Hardware

Personal Platform

The AsTeRICS Personal Platform is a mobile computing system with dedicated extensions for AT interfaces. It could be considered as a mobile Mini-PC with Windows Embedded Standard-7 operating system, which has additional capabilities for sensor- and actuator connections and an integrated OLED Display with touchscreen to select desired models. The Personal Platform core module provides 3 connectors for digital switches, 2 analogue input connectors, 2 control digital output connectors, 6 USB ports, Ethernet/LAN, WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0, a DVI connector and Analogue Audio (in/out).

A single board computer with Intel Atom CPU is the core computing module in the Personal Platform. The CPU runs at 1,6 GHz, the on-board RAM is 2GB. A built-in SSD provides 64GB of memory for operating system, drivers and the AsTeRICS software. The Personal Platform contains an internal backup battery which allows to run the platform from 0.5 up to 2 hours depending on the peripherals connected and the running configuration complexity.

Certain types of sensors and actuators can be directly interfaced to Personal Platform (without an additional expansion module):

• 3 x Digital Input

to connect digital switch type sensors, for example standard AT input switches
3.5 mm mono Jack connector
represented in the ARE by the “PlatformDigitalIn” sensor plugin

2 x Analogue Input

to connect analogue sensors like a strain gauge or pressure sensor
universal voltage or resistive input
voltage input range 0 – 5 V
Resistive input range 10 Ohm - 1.5 MOhm
2.5 mm stereo Jacks connectors
represented in the ARE by the “PlatformAnalogIn” sensor plugin

• 2 x Digital Outputs

to control external loads or appliances
Open Collector, approx. 500 mA current limit
4-pin connector with additional 5V power supply
represented in the ARE by the “PlatformDigitalOut” actuator plugin

• 6x USB 2.0 HiSpeed, Ethernet/LAN, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.0

to connect various AT devices via these standard interfaces

• Analogue Audio Input and Output

internal speaker and microphone with option to connect external ones
for voice control and speech synthesized output

CIM Container

The Personal Platform core module can be extended with an attachable container for Communication Interface Modules. The CIM container features 3 slots for desired CIM Modules. This makes it possible to use the Personal Platform in two variants:

Light Personal Platform variant without the expansion slots as a small compact option which is sufficient for many use cases
Full Personal Platform variant with the expansion slots for additional input/output capabilities

The connection of the CIM expansion container is accomplished via 3 standard “Type-A” USB ports at the side of the CIM container and the Personal Platform respectively (this occupies 3 of the 6 free USB ports of the platform). The mechanical connection is mechanically stable due to 4 screws.

The CIM Container serves also as a compact box for CIM modules with AsTeRICS software running on a standard PC or a netbook.

GPI CIM (or DigitalIn CIM)

• 6 x Digital Input

to connect digital switch type sensors, for example standard AT input switches
3.5 mm mono Jack connector
represented in the ARE by the “DigitalIn” sensor plugin

GPO CIM (or DigitalOut CIM)

The DigitalIn Communication Interface Module serves for further expansion of the Personal Platform with additional digital input or can be used as a stand-alone unit connected to a PC via USB interface. In case it is connected to a standard PC, the output current is limited by the host USB port.

• 5 x Digital Output

to control external loads or appliances
3 x 4-pin connector with Open Collector, approx. 500 mA current limit and additional 5V and 12V power supply
2x 3-pin connector with NC/NO relay output, 1A/50V
represented in the ARE by the “DigitalOut” actuator plugin

ADC CIM (or AnalogIn CIM)

The AnalogIn Communication Interface Module serves for further expansion of the Personal Platform with additional digital input or can be used as a stand-alone unit connected to a PC via USB interface. The resistive- and voltage-type sensors can be connected.

• 2 x Analogue Input

to connect analogue sensors like a strain gauge or pressure sensor
universal voltage or resistive input
voltage input range 0 – 5 V
resistive input range 10 Ohm - 1.5 MOhm
2.5 mm stereo Jacks connectors
represented in the ARE by the “AnalogIn” sensor plugin

Dummy USB CIM

The Dummy USB CIM has no special functionality. In case not all slots in the CIM Container are used, this module can be used to fill in the gap and additionally to route the unused USB interface outside the container for further expansion.

Universal HID Actuator

The Universal HID Actuator module is a USB dongle which acts as a mouse-, keyboard- and joystick-device on a remote system. Thus, no driver software is needed on Mac/Linux or Windows computers to allow for a control of these standard input devices. The control information (for example x/y mouse cursor position and clicking commands) are sent from the ARE (running on the Personal Platform or on a Laptop/Netbook computer) to the HID actuator dongle via a Bluetooth wireless connection or via a USB cable.

The HID Actuator is of special interest for gaming because it allows to completely replace a PS3 “sixaxis” controller for the PlayStation 3 gaming console. Thus, dedicated system models can be generated to use desired sensors to control PS3 games via the HID actuator.

The following figure shows the connection of the HID actuator to the remote (“host”) system:

3D Accelerometer Sensor

The 3D Accelerometer Sensor can be used for motion and tilt detection. A miniature box with flexible wristlet allows attaching the sensor to a body part. The sensor is connected to the AsTeRICS system via 1.5m USB A-type cable.

Product codes:

Please use the following product codes for ordering:

Core:	Personal Platform
	CIM container
CIMs:	GPI-CIM USB
	GPO-CIM USB
	ADC-CIM USB
	GPI-CIM ZigBee
	Dummy USB - CIM
	Enobio CIM
Peripherals:	USB Accelerometer
	HID Actuator