Sorry for chiming in so much, but I really like the virtual instrumentation on a cart approach. The reason is that I saw endless application for NI software toolsets for the projects being implemented at makerspace. Yes, I am a new addition to makerspace, but I have fallen in love with the place and I see infinite possibility and boundless talent and enthusiasm.
For the virtual instrumentation on a cart, I saw some neat projects at makerspace that I thought were very interesting to get programmatic control over using NI toolset:
*Oculus rift and associated hardware/software. I found an existing driver/API for Emotive Epoc (that crazy brain sensor thing that sits on your head looking like its downloading your brain’s contents to the CIA). And for the rift, I can get control of most windows interfaces through special software hooks, so I can basically control their interface programatically and bring acquired oculus data into LabVIEW where we can operate on it/edit it/control it/do whatever to it. Cool application for ‘cart’ concept, no?
*3D printer creation/implementation. If you want to get past the difficulties of implementing all the hardware control, I can pick existing/debugged/tested pieces of code, assemble them together and provide interface for a 3d printing device. Don’t know what the status of this project is, or if its done already, but the NI toolset would speed development by a huge time savings factor in that we dont have to make everything from scratch… just sow pre-developed drivers together at a high level should get it done. (Oh, then debug).
*Robotics development. NI partnered with Lego to create Mindstorms set (EV3 and NXT). They provided modified version of LabVIEW for kids as the programming environment. Yes you can also program the controllers with LabVIEW. In addition to the Lego stuff, which is probably more fun for big kids than the little ones, you can use the rapid develpment programming environment to target FPGA and microcontroller platforms that you can put on larger robots. And you can control them wirelessly with bluetooth or wifi. And there are image processing, character recognition, pattern matching, and artificial intelligence code modules available that are already developed. …and…and…and… i could wear my keyboard out with the possibilites…
*Pinball. Wouldn’t it be neat to have the computer play pinball? yup… the cart helps here too.
*Laser/LED/Optics- There are cheap lasers that can be controlled via these software tools. There are inexpensive optic sensors that can take in light and break it into spectrum in real time and possibly even sense polarization. Programmatic control over a setup like this allows for some very cool possibilities.
*metalwork-some metalwork machines are actually implemented with NI toolset. Don’t know about the ones you have because I’m not a metal guy and I haven’t used them. But suppose that you have some automated tools that really have to be used together to get a cool result. We could tap in with the toolset and make that possible. We could set up X Y and rotational table with drilling device or whatever is required to cut into metal and make our own milling machine. The possibilies are limited only by imagination
*woodworking-same as above
I could keep going, but I think you get the idea.
So my thoughts are that a cart would be cool. When you get to a project where you need a system in one place for a long time or forever, post a PC in that spot. I think, in general, getting an NI toolset in place at Makerspace and applied to the appropriate projects will GREATLY enhance capabilities and add many,many more new ones.