Mechanics and Construction > Mechanics and Construction
Building a wifi robot
GalacticNerd:
Hey there,
As my final project in Industrial ICT, we get to pick a project of our own.
I teamed up with somebody from my class, and decided to make a driveable robot.
It would be able to be controlled over Wifi with a laptop, having a networked camera in the front as well.
In the end, I'd like to make a piece of software which has the image from the camera, and responds to a game controller connected to the laptop. We're also planning on having a claw in front of the camera to pick things up.
I am familiar with programming and electronics, but less with robotics.
These are the parts we're planning to use;
* Old RC car as a base
* Arduino Ethernet Board + USB adapter.
* Dealextreme's IP-400 wired security camera (http://www.dealextreme.com/p/ip-400-standalone-security-surveillance-ip-network-camera-with-night-vision-15974)
* 12V rechargeable battery, probably from an electric screwdriver/drill.
* Lynxmotion's WRU-HD claw (http://www.lynxmotion.com/p-664-wrist-rotate-upgrade-heavy-duty.aspx) unless anyone has a better alternative. (the gripper is for last, though. We can leave it out if we're running out of time)
* Standard belkin wireless G router (blew that one up, looking for a replacement)
This is the plan;
We will take the top off the RC car, and use the arduino to tap into the existing hardware to control the driving part.
The network camera will be mounted on the front. The router will also be mounted on the car. Using the ethernet shield, the arduino will be connected to the router with an ethernet cable, as will be the camera. DHCP will be turned off, everything will get fixed IP adresses in the same range. The claw will be in front of the camera, providing a first person view on it.
The arduino will have a listening socket. The only job is has is to read incoming bytes, and run a sub program depending on the incoming byte.
(Set motor speed, turn left/right, open/close claw...) I've only used microsoft's visual basic (yeah yeah) when it comes to socket programming, so I have a slight idea how it works, but I need to look up the exact syntaxes.
Everything will be powered by the 12V battery. I chose this voltage because the router needs it, and I can regulate it down for the other parts where needed. (Camera needs 5, Motors need 6, Arduino needs... 5?)
I'm hoping the battery can take all of this, and still give us a driving time of at least half an hour.
Does anyone have any comments on this? Any tips are very much appreciated.
Any parts recommendations are helpful too.
garrettg84:
Depending on the router you guys use, you may not even need the ethernet shield. Alot of the linksys routers capable of running linux have serial ports that just need pins soldered on. http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Serial_port_pinouts ...depending on the router board it might not even be real serial level voltage and simple ttl serial may be possibe.
Set up a custom web based interface on the DD-WRT access point and then all of your controls could be done through web gui...or some form of control over http and then any actual socket programing can be eliminated (from your coding view point - it still happens under the hood tho =).
GalacticNerd:
--- Quote from: garrettg84 on September 03, 2011, 08:26:53 PM ---Depending on the router you guys use, you may not even need the ethernet shield. Alot of the linksys routers capable of running linux have serial ports that just need pins soldered on. http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Serial_port_pinouts ...depending on the router board it might not even be real serial level voltage and simple ttl serial may be possibe.
Set up a custom web based interface on the DD-WRT access point and then all of your controls could be done through web gui...or some form of control over http and then any actual socket programing can be eliminated (from your coding view point - it still happens under the hood tho =).
--- End quote ---
Thanks for the info, Garrett. I saw something about a modified router in a similar project, I guess this would be a nice option, but I don't think my belkin router/modem has these serial ports, I will take a look though on the board.
Edit: I found a 2 x 5 pin connector (similar to the one on the ASUS WL-500 deluxe router in the link you sent me) on the board, but it's not documented on the board which pin is which :(
Oh, and I looked up my model in the DD-WRT support list, but it's not in there.
http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Supported_Devices#Belkin
my model is F5D7632-4
Another edit: apparantly whiterussian can't be ran from my ARM cpu router.
bobthefirst1:
i think u could just hook it up to a wireless usb hub and build your robot to plug in to usb
:)
GalacticNerd:
--- Quote from: bobthefirst1 on September 05, 2011, 04:42:54 PM ---i think u could just hook it up to a wireless usb hub and build your robot to plug in to usb
:)
--- End quote ---
I'd have to get a more expensive camera though, one specifically made for robotics instead of the cheapie networked camera I'm using, whereass wireless access points are easy to find.
UPDATE ON THE PROJECT:
I've hacked an rc car, and I'm making a shelve style platform for the electronics and battery to go on it from plexi.
I'm waiting for my ethernet arduino, and while hacking the router to run from the battery, I accidently switched the polarity around, and fried it. Dangit.
Oh well, someone from my class felt bad for me, and is donating a linksys wrt54g to me, awesome. :)
About the battery, I found a 12V, 1.2AH lead acid battery. (from a motorcycle I think.) I don't know if it's gonna cut it, but it's the best I have right now. I might have another one of those I can daisychain to it.
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
Go to full version