Industrial Automation, Robots and Unmanned Vehicles Industry Newsletter - Mar 2013

Low Cost Hobbyists FPGA Kickstarter

f you have been thinking of dipping your toe into the world of FPGAs (field-programmable gate arrays) but always thought they were too expensive for hobbyist then you might want to check out the 'Mojo FPGA' on Kickstarter.

The Mojo is designed to make digital design easy and cost effective for anyone who is just getting started. FPGAs do not retain their configuration when the power is lost, so they must be reconfigured every time the board is turned on. Typically, a PROM is used to load the configuration file (also known as bit file) into the FPGA automatically. The problem with that is you generally need a fairly expensive programmer to program the PROMs. The Mojo features a basic serial port (similar to an Arduino) that can be used to program a new bit file into on-board flash memory. When the board is powered on, a microcontroller reads the flash memory and configures the FPGA automatically. All that is required is a low-cost USB to serial converter.

The original Kickstarter goal was 7,000 but they blew through that goal and are currently at 70,000. If you pledge $65 dollars you get a fully assembled board.

MMP DC Gearmotors - Robust, Reliable & Lightning-Fast Delivery!

MMP,Inc. a Minnesota USA Corporation offers a wide variety of "Robust & Reliable" Planetary and Right Angled DC Gearmotors, Motor Speed Controls, Servo Amplifiers, DC Linear Actuators, and AC to DC 320W or 450W Power Supplies, most of which are available from Stock. Contact us with your requirements and we'll promptly provide a quote. Gearmotors ranging from 42mm diameter, up to 105mm diameter (up to 2 HP) can often be built from Stock Materials and shipped within 24 Hours. Quotes for OEM Quantities readily available. For rapid response Email sales@midwestmotion.com or call 952-955-2626 8AM to 5 PM CDT M-F.

Learn More About MIDWEST MOTION PRODUCTS, INC.

Universal Robots USA

Universal Robots is an innovative and globally successful Danish manufacturer of industrial robots. Since the first UR robot entered the market in 2009, the company has seen substantial growth and is now in global distribution through more than 100 partners spanning over 40 countries.

RoboticsTomorrow is a community website where those of you who work in the Robotics Industry are invited to contribute articles, news and product information for your peers to read and discover. Our philosophy is to create an outlet where the industry can report on itself.

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Bob Hetherington bobh@roboticstomorrow.com

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