I am doing a research project for an honors course in college and I need help getting started and understanding some of the basics in order to move forward. The idea behind the project is to have two devices with transceivers and a notification system in each device. The two devices are constantly sending and receiving a signal, but with user input that signal can be cut from either device. Once the device has lost the signal it will enable the notification system. An easy way to think of it is like the restaurant notification system that can ping both ways. Our adviser has talked to us and it seems like the easiest way to show proof of concept is with:
2X: http://www.sparkfun.com/products/8664
2X: http://www.sparkfun.com/products/8276
1X: http://www.sparkfun.com/products/8687
Other various lab components such as a simple LED configuration as an initial notification system and bread board for wiring.
About halfway into next semester I would like to have a basic set up where I have the two devices running, a button is pressed on either of the devices, the LEDs on the opposite device light up. This is about as simple as I can make it and it will eventually be built on from there.
The devices selected above were chosen for user friendliness and ease to start this project from very little electrical engineering design experience. Eventually a more plausible idea would be to use an RFPIC or something along the lines of RF12. These have been ideas tossed out by our adviser but mean very little to me. Any knowledge or advice on alternatives or unmentioned ideas is greatly appreciated. I may be starting out too user friendly and easy because eventually we want to make the device small (wrist watch size) and cheaper (XBee’s aren’t exactly cheap).
Questions:
What is missing from the very small list previously mentioned in order to have that simple proof of concept? Basically the two devices running on battery power and separate breadboards would be a big step for us.
How much time differences is going to come about from using something that is user friendly like XBee to something that needs tuning out of the box? This is a project that comes second to class and is not our senior design.
General opinions and guidance is much appreciated. I haven’t searched the web too deep for walkthroughs on implementing any of this, but even getting the two Xbees to talk to each other seems challenging just because of lack of experience.
Thanks for your time in reading this and sorry for any explanations that are incorrect. I’d be glad to answer any questions to the best of my ability.