Re: [Playerstage-users] tiny robot

[Nicolau W. <nwe...@gm...>]

Well, I was thinking more along the sides of a Khepera sized robot,
something smaller than, let's say, a CD. Would you people say there is
a minimum size considered today a limit for reliable control? Should I
give up trying to find anything smaller than a micromouse, for
example?

Gumstix does look like a great way to build what I was thinking, but I
just read about CMUCam3, and I think It might satisfy my needs
perfectly. After all, I do need a camera, so it's a great option.

The only problem with CMUCam is that I would like to have wireless
connection to my machines, perhaps bluetooth, but preferably wi-fi.
Well, yesterday I found out about this module called WISM, built by
EZURiO. It is a complete wi-fi device that interfaces with other
components, through UART for example. I think I might pick up a
CMUCam3, and just connect it directly to one of these, creating myself
a wireless CMUCam3. Wouldn't that be great?

Has anyone ever heard of robotics experiments using this WISM device?
I was even thinking if the use of TCP/IP wouldn't make it specially
suited to be used with Player. All I could find on the Internet were
robots with bluetooth connections, and always with a large number of
components, never something as simple as a CMUCam with a wireless
interface (plus the mechanics).

I think the question is: how hard is it to use gumstix to stick
together a wi-fi board, a camera and servo control? If it is possible
and cheaper, it will be probably my choice.


...It all started because in my lab we only have these Pioneer robots,
and they are so large and heavy. I do plan to get one of these small
notebooks to try to control them using player and a wireless network,
but I would like a smaller robot to make the experiments easier. All I
wanted was a small camera that moves. No other sensors, no speed, and
small processing power.

I hope I am not getting off-topic. The problem is that I am
considering to move away from the more "standard" robots, but I want
to be sure about how difficult will it be to build the machine, and
more importantly, to use it with Player...

see you, and thanks for the help so far!

++nicolau



On Sat, Aug 2, 2008 at 1:47 PM, Brian Gerkey <br...@ge...> wrote:
>
> On Jul 31, 2008, at 3:55 PM, Nicolau Werneck wrote:
>
>>
>> I am looking for a small robot that has minimal internal processing
>> skills, just wheels, a camera, and wi-fi or bluetooth interface, to
>> control remotely using player/stage.
>
>>
>> I don't know about iRobot Create, looks promising, but I'm a bit
>> confused about how easy it would be to plug it into player/stage. And
>> I would like to be able to carry a couple of these creatures inside my
>> bag.
>
> The Create (and Roomba) are both supported by Player.  Many people
> have used it as a research platform.
>
> The integration work needed is to attach a suitable computer.  If you
> really want low-power and small form factor, the Gumstix is a good
> option.  However, it does require cross-compiling and some board
> assembling.
>
> The Create can also carry MacMini-sized computers.  Cappuccino and
> AOpen make good ones in that range.  Alternatively, there are now some
> small, cheap laptops that could be strapped on top.
>
>        brian.
>
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-- 
Nicolau Werneck <nwe...@gm...> 9F99 25AB E47E 8724 2F71
http://www.lti.pcs.usp.br/~nwerneck EA40 DC23 42CE 6B76 B07F
Linux user #460716