I haven't been updating this project as much as I would have hoped I would, but let me give you a reader's digest of the work I've been doing the last 6 weeks.

First on the docket is a partial redesign for the base. While not complete by any stretch of the imagination (I haven't even sourced a Type C connector, let alone begun designing the connector daughterboard or supporting plastic components) but it does show good progress in how the final baseplate look.

From an electronics side, most of my time has been spent reading electronics spec sheets and establishing power to all the chips. I have selected a CYUSB306x for its integrated high speed CSI-2 bus, integrated uC with serial interface tools, and integrated USB interface hardware. For the camera, I selected a Arducam IMX219 8 MP camera module with integrated auto-focus hardware. The theory is I should be able to load the microcontroller with OpenCV autofocus algorithms, though my experience with OpenCV is limited, so it'll take some time. Also of note is the fact that this camera is designed to work with the Raspberry Pi Camera Module V2. Thanks to the outstanding work done by DrYerzinia on his Raspberry Pi Camera Module V2.1 Reversed project, I had a full pinout for this module, as well as tide and true hardware selections already made. It was a simple decision for a project that is increasingly ballooning in hidden considerations and design.

As I'm still working on the circuit design, I don't really have a board ready for you. My notebook* and the circuit schematics I currently have are an embarrassing ratsnest, so unfortunately not a lot of fun visuals in this entry. Hopefully for my next post I'll have something a bit more fun to show you :)

*I do plan on photoscanning and uploading my full journal so that you can see my design process, but due to the logistics of doing it page by page, I'll probably wait until I at least have the beta hardware design up and running.