Progress. Hmmm. Either too much or not enough. It really depends on how you look at it.

Phase1: Randomness
aka: the toy you can’t ignore

Random numbers: V1.0 Done (and V2.0 is a direct hardware swap so that’s not a problem)

Function “menu”: V0.2 Done

PWM output: V0.1.0 Was done. Since working on the boxford I have figured out what I was doing wrong when trying to use the built in PWM module so all that has to be changed to the new, slicker, more sensible code structure, V1.0.0.

At this point I would say that I had completed the first design with no bio-feedback. Beta unit still needs to be built though. The reason it needs to be built is that I was going to use a 16F690 to control everything until I started coming across the bits i needed to do all the stuff bellow. With the added pins and on-board peripherals needed and the fact that I have successfully used the 18F4550, which has everything I need for the expanded project, in my boxford I am going to have to change to this new chip. This means porting everything written so far and building a whole new prototype, retesting all the code and writing all the bit you will read about next.

USB connectivity: Not even started. (However I have been playing with RS232 for my CNC project so that may creep in)

USB boot loader: Less advanced than connecting through USB

LCD functions: V0.8ish working

GPS functions: V0.3.1 works but V0.4.0 with indirect addressing and pointers is being silly

WiFi: Got the board and the data sheets but not written a scrap of code yet.

Accelerometer interface: Same stage as the WiFi but should be easier.

To allow all this to work together I need to write some interface stuff that will use buttons and the LCD to allow the parameters of the, yet to be written, sensory fusion algorithm to be adjusted.

Phase 2: Bio-feedback
aka: Evil delayed pleasure generation

Not a sausage has been done on this. No part sourcing, no algorithm creation, no code writing and no signal processing electronics building.

This also brings me onto another reason why the beta model has not yet been constructed; user upgradability. This unit will most probably be tested by someone not within walking distance and to prevent every new hardware change to require the unit being sent back there must be facilities in the hardware to allow both hardware and software to be upgraded by the user, either by reflashing the PIC or by simply pluggin in a new module to the expansion port.

And that’s not all!!!!

Phase 3: T’internet
aka: computer controlled fun!!

Having recently been writing lots of software (and I must say, having to relearn all the languages used since it was ssssssssssssoooooooo ling since I did any coding I had forgotten it all) I have gotten it into my wee head to learn write a [1] twitterdildonics [2] (and an explanation here) application that sends an rss feed to your serial port and with a bit of luck I can modify the spindle speed control function from my boxford project to control a vibe. I also want to do some statistical analysis of the incoming text so it responds more variedly to character and also to words. Another thing I have been learning about is web protocols and I want to build a teledildonics app or two to controll all this stuff.

So the further I go the bigger the project gets and the farther from the end I get…

Oh well

Onwards and Sideways.