USB6

Pictures About Use It Build It Eagle

Like the Arduino, the USB6 allows you to control robots, make electronic instruments, talk to sensors and interface with the internet. The main difference is that you *buy* an Arduino. You make a USB6. This is good for people who are more interested in the hardware side of things. For example, would you like to learn what capacitors look like? Would you like to try out some board etching techniques, especially alternatives to Ferric Chloride, like Hydrogen Peroxide, etc?

Also, Since USB6 is an offshoot of the larger "Number6" project by the Computing Culture Research Group at the MIT Media Lab, there is an eclectic set of peripherals and upgrades for it. This group of developers pretty much bypassed the 'light up an LED' phase, and went straight on to internet peripherals [ via ethernet or wireless ].

Pictures

(click on any picture for a larger version)

About

The USB6 lets you write programs to read sensors, GPS, internet peripherals, Bluetooth, etc. and control robots, motors, lights, sounds and so on. We have chosen a popular, powerful processor, the Atmega32 from Atmel, and designed a board with the bare minimum of components around it so you can solder it together and use it in your projects easily.

We borrowed the AVR-CDC design from Osamu Tamura, which is based on Objective Development's AVR-USB project. We use their AVR-CDC on an 8-pin ATTiny45 to implement a USB interface. It works on OS X, Win32 and Linux.

We have open-sourced all of your software and hardware designs, including the eagle files. We have used open-source software to develop the system.

How to Use It

Since this design is based on the Number6, you can use the nicely documented information on the Number 6 Site to help you. Here is a brief overview:

1. Construct the board

2. Burn the AVR-CDC image into the ATTiny45

You get it from the AVR-CDC homepage. The filename is AVR-CDC.2008-08-25.zip.

3. Burn the bootloader into the Atmega32

Bootloader20.hex is the same exact file as Bootloader19.hex, except that the baud rate has been changed to 4800 bps in order to be compatible with the AVR-CDC chip.

4. Connect a USB cable between the board and your computer.

Set the baud rate to 4800 bps. When you turn the board on, if you hold down the white button, you'll see the familiar Chalkroach bootloader. If you turn it on without holding down the white button, your application program will start.

5. Install AVRMacPack, write programs and upload them.

AVRMacPack is a development environment that includes avr-gcc, the C compiler, as well as other utilities to help you write programs for the Atmega32. Once you've written them, you upload them through the USB port from HyperTerminal, or ZTerm. This is much more information about this on the Number6 site.

How to Build It

Parts List - USB Section
Q2 12 MHz Crystal
R3, R4 68 Ohm Resistor
R5 470 Ohm Resistor
D1, D2 1N4148 Diode
C3, C4 16 pF Capacitor
C5 .1 uF Capacitor
IC1 Atmel AtTiny45-20P Microcontroller
R1 1.5 K Resistor
MINI-USB Shielded 5p2-32005-601

Parts List - Main Section
Q1 16 MHz Crystal
C1, C2 16 pF Capacitor
X2 2.1mm barrel connector
S1 Pushbutton
Rectifier
IC2 7805
Cout .47 uF Capacitor
ATMega32-P
DPDT Switch MS22

Eagle Files

USB6 Eagle Schematic

USB6 Eagle Board Layout

Number6 links, etc.