FEZ

At the end of last year, I had published that Microsoft Research was working on a prototype electronic platform running on NETMF named Gadgeteer. Well, it now seems that it has moved out of the research phase to “commercialize” this platform: Microsoft .NET Gadgeteer.

GHI Electronics has released the first Gadgeteer kit named GHI FEZ Spider Starter Kit. This kit allows you to code your own electronic module using your favorite language (and I am talking about C# ;) ) without knowing the basics of electronics. In fact, it is a hardware abstraction to allow budding hobbyists to start without learning how to solder or connect various electronic components.

I finally received my Fez Panda II, running on NETMF of course, from Ghi Electronics after spending a gift certificate I had won on TinyClr.com!

I also ordered a 128x64 pixel backlit LCD screen, connected here via my Fez Panda II:

Well, I’m going back to play with my toys.

Happy coding!

While looking at prototyping tools for my Fez Domino, I came across Fritzing, a software that allows you to easily diagram your electrical circuit! Here is a summary:

• Open source, so free
• A community of enthusiasts
• Dozens and dozens of components, and the community continues to increase the available quantity
• A shop for manufacturing your PCBs. (Coming soon)
• Multiplatform
• Multilingual
• A really great visual, both of the software and the circuits!

In a previous post, I mentioned that I had acquired a FEZ Domino. I then started the project of building a robotic platform from it and improving it over time. So here is the beginning of The Machine.

Components

I bought a few components from RobotShop to start the construction of The Machine:

• 4WD Arduino Development Platform from DFRobot. It includes 4 motors (4WD).
• The 2A Motor Controller Shield for Arduino from DFRobot. With 2 outputs for the motors.
• Some hardware pieces.
• Some wires.

I also used a Logitech Dual Action USB game controller to control the robot. The Fez Domino supports joysticks, keyboards, and mice, so no driver needed.

After a few weeks of waiting, I received my Fez Domino ordered via RobotShop!

This microcontroller running on the .Net Micro Framework (NETMF) is designed in the same format as the Arduino, allowing the use of its “shields”.

While waiting to play with it and give you my feedback, you can check out the following sites:

• TinyCLR.com: Community around Fez and GHI Electronics products (managed by the manufacturer GHI Electronics)
• Fezzer.com: Drivers and mini-applications developed by the community
• microframeworkprojects.com: Contains projects/documentation created by the community.