일반적인 컴퓨터의 기능 외에, 스페이스 큐브는 또한 독특한 특징들을 가지고 있다. 이것은 나사, ESA(유럽 우주 기구), JAXA(일본 우주 기구) 등에서 사용되는 인터페이스를 위한 극도로 얇은 소켓인 Space Wire 포트를 갖고 있다. 스페이스 큐브가 우주로 가면, 각 기관의 시스템과 연결되고 Space Wire 포트는 상이한 디바이스를 연결해 주는 공통 인터페이스의 역할을 하게 된다.
현재 스페이스 큐브가 일본 밖에서는 구할 수 없지만, Star Dundee라는 회사가 이 컴퓨터를 팔 계획을 갖고 있다. 스코틀랜드의 던디 대학교에서 출발한 회사인 Star Dundee는 Space Wire 기술 개발자와 사용자들을 지원한다. 이 회사가 시판에 나설 경우 스페이스 큐브의 가격은 한대당 2,750달러가 될 것이라고 한다. 이 회사가 예상하는 대로 로켓과 로보틱스 매니아들이 이 초소형 컴퓨터를 아주 좋아할 것 같다.
http://www.physorg.com/news139154133.html
The PC is designed for use in space, where its task is to control various electronics and manage an "interstellar computer network." While it´s normally only available in Japan, the UK-based site PC Pro recently got hold of a Space Cube, and revealed several interesting details.
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First, the Space Cube´s metal chassis is "utterly rock solid," enabling it to withstand cosmic encounters. As might be expected, it has very low power requirements, running on just 5 watts.
Inside the tiny computer, there´s a CPU with a top speed of 300 MHz, and 16 MB of on-board flash memory - low by today´s standards, but impressive for its size. The PC runs on a Linux OS from a 1GB CompactFlash card that fits into a slot in its side. The Space Cube´s hard drive is a 64MB SDRAM card, and it also comes equipped with a LAN port, USB port, Ethernet port, and a VGA monitor connector. A pair of jacks even accommodates speakers and headphones.
In addition to the normal computer features, the Space Cube also has some more unique characteristics. It has a SpaceWire port, which is an extremely thin socket that serves as an interface used by NASA, ESA, and JAXA, the space agencies of the U.S., Europe, and Japan, respectively. When the Space Cube goes into space, it can link up to each agency´s systems, where the SpaceWire acts as a common interface for linking together different kinds of devices.
PC Pro discovered that the Space Cube isn´t all serious, though. For instance, they found that typing "xeye" in the command line brings up a pair of googly eyes that follow the cursor around the screen.
Although the Space Cube isn´t currently available outside of the Japan, a company called Star Dundee plans to start selling the device after making some improvements. Star Dundee, a spin-off company from the Space Systems Research Group of the University of Dundee in Scotland, supports users and developers of SpaceWire technology. When it goes for sale, the Space Cube will be priced at around ?1,500 ($2,750). As PC Pro speculates, rocket and robotics clubs might find the device quite useful.
More information: http://www.star-dundee.com/
http://www.star-dundee.com/
http://www.mini-itx.com/2004/03/08/a-selection-of-weeny-pcs
A selection of weeny PCs
March 08, 2004
We like small electronics gizmos here at Mini-ITX. Constantly diminishing size and increasing power keeps us interested, and we're hoping to see some interesting developments at CeBIT along those lines next week. VIA's Nano-ITX looks like it will fill a space between Mini-ITX and the wide and varied Single Board Computer market. Although they aren't really comparable, we thought we'd present a selection of SBCs released over the past few months - for no other reason than they're almost "too wee"...
The P50x Spider from General Micro Systems is powered by up to a 800MHz PowerPC processor with 256MB SDRAM with an SD slot for storage, contains two Gigabit ethernet ports and measures just 72mm x 48mm x 10mm.
The Linux Rocket from Data Design Corporation is so small - 45mm square - that to do useful things it piggy backs onto a slightly larger plug-in board providing a DC-DC converter and interface ports. The powering CPU is an IBM Power PC 405 GPr running at up to 400Mhz.
Gumstix measure 20mm x 80mm, and come in two flavours of Intel XScale PXA255 processor, 200Mhz and 400Mhz. For a little more wedge, a small case with 1 USB and 2 Serial ports is available.
The T-Cube from Japan's Personal Media Company measures 52mm x 52mm x 45 mm high, and runs the T-Engine Operating System on an NEC VR5701 processor, with a Compact Flash slot and 2 USB ports.
