ParView, a
developer of golf course management systems, introduced an embedded
Linux golf course management system running on
the ADS StrongARM-based Graphics Client Plus with an active color
10.4" touchscreen LCD display.
ParView has
integrated its golf course management software into the system,
which gets installed in the front panels of golf carts. Using
a built-in GPS receiver which provides specifics of the golf cart's
position, the system shows golfers displays with graphical hole
and green overviews, and precise distance to the pin. Other features
include electronic scoring, a live tournament leader board, weather
and safety messaging (real time updates of storm warnings), two-way
radio communication, and food ordering capability from the cart.
Golfers can order lunch synchronized for the 9th and 18th holes.
The embedded
Linux golf cart features one of the largest active color LCD touchscreens
on golf carts, with a 10.4" diagonal screen size. ParView's application
showcases ADS' utilization of the Intel 206 MHz StrongARM SA1110
processor, along with its power management and flat panel drivers.
One of the
advantages using the Intel StrongARM and XScale processor is its power requirement
capabilities. The golf cart application takes less than 2 Watts
at full operation, and has an automatic idling feature that suspends
power to the LCD when the cart is not in active use. The system's
three serial ports are allocated to GPS, radio connections, and
one is a spare for future expansion. Other functions implemented
on ADS' Graphics Client Plus single-board computer include PCMCIA,
a Codec, digital I/O, and analog inputs.
