Group Actions
Engagement
  • Author Author: ninjatrent
  • Date Created: Date Created
  • Views 2455 views
  • Likes 14 likes
  • Comments 11 comments
Related
Recommended

BoneCommander - A Ruggedized BeagleBone Linux Computer

ninjatrent

BoneCommander - A Ruggedized BeagleBone Linux Computer

 

image

Model: AT ABBBW

image

 

Description

 

The BoneCommander is a rugged and mobile BeagleBone Linux Computer powered by a BeagleBone Black Wireless SBC.

An Element14 BeagleBone 4.3" LCD Display Cape is the primary display interface for the BBB W. There is a 4 port USB Hub connected to the USB Host on the BeagleBone and a Wireless USB Keyboard with touchpad connected to this USB Hub. Power is provided by an Adafruit PowerBoost 1000C 5V Lipo USB Boost Charger and a 3.7v 2500mAh Lithium Ion Polymer Battery. The PowerBoost 1000C utilizes the TPS61090 boost converter from TI.

 

 

Parts List

 

BeagleBone Black Wireless

image

http://beagleboard.org/black-wireless

http://www.newark.com/beagleboard/bbbwl-sc-562/sbc-bbb-wireless-with-wifi-bluetooth/dp/95Y0639?st=beaglebone

 

Element 14 BeagleBone 4.3 LCD Display

image

http://www.newark.com/element14/bb-cape-disp-ct43/display-board-tft-lcd-beaglebone/dp/99Y9250?st=beaglebone

 

83-17317 -  Miniature Wireless USB Keyboard with Touchpad

image

http://www.newark.com/stellar-lab-computer-plus/83-17317/miniature-wireless-usb-keyboard/dp/84Y8222

 

Zero4U - 4 Port USB Hub for Raspberry Pi Zero v1.3

image

https://www.adafruit.com/product/3298

 

PowerBoost 1000 Charger - Rechargeable 5V Lipo USB Boost @ 1A - 1000C

image

https://www.adafruit.com/product/2465

http://www.ti.com/product/tps61090

 

Lithium Ion Polymer Battery - 3.7v 2500mAh

image

https://www.adafruit.com/product/328

 

Vaultz Locking Gadget Box, Black with Chrome Accents,

Dimensions:Height:2.75",Width:8.25",Depth:5.5",Internal Height:2"

Internal Width:4.625",Internal Depth:7.75"

 

Sandisk 32GB microSD Card

 

OS Image

 

Debian 9.3 2018-01-28 4GB SD IoT

https://beagleboard.org/latest-images

 

image

 

Building the BoneCommander

 

     Last year I purchased the Element 14 BeagleBone 4.3 LCD Display for use with the BeagleBone Black Wireless. Even though this display was created before the BBB W, I was sure that it would be compatible. Well it is to a degree. The OS Image provided with the display was not fully compatible. Likely a result of the display cape's special OS Image, the WiFi and Bluetooth peripherals of the BBB W were not detected and therefore not accessible.

image

The display cape was then tested with the official Debian 9.1 2017-08-31 4GB SD LXQT Desktop image provided by BeagleBoard.org.

image

With this OS Image, the wireless peripherals are detected as present.

image

image

Okay so we have the full desktop image operating properly. We even have a little Chromium Browser.

 

A sigh of relief, it works. Now to shutdown and begin work on an enclosure. If only it was that easy.

 

Upon shutdown the BBB W would get stuck in an infinite power down loop. The only way to stop this was by holding the power button down or unplugging the device (not recommended).

 

Unfortunately I didn't know how to resolve this issue so the display cape was put on the shelf until a solution could be found.

A few months had passed. I was sitting at my desk working with a BeagleBone Black Wireless late one night. After a few hours of staring at a terminal, fatigue sets in and I begin to see errors in my work. It is at this point that I need to make a choice, shutdown and lay it down or get some coffee and get back at it. Mmmm coffee.

 

So with the prospect of coffee in mind, I stood up for a little stretch and that's when I saw it. The display cape that had been placed on the shelf months ago. I felt a bit of guilt when looking upon it. I know, it's just a piece of hardware, but it's a piece of hardware that someone put time and effort into designing. This thing has a purpose, and that purpose was not be stuck in a box on a shelf.

 

Full of coffee and back at my desk, I made the decision to change direction and revisit the display cape. This time I decided to try out the Debian IoT image. What do you know, it works. None of the same issues that were experienced with the other images.

 

With the cape and the BBB W working together properly, now it's back to work on the enclosure.

 

The Enclosure

 

I found this Vaultz Locking Gadget Box on sale at a local shop last year. The box had also been put on the shelf sometime ago. You see, I didn't know exactly what this box would be used for. It's only when the BBB W and the display cape were assembled that I realized the box might be a good fit for this project.

 

image

Here are some of the tools that were used to modify the enclosure. A cordless drill was also used.

 

image

A hole was cut to the size of the LCD display and some hot glue was applied to secure the display to the inside of the enclosure.

In between the BBB W and the display, A piece of foam wrapped in electrical tape has been placed to protect the display. A few pieces of the foam were also used to protect the ribbon cables that run from the display to the cape. This foam was recycled from the packaging my Raspberry Pi Touchscreen.

