REFLECTOR: New Collection and Control Hardware

[Brian Michalk]

One thing you may want to do is install a Linux with read only access to 
the card.  It will help in two ways.  First, you'll wear out the CF if 
it's read write.  This seems to be getting better all the time as CF 
technology progresses.  Second, and more important is that it can't get 
corrupted by power glitches taking down the machine.  Mount a /var and 
/tmp partitions in ramdisk so the system functions like normal.  There 
are a few tutorials on the net how to do this.  Snoop around the MP3 
modders that put these Linux machines in their cars.  Lot's of good info 
there that translates directly to our application.  I don't know how to 
do this in Windows.

I've got two computers.  The Linux machine is an industrial embedded 
board from Advantech with a healthy power supply.  The Windows machine 
is for entertainment and other miscellaneous non-critical stuff.  It's a 
1GHz EPIA board that runs about 10 watts.  It's got a ruggedized laptop 
disk drive.  For drives, I've found the best predictor of performance to 
be a warranty.  If you buy a drive with a five year warranty you'll be 
in good shape.

As far as helping out?  Well, I've got my hands full getting all of my 
stuff talking right now, but I can offer advice wherever I can.

I've also got the PC-flight systems gyro.  They do provide the serial 
protocol.  It's connected to the Linux machine where that data will be 
offered on the SMBUS or LAN.  I intend to couple that to my autopilot. 
I searched hard and long for an electric mechanical gyro with autopilot 
output, but couldn't find one I felt was reliable or one that I could 
afford.

Alex Balic wrote:
> Hey Brian-
> I have a laptop in My XLRG connected to a 7" touch screen display- wanted to
> possibly run Linux on there off of a 2GB CF card- to display engine
> parameters for my Subaru- I am no computer genius, so now just have a
> disassembled laptop that will put XP desktop up on the touch screen, running
> from HDD but probably not enough room to install anything else to go to the
> CF card- do you think you could lend a hand? Was going to use the PC flight
> systems E-mon program, but would not be adverse to anything else that can do
> the same thing.......
> 
> Alex