[Yaaarc] Gumstix (cheap embedded Linux) based robot projects

[Keith Mc. (Route-To YAR)]

A ran across a couple of very interesting Linux based robot 
projects.  They're based on the Gumstix, a $99 "stick of gum" 
sized processor board, with a Linux kernal flashed onto it:

Robot Micro Helicopter:
http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=164900854&tid=5978

"Swarm Bot" - a 7" diameter diff drive "Janbot" scale tabletop bot,
with CMUCam2 tilt-only vision, and networked to each other via bluetooth:
http://cs.gmu.edu/~eclab/projects/robots/flockbots/pmwiki.php
They're suggesting the possibility of using this architecture
to create a Beowolf array out of the individual robots in the 
swarm, for higher level "thought" and planning.

Gumstix site:  
   http://www.gumstix.com
   http://www.gumstix.com/products.html

There's also a new "Robostix" board, from Gumstix...
InformationWeek wrote:
> To extend its robotics reach, Gumstix on June 24 is planning to 
> launch a $49 companion expansion board called "Robostix," which is 
> intended to make it easier to control robotics peripherals. "It's a 
> series of interfaces, control pads, and servo controls for running 
> a robotics device," said Don Anderson, vice president of marketing 
> at Gumstix.

See the above Infoweek article for more information.  

IMO it's looking like it could become an interesting robotics 
platform core for the club's Linux enthusiasts.

Comments?

- Keith Mc.