 

image

On the right side, I placed a temporary piece of foam and foam project board. After the setup was confirmed to work, these were removed and the BBB W and cape were secured with some hot glue.

image

For the antennas and micro USB ports, a few holes were drilled. The micro USB plug wouldn't quite fit without  first removing some of the aluminum frame. You might be wondering, "What's up with the Stormtrooper?" Well the Stormtrooper is actually a streaming music player for my shop. Stormtrooper Pi Radio

image

The BeagleBone Black Wireless only has one USB host so I have added a 4-port USB hub. This particular USB hub is a Zero4U 4-port hub that was designed for the Raspberry Pi Zero. With a very compact form factor, this USB hub is a perfect fit for this project.

 

On the right side, a breadboard and a few components that might be used. Opposite the breadboard, I have drilled a few holes to allow air to pass.

 

The BBB W has not yet been configured for use with the GPS module that is shown in the photo. There is a chance that it might be damaged or my wiring was incorrect. It did not appear on UART as it should but then I might have queried the wrong UART. There is another GPS Module to swap with this one, and that one is  confirmed working. The other GPS is currently attached to another BeagleBone project which is in the works. Eventually the BoneCommander will control them all.

image

     Vader's Theme playing in background.

 

Powering the BoneCommander

image

The Adafruit PowerBoost 1000C seemed to be the best choice for supplying battery power to the BeagleBone Black Wireless.

It was already known that the PowerBoost could sufficiently power the BBB W from previous experience.

image

BeagleBone Black Wireless wireless...kind of.

image

Will the Adafruit PowerBoost be able to power the BoneCommander?

 

We shall see...We shall see (regrettable acting image )

 

image

   We have a command line.

image

    sudo dpkg-reconfigure tzdata

image

   sudo look cool...Good BeagleBone

 

 

Thanks for checking out the BoneCommander Project.

 

Trent

https://www.instagram.com/trent_darkside/

https://plus.google.com/110467216231518640445

Parents

  • Interesting project to read. Extra marks for recycling packaging!

     

    Does it say cool with just the holes drilled in the case, or do you thing you will need to add a fan?

     

    Kind regards

  • in reply to three-phase

    Hi Donald,

     

    Thank you for checking out this project.

     

    The use of recycled materials provides for an interesting challenge along with a few other perks.

    They are readily available and cost effective (free). This is much cheaper than paying someone to 3D print a part if one does not have a printer.

    Using recycled materials can be very helpful in prototyping a design if you happen to have the type of materials that can be applied to that particular design. If it has the recycle symbol on it, I try to fulfill this in the optimal manner.

     

    The holes that have been drilled in the front of the case are to provide air flow to any environmental sensors ( temp, baro, humidity, gps, etc).

     

    I had previously added a custom heatsink to this BeagleBone Black Wireless for passive cooling.

    image

    The heat sink was recycled from an obsolete pci graffix card of an ancient gaming PC.

     

    I have a box of old aluminum heatsinks for such purposes. Some are quite old and many of them are very interesting in design.

     

    The BeagleBone Black Wireless operates at a lower temperature than many other SBCs.

    image

    107.2 F or 41.78 C was the max operating temp captured with this contactless infrared temp sensor at room temp .

    The average body temp of a human is usually between 97.7 F and 99.5 F (36.5 C - 37.5 C).

     

    I have not taken any temp readings after the installation of the heatsink and therefore can not provide a confirmered improvement in operating temp.

     

    Maybe an estimated 10-15% improvement. The addition of the heatsink is not necessary.

     

    Great question Donald. Thanks again for your interest in this post.

     

    Trent

Comment
  • in reply to three-phase

    Hi Donald,

     

    Thank you for checking out this project.

     

    The use of recycled materials provides for an interesting challenge along with a few other perks.

    They are readily available and cost effective (free). This is much cheaper than paying someone to 3D print a part if one does not have a printer.

    Using recycled materials can be very helpful in prototyping a design if you happen to have the type of materials that can be applied to that particular design. If it has the recycle symbol on it, I try to fulfill this in the optimal manner.

     

    The holes that have been drilled in the front of the case are to provide air flow to any environmental sensors ( temp, baro, humidity, gps, etc).

     

    I had previously added a custom heatsink to this BeagleBone Black Wireless for passive cooling.

    image

    The heat sink was recycled from an obsolete pci graffix card of an ancient gaming PC.

     

    I have a box of old aluminum heatsinks for such purposes. Some are quite old and many of them are very interesting in design.

     

    The BeagleBone Black Wireless operates at a lower temperature than many other SBCs.

    image

    107.2 F or 41.78 C was the max operating temp captured with this contactless infrared temp sensor at room temp .

    The average body temp of a human is usually between 97.7 F and 99.5 F (36.5 C - 37.5 C).

     

    I have not taken any temp readings after the installation of the heatsink and therefore can not provide a confirmered improvement in operating temp.

     

    Maybe an estimated 10-15% improvement. The addition of the heatsink is not necessary.

     

    Great question Donald. Thanks again for your interest in this post.

     

    Trent

Children