnecessary unless you are doing something *super* special. The RC is more powerful than most think. I think coprocs are cool but do not add alot of functionality you did not already have. With a coproc however, you have more stuff to go wrong and more things that you will have to futz with and waste your time.

Originally Posted by Ben Englert

I was not aware that the iPod had a serial port - is that how it interfaces with the accessories?

I thought it used a USB host controller over the dock connector.

Modern ipods have a serial port, a usb port(not a host port), and a firewire port on the dock connector.

There is also serial data through the headphone jack.