Technology News

High-Precision Attitude and Heading Reference System (AHRS) now Under $150
Yost Engineering Announces New Line of 3-Space Sensor Units
June 29, 2010

The YEI 3-Space Sensor family provides a reliable, high-accuracy, low-cost, small-size solution to movement and orientation challenges.  The YEI 3-Space Sensor utilizes on-board processing and filtering algorithms to provide exceptionally accurate attitude and heading information based on the three-axis  accelerometer, three-axis gyroscope, and three-axis compass.  Orientation can be returned in absolute terms or relative to a designated reference position.  The proprietary multi-reference vector mode increases accuracy and greatly reduces and compensates for sensor error.  The YEI 3-Space Sensor system also utilizes a dynamic sensor confidence algorithm that ensures optimal accuracy and precision across a wide range of operating conditions.

The YEI 3-Space Sensor USB units are compact in size, and have driver options allowing them to be used as a USB joystick or mouse, making them excellent options for PC controllers.  The USB driver also incorporates the use of a virtual COM port allowing quick and easy integration in PC applications.  The RS232 interface allows easy implementation in embedded applications.  The unit also includes an RGB LED and two buttons to enhance their use in interactive or controller applications.

The YEI 3-Space Sensor USB units go on public sale in August 2010 at a single-unit cost of  $145 with USB and RS232 communication protocols.  Additional models will be available in Fall and Winter 2010, including surface-mount modules, strap-down embedded modules, wireless/battery versions, and data-logging versions.  For more information, visit www.3SpaceSensor.com.

Volume pricing inquiries may be directed to sales@YostEngineering.com.

ServoCenter Sequencer / SC-BASIC Language Interpreter Released
October 15, 2009

SC-BASIC is a sequencer / BASIC interpreter that allows ServoCenter 4.1 boards to be programmed to perform various tasks via the use of a simple tokenized BASIC-like scripting language.  This feature can be used to implement customer-specific logic, I/O, and servo control tasks without the need for a PC or other external command device.

The use of a fully functional scripting language allows the sequencer to perform complex logical and control tasks that can run independently on the SC4.1 board itself.  The sequencer programs are stored on the SC4.1 board in a non-volatile EEPROM memory that retains the program even when the unit is reset or powered off.  The loaded sequencer program can be started remotely via the "Start Sequencer" command and supports the passing of a parameter byte when a sequence is started.  The sequencer also implements a "Sequencer Startup" feature that allows a loaded script to be executed when the SC4.1 board is reset or powered up, thus allowing the SC4.1 board to be used as a stand-alone controller.

The SC-BASIC language was designed for the ServoCenter 4.1 servo controller as a simple, easy-to-learn language that is specifically suited to the architecture and problem domain of the controller board.  SC-BASIC supports a syntax that will be familiar to users of other flavors of BASIC (such as QBASIC and Visual Basic) as well as some instructions and built-in functions that are specifically suited to the SC4.1 controller board.

Visit the SC-BASIC sequencer homepage for more information.

PScreen: Intuitive Python Graphics Module
September 8, 2009

PScreen is a Python module that provides simple 2D drawing functions as well as mouse and keyboard I/O.   Download installers for the PScreen module as well as pygame/pyglet libraries.  Download example programs, documentation and more.  PScreen is (c) Yost Engineering Inc. and available free of charge.  Visit the PScreen homepage for more information.
 

ServoCenter 4.1 USB Released
April 6, 2009

YEI has released ServoCenter 4.1 USB, featuring on-board memory, digital I/O, and many more new and expanded features. See the ServoCenter page for full details. We will continue to provide lifetime support for ServoCenter 3.1. If you are a developer using 3.1 in an existing product or project, contact us if you need any migration assistance to 4.1. All key features of 3.1 are still supported in 4.1, but with the greatly expanded feature set of 4.1, some protocol/programming changes may be necessary.

RoboRealm Adds ServoCenter Support
August 20, 2007

RoboRealm is a robotic vision software application for use in computer vision, image processing, and robot vision tasks. It provides a simple point and click interface, and now also provides native support for ServoCenter 3.0.

The availability of the module will allow RoboRealm users to more easily incorporate the features and flexible servo control offered by ServoCenter, including the simultaneous and independent control of up to 256 servos.

For more information about RoboRealm visit them at http://www.roborealm.com. For more information about using ServoCenter with RoboRealm, visit http://www.roborealm.com/help/YEI_ServoCenter_3.php