Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Robot Main Computer info


This is one of the first Mini-ITX boards that I have found made with Bay Trail cpu. It is the Intel Quad-Core Celeron Processor J1900 (Bay Trail) and it looks pretty interesting. For starters the boards embedded processor comes with a passive CPU cooler. Wanting a fanless on the robot. This can be done since the Intel Celeron Processor J1900 that runs up to 2.41GHz has a max TDP of just 10 Watts!

If you look a little closer you’ll notice that a 24-pin ATX power connector is missing from the board. That is because ASRock designed this board to fit in very compact Mini-ITX cases and ditched the traditional power supply and put a DC-in power jack on the rear I/O panel! Since this board runs on DC power it could also be useful to those wanting to build a PC for a car or anything else running on DC.Like a Robot....

ASRock Q1900DC-ITX Mini-ITX Motherboard Features:

  • Intel Quad-Core Celeron Processor J1900 + Mini-ITX Motherboard
  • All Solid Capacitor design
  • Supports DDR3/DDR3L 1333 memory, 2 SO-DIMM slots
  • 1 PCIe 2.0 x1, 1 mini-PCIe
  • Graphics Output Options : D-Sub, DVI-D, HDMI
  • Built-in Intel 7th generation (Gen 7) graphics, DirectX 11.0, Pixel Shader 5.0
  • 7.1 CH HD Audio with Content Protection (Realtek ALC892 Audio Codec)
  • 2 SATA3, 2 SATA2, 4 USB 3.0 (2 Front, 2 Rear), 4 USB 2.0 (2 Front, 2 Rear)
  • 1 x Print Port Header, 1 x COM Port Header, 1 x DC-In Jack (Compatible with the 9~19V power adapter)
  • Supports A-Tuning, XFast LAN, XFast RAM, USB Key



Monday, January 26, 2015

Robot update


Ok been awhile but i been busy with real work and family. I wish I had more time to work on my robot. But anyway I did get some time this weekend. The picture above is of the main brain on the left. and of the base on the right. The base firmware is working. The main computer is working and has ROS (Robot Operating System) Hydro. Note the computer has a fan right now but it is not needed. 

Main Computer 


  • ASRock Q1900DC-ITX Intel Celeron
  • 8GB RAM
  • 128GB Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

Base controller


  • Arduino Mega2560
  • Pololu VNH5019 dual motor controller shield
  • Robogaia Mega Encoder shield 

Right now every looks good. Having a problem with one motor. Plan is to get Ping sonar and Sharp infrared sensors added to the base controller next.