Software

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The Software is still being pieced together...
Since the first cut of the motion control is based on the RepRap/MakerBot electronics,

I have read up on the developments there, as well as activity on the Contraptor site, (Contraptors community has an enhanced G-Code interpreter I will be using.)

Given the availability of currently operational, multiple control interfaces: Ergo -
RepRap, MakerBot (replicator-G), EMC, + mach 3 and other commercial packages...

The ability to control a single machine with open or closed source software is widely available.

What is lacking (to my knowledge) is a mechanism to integrate multiple machines into a PROCESS, and control the steps required to execute and coordinate the process to complete parts or assemblies.

EMC and willow Garage's ROS, in conjunction with Xen seem like a path toward a solution to me:

EMC
Cool ROS Video
Xen

Multiple Linux VM's can be instantiated; one per cube, and a control layer coordinates their activities, or an on-board "package" scripts events local to each VM.

Each cube is envisioned as an Ethernet appliance, so coordinating their interactions is "easily" implemented by a node on the same subnet. This reduces the design complexity to being one of a few VM "appliances" i.e:
A ROS node,
an EMC node
and embeded comms and control in each node on a 1:1 relationship with specialized machines in the sub net.

Less complex machines in the cluster that simply move pallets around or other low-complexity tasks could be commanded without a dedicated VM from the "command" VM

This seems achievable without re-inventing a lot of the more complex parts of the system
and dedicated, minimalist "Node Images" should keep the computing burden manageable.

This also brings "Modularity" to the control network - without adding computing on-board each cell.

This should permit rich solutions for each type of cube to be developed while retaining a modular, scaleable, granular control system.

if you agree - let me know!!
if you disagree - tell me why!

Thanks!!
Reach me via data.pathway or cubespawn
Both are gmail