Hi there!

I am building a data logging and displaing device for sailboat.

I need something like devlopment board, where I'll install Linux\Windows platform and will read data from these sensors:

- inclinometer sensor - heel angle meter
- GPS
- Barometer
- Temperature
- GSM module - send SMS positioning reports

Currently I found the solution below:

1) Take a development board like this
http://www.futurlec.com/STM32_Development_Board.shtml

2) Take SPI or I2C sensors, for example http://www.hoperf.com/sensor/barometer_sensor.htm?gclid=CKui6fuoo6gCFUKGDgodpxaLHA

3) Take SPI(I2C) to USD bridge http://www.diolan.com/order/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1

4) Take a touchscreen to mount on top of a development board.

Put everything above together and start programming =).

I'm not sure this is cost effective(or effective at all) way to develop described hardware, so I'd be happy to get answers to the questions:

- What is the most cost effective way to put all described sensors together and get data from them to PC ?

- Is there any development platform where I can mount SPI-I2C devices directly without USB bridge?

- What manufactors-retailers can you advice to puchase components?

Thanks a lot in advance!

 

Do you need to access the data on the ship, or is simple storage enough?

 

Do you need to access the data on the ship, or is simple storage enough?

Yes, I need.

That's why I mount touchscreen - I am going to build software, which will output data to it, wich charts, analysis and so on.

 

Do you want to design the thing from a scratch, or would you rather buy ready made components?
You could for example have one of those all in one pc touchscreens like this http://www.alza.cz/lenovo-ideacentre-c200-d231021.htm and then just create the peripherals to communicate through usb.
You can then just use FT2232H to read the data from the sensors over USB into your app running on the PC.

There will still be a lot of programming, but it should be easier than a making a touch screen device from a cratch.

 

Do you want to design the thing from a scratch, or would you rather buy ready made components?
You could for example have one of those all in one pc touchscreens like this http://www.alza.cz/lenovo-ideacentre-c200-d231021.htm and then just create the peripherals to communicate through usb.
You can then just use FT2232H to read the data from the sensors over USB into your app running on the PC.

There will still be a lot of programming, but it should be easier than a making a touch screen device from a cratch.

Thanks for details!

I am looking for a solution like that lot - http://cgi.ebay.com/Samsung-S3C2440...034?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19c0c18b82 , I don't know is categorised as "scratch" or not =).

Currently the most important question for me is what is the best way to attach SPI sensors:

- use USB bridge
or
- try to integrate them directly to a board with controller

 

If you try to integrate it to the board, you either have to find an SPI port to connect it to, or some other and convert the data. I don´t think you can find anything suitable inside that.
That USB chip family is fairly easy to use, enables the controller to be powered from the port, so I would go with that. You should have enough ports to connect all the SPI devices even without any switching between them.

 

If you try to integrate it to the board, you either have to find an SPI port to connect it to, or some other and convert the data. I don´t think you can find anything suitable inside that.
That USB chip family is fairly easy to use, enables the controller to be powered from the port, so I would go with that. You should have enough ports to connect all the SPI devices even without any switching between them.

Thanks,

if you have a link to some tutorial, which can be used by newbee to construct USB device basing on the FT2232H chip and a SPI controller, that would be great!

 

Everything is on the menufacturers site, ftdichip.com, here is a list of the chips. They got drivers for the ARM processor in that box, here is some example code.