ROBONOVA Controlled via PC

[roboTT]

Hello Gents,

i am very interested in realising a totally autonomous version of my Robonova.

To achieve my plan, i need to read all the data from sensor/servos to my PC via cable and also do the sterring from PC - just want to swap the minds between Robonova to my Laptop.

The idea is to have a possibility to :

- read sensors data
- play with the servos

directly from PC rather than compiling and uploading the BAS compiled file to robonova.


Please tell me this is possible...

[Humanoido]

Are you sure you want to do all this through cable? That would limit the autonomous capabilities. Were you thinking about going wireless at some point? Sure, it can be done, but some special programming would be required to read all the sensors and send to the pc.

humanoido

[roboTT]

Well, i am more focused on the idea which would allow me to take controll of the robot by the PC, rather than as i wrote - providing Robonova complete BAS compiled binary file.

Future plans - like wireless, can be handled then by placing the PocketPC on Robonova's back and via WiFi and Tcp/Ip custom made application i can do the thing by wifi.


The question is - if there is any chance to control the Robonova by my own program using cable ?

[Humanoido]

It depends on how much you want to control through the cable. With the cable now, you can do things like calibrate, program, write scripts, and simulate the IR hand held remote. As I understand, and this was my question some time ago, to replace all these functions with wireless and retain all cable functions is extremely challenging. The current technology claims to replace the cable, using BlueTooth for example, but in actuality, serial signals are sent, which limits the functions to routines which can receive a stream of serial signals at the given baud rate. However, a software code could be written as a front end to decode such signals, so you could do some limited configuring on-the-fly. Perhaps someone has a similar system already running? It sounds like you're initially talking about using the computer as RN's brain. This would vastly increase the power of autonomy, by reading an array of sensors and processing by computer, and having the computer rewrite the scripts. This script rewriting is a key to artificial intelligence, as it's nearly impossible to retain ALL scripts for all situations.

humanoido

[roboTT]

Humanoido - this is exactly what i am trying to achieve.

To move the 'brain' directly on to the PC machine. What else does that mean..

It means, that with my own C/C++ application, i would be fully able to:

- receive servos positions
- receive sensors data

process

- move servos


All those steps to be taken on the PC and ROBONOVA connected via RS232.

I am not interested in RoboBasic idea, to code, compile upload and try out.
The 'upload' thing is the case.

I don't want to go futher yet - speaking of wireless. This would be easy to achieve with a single PocketPC on Robonova's back.


Is there anyone / anything that would help me to progress with that idea ?