concurrency.cc
Parallel programming for makers and artists
Hardware supported by occam-π
As it turns out, occam-π (and the Plumbing library) work on many different platforms: desktop-class systems running Windows, Mac, and Linux, as well as small platforms like the Arduino and (soon) the LEGO Mindstorms RCX/NXT. In addition to software, our group develops open hardware to better support our explorations of concurrent and parallel programming on small devices.
We have two new hardware designs: the c.cc board and the Cardboarduino. A summary of each is provided below.
The c.cc board
We have, under the leadership of Omer Kilic, developed a new Freeduino variant (details). This design was developed for several reasons:
- [ Cost Control ] It is a surface-mount design, and with our own design we can order in bulk and, ultimately, evolve and extend the design to support future research projects.
- [ Parallelism ] The c.cc board supports up to four LEDs (which can be enabled or disabled with solder jumpers) allowing us to immediately parallel programming in educational contexts without any additional circuitry.
- [ LiPoly for Power ] We replaced the barrel-jack connector common on most Arduinos with an adapter compatible with many LiPoly battery packs.
- [ Step-up Power Supply] The c.cc board can be run on a single AA battery. This cuts costs and shrinks designs.
- [ Mini-USB] The board uses a mini-USB connector for talking to the computer you are programming it from, as opposed to a full-size USB B connector.
The Cardboarduino
This is Matt's first-ever hardware design (detail. It is a low-fidelity AVR design developed originally for use with first-year undergraduates at Allegheny College as part of the linked course FS102: Technology and Activism and FS102: Art and Activism.
