Other Projects

We designed & built the control & drive system for the Batman "Tumbler" roof opening (top left, top right pictures). The entire control system was a single box containing the control system and 3 x servo drives in order to precisely control the positioning of each axis.

General Purpose Processors: We have produced some multi-purpose processor modules, with on board LCD/OLED drive, RS485/232 comms (2+ channels available), CAN, and multiple IO. They have been used in the following projects:

- Remote Head Control System This is a quadraure encoder follow system (ie wheels) reading the exact wheel position and sending it up an RS-485 link to a remote drive control for the motors, replicating the movement. Available in 2 or 3 axis, with 1-button limit set/clear, variable speed, variable damping - Could also be used as a precise remote motion controller. Wheels viideo (ignore the enclosures please): https://youtu.be/FpEKIM9xekI?si=4rs4tbBmeJdvyjQc DynaStick/Elmo Whistle motion control video: https://youtu.be/pxEdC8c3aHc

Quadrature Encoder - Divide or Multiply, Smooth, or position to frequency (scaleable) (work in progress - Nov '25)

We have just developed an encoder resolution divider / mulitplier - Similar (but it has higher functionality) to US Digital's eDivide (TM) - Current features include:

Multiply or divide by any number (the max multiplication seems to be approx 1000 currently, and depends upon frequency, and chosen accuracy).
Act as a quadrature frequency output based on encoder input position (scaleable) - ie position 2000 = 18KHZ output
Programmable on the fly by USB (eg m1025 = multiply by 1025, f0501 = position to freq * 501, s0020 = smooth set to 20).
Memory storage for last settings
Settings are displayed on a 0.91" OLED for simplicity.
Set 4x, 2x, or 1x quadrature decoding (works on output pulses to approx 1.8 Mhz currently)

We are looking at adding the option to:

1. Add end stops
2. Add adjustable ramping at end stops

If you have any interest at all, please let us know - they won't be very expensive, as it all came from another project, so it was the result of unintended consequences!

To see the 3 demo videos, please visit:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJQ5fj3U0gk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxaM88rorRw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UlhSBytTLs

- Data conversion system This system was specially designed for the tracking systems used for the London Olympics 2012. They convert Preston data packets (125Kbps, 9-bit) and send out "standard" data packets (115Kbps, 8-bit) to an ethernet link. At the other end, it takes in the "standard" packets, and re-assembles them into "Preston" packets for the Preston MDR-2, allowing control of the lens motors.

- TV Camera Remote Lens Control System - For operating Fujinon or Canon digital lenses

- Analogue to Quadrature Converter - Takes in 3 x analogue signals from a joystick etc and converts this to Quad pulses (encoder pulses) or step/direction at 16-bit resolution.

- Camera Lifting Rig - We've actually been involved in 2, doing the motor controls. One controlled by a Preston Microforce stick, and the other specifically designed for "National Treasure".

- Hydraulic Record / Replay System (Peter Pan movie) - Allows live or repeat moves for single-axis hydraulic drive or CAN controlled stepper. Moves can be saved to PC for later use.