Transmitter / Receivers Issues

[PuddleJumper]

Looking for a solution to the following set of requirements.


1 Controller no more than 3" x 5" x 3/4" (WxHxL) + antennae (not bigger than say 3 inches) - Picture a 1998 Cell phone size.

Controller must control 1 to 6 robots by flipping a 6-way switch to the given selector spot.

Controller must be able to do the following:
      + Move the Selected Robot
      + Command selected Robot to Send a command to another robot (or group of robots) {4 different commands total w/ a variable}

So if my math is right that would be approximately 30 different commands.  6 robots * 5 commands = 30 (and then the variable problem)

Second problem - same idea...

Robot must transmit a command to a group of robots based on the command it received from the controller and only to his "own group".

Robot must command its group to do 4 things (same as above).

Other catches:

Range: 100 yards.

Environment: Cold (freezing), Sunny at times, Pouring Snow and Rain at times, on the water, not always line of sight.

Sensoring software is running on RFID tags - interference would be nice to avoid.

One final catch... the robots can't have a large external antennae it must be hidden in a plastic shell.

Thanks again,

PJ
     
     

[airman00]

you'll probably have to hack an existing transmitter . The added switch will select between multiple channels. I have heard of 3 frequency selection on an r/c toy but neverheard of 6 .

if i think of a suitable controller i'll post it.

please give us more details about the actual robots

[PuddleJumper]

The details of the bot can be pieced together from these two links:

http://www.societyofrobots.com/robotforum/index.php?topic=2171.0

http://www.societyofrobots.com/robotforum/index.php?topic=2139.0

But in all, I am designing a group of aquatic robots.

The will act similar to a group of boats on the water - one boat will be the lead boat.  The other boats will be drones.  The Lead boat should be able to issue commands to the drone boats.

LEAD BOAT SHOULD:
+ Be able to be remotely controlled by the end user (me for now)
+ Be able to send commands to the drones (detailed below)
+ Be able to send some sort of signal to the drones to allow them to know their distance from the LEAD BOT (approximately)

DRONE BOAT SHOULD:
+ Should be able to follow the following basic commands from the LEAD BOAT
     + FOLLOW - Basically get to within 2 meter and follow the LEAD BOAT wherever it moves
     + STANDBY - Basically stop and hold still within a variable radius of the LEAD BOAT - if it drifts, move into range, and return to standby mode
     + SPREAD - Basically run a randomized route program within a variable radius of the LEAD BOAT
     + CONVERGE - Basically get as close as possible to the LEAD BOAT and hold position

+ Be able to change course if it bumps something
+ Be able to sense it's range from the LEAD BOAT
+ Be able to locate the LEAD BOAT and play a game of hot and cold to get back into a given range of the LEAD BOAT.
+ Have 2 other actuators to move a turret - and cause the boat to vibrate.

ALL BOATS:
+ Be able to be interchangeable via a switch to say it is a LEAD BOAT or a DRONE
+ Be able to assign itself to a FLEET #1 - #6 with a switch (slide switch with 7 positions - 7 being off)
+ Allow up to 24 boats per FLEET (1 LEAD - 23 DRONES), can be less if necessary - no less than 12.

CONTROLLER:
+ Transmit commands to LEAD BOATS (1-6)
+ Be no bigger than 3" wide x 5" long x 3/4" thick
+ Have a range of 300 feet min.

MOTORS:
+ Speed requirements are roughly 1-2 Mph through water - and need to be somewhat weedless.

ENVIRNOMENT:
+ Temperatures from 0F to 100F
+ Wind from 0MPH to 20MPH
+ Lakes, Ponds, Marshes, etc.  Small waves up to 12 inches.
+ Sunny, Cloudy, Snowing, Raining, Etc.

POWER:
+ Rechargeable via 110V house hold
+ Hopefully sometype of splitter device to charge 6 Boats at the same time.
+ Run time of 12 hours fully charged - hopefully fully recharged in 12 hours.

SIZE:
+ Probably smaller than possible :-)
+ No bigger than the size of a large duck? maybe 8" wide x 6" tall (off the water) x 16" long
+ Cosmetic outer shell (no antennas or anything) - made of thin plastic

Hope this clarifies more.

PJ

[Admin]

swarm AUVs:
http://serafina.anu.edu.au/1-Research/Objectives.html
http://www.ausi.org/events/LkGrg_Oct_04/LakeGeorgeTest_2.htm

(look up their papers for hardware descriptions)