Hardware

The hardware for this project consists of 5 STK500 boards. This is in violation of the ECE476 final project rules, so my rationale for this decision is as follows:

1. My final submission for ECE476 used one STK500 board.
2. The STK500 is the only board with an onboard 2Mbit dataflash, which is necessary for my software to run.

For each STK500 there will be an Atmel ATMega32 chip. One Mega32 functions as a router, and uses all 8 pins of Port D for SLIP ports. The other four function as hosts and only use the first two pins of Port D for SLIP. Each chip interfaces with the STK500 dataflash using the last 4 pins of Port B.

Each host connects to the router via their slip port.

The test application is not yet designed, but it will include 4 DC fans and one thermal diode connected to the ADC of a Mega32. In addition, each host will have Red, Green, and Yellow LEDs to monitor the connection status of the TCP stream. Red indicates disconnected, Yellow indicates connecting, Green indicates connected. The hosts will each use a breadboard to connect to the LEDs, fan, and thermal diode (for one host).

The cost of this hardware is negligible as each part is already property of the Digital Systems Laboratory.