Budget ConnectR / Rovio

[bhylak]

you wouldn't need to use VNC if you used RoboRealm. (If you choose to use it, i'll PM you some webserver files)

good points on the create. From what I understand, it would provide some Create functionality tho?

[mfortuna]

I think the DO (digital out) and DI (digital in) functions are possible, the analog and PWM functions are harder. Driving type commands should work fine.

[bhylak]

Very nice. Also one last thing about RoboRealm... it has an integrated Java Camera feed which is pretty smooth.

[mfortuna]

System test and integration complete! The Security Dawg lives. Insert madman wha-ha-ha here.

Thanks to Chris for the name and interest in the project. Thanks to suzibot for the donor dirt dog.

I did run into an issue that actually worked to my advantage. When I tested my digital outputs I measured the following when on:

D0 2.75V
D1 5.0V
D2 5.0V

D0 was used to turn on power to the prop board and camera. 2.75V was not high enough. So I swapped D2 and D0. The functions now are:

D0 - camera up
D1 - camera down
D2 - camera on

My algorithm relies on the digital out bit to be toggled to make the camera move. When I assert D0, which is the side brush on signal, the camera moves on its own. Either the side brush signal is PWM (toggling) or the 2.75V level fools the propeller chip into seeing both a high and low. I'm beginning to think maybe the side brush is PWM. 2.75V should be a good high in a 5V system.

The only other negative is I got a little careless carving out openings for the power wire and servo rod. They ended up a little bit bigger than needed.

[mfortuna]

Here's an outside view from the security dawg. Hoping spring gets here soon!

[bhylak]

All of the wind/rain took away the snow for us.

From what I have read, the robot is controlled via bluetooth... So it is connected to an external computer? (A server) which is then connected to the web.

[mfortuna]

Yes, I vnc into my home computer. Then I start up roomba status and use that to drive the roomba. I will have to try the webserver function in roomba status. The second step is to use a browser to open the camera.

[bhylak]

You can't drive with the webserver though.

[Fraggboy]

Excellent Job Mike!! That picture of the outside is scary looking tho!! It's too white!!

Stay warm, and again, Congrats on an awesome job!

[sageman]

good job

(off topic) just wondering how deep is the snow there

[mfortuna]

Almost 90 inches total, some has melted though.

[sageman]

lol

thats loads i mean just loads i cant comprehend wow

[mfortuna]

Thanks to Ben for recommending roborealm. The program works very nice. My next step will be to set up a webserver but this is what I have so far for local control. Took a little over an hour to figure everything out. I can drive, turn on the camera and tilt it up and down. I opened up the keyboard and roomba settings so readers can see the values.

One of my other interests, vintage computers, is the video subject.

[Fraggboy]

That's crazy!! I remember my first computer, an intel 8088. I owned a Tandy TRS-80, a commodore 64, and an Apple 2c.

[mfortuna]

I had a TRS80, which was my first computer back in '77 or 78, followed by an Apple IIe and a Mac SE. I own them all again now, and paid a lot less then when they were new.

Maybe 30 years from now I will have a vintage roomba

[Fraggboy]

I remember reading DOS programs from magazines, and typing away to play the game/program. Those were the days!!

[TechGuy]

Sorry for this off topic post...
My first computer was a first generation Commordore PET. Then, the second one is TRS80 Model 1. I hacked the TRS-80 ROM to dual boot CPM and TRS80 OS. NVRAM was not available at that time. It will be expensive if they are available back then, I burnt a new EPROM after I made a mistake. It was time consuming if one does not have in-circuit emulator...

[vic7767]

And putting the whole program into one Kilobyte of RAM then saving the program on a casette tape.

[sageman]

talking of duel booting at this very second im about to restart my comp to put mac lepard on me laptop

[mfortuna]

Here's roborealm's webserver. I tweaked some of the controls to the left of the image to be camera controls. I have to create the proper icons for the camera up, down, and on/off buttons. I don't like the way the roomba drives via the web interface but I think I can make changes to the control program to fix that.

The roomba red in the picture is resting up for its next mission.