OLPC Telepresence

Updates! This is an ongoing project. I will be updating this instructable, but my blog is updated more frequently.

One Laptop per Child (OLPC) is a new, non-profit association dedicated to research to develop a $100 laptop, a technology that could revolutionize how we educate the world's children.

This instructable shows how to couple an OLPC with an iRobot Create to create a telepresence robot. Using a simple web interface, users can drive the Create, monitor its sensor readings, and explore the world across the internet through the attached OLPC's webcam and microphone.

Materials:

• OLPC
• iRobot Create (includes Create serial cable)
• USB-to-serial adapter
• Stick on velcro or duct tape

Optional materials:

• 2 Female/Male Kyosho Battery Connector pairs
• 25 Pin Male Solder Cup DB25 Connector
• Solder
• Electrical tape or heat shrink

Optional tools:

• Soldering iron
• Volt meter
• Wire cutters
• Wire strippers
• Hair dryer (if using heat shrink)

Step 1 Connect the USB-to-serial Adapter and the Create Serial Adapter

Connect the USB-to-serial adapter to the Create's serial adapter.

Comments

[Jr Hacking kid]

where can i get an olpc for my own

[paperboy_825]

You can get one at laptop.org

What you do is you buy one for $100 and a school or child that can not afford one will receive a laptop and you will receive one as well

[ghostis]

Ebay is your best bet. Some G1G1 participants are selling theirs. The G1G1 program ended on 12/31/2007.

[wolf555hound]

So you can use this laptop as a Webcam? Could it work somehow with Pc's for like a wireless one? i got mine a while ago, and I just started messing with it, and i've been interested with the webcam.

[rrrmanion]

firstly i think they are still doing the give one get one or may have resume doing so(a us address is required, secondly if it works with Linux surely a mini laptop such as the acer one, the Asus EEE-PC or the MSI wind etc... would all be sufficient?

[cotton]

how do you get tyhe laptop i want one to experimaent and dose it run windows if so what coppy

[AzurusNova]

Where can I aquire one of these computers to work on myself?

[Xellers]

Try e-bay.

[MindTorm]

Will this only work with the OLPC operating system or can it be adapted to other linux distros? I hate to even say it, but possibly ubuntu? *gasp* yeah I know I said it..I have a roomba and an old ibm T23 running ubuntu and was wondering if I could use the software to cobble something together with existing hardware, or if it was specific to the hardware setup you have here...

[im3733]

The OLPC runs on Ubuntu. believe it or not.

[ghostis]

As shipped, the OLPC XO-1 runs a customized version of Fedora.

[omnibot]

What's so bad about Ubuntu? With the 7.10 it's ready to install hasslefree, ie I no longer get calls from friends asking what to do with windows bluescreen. Nice instructable to .. hope the olpc make it to europe soon.

[damonkohler]

There's some code that's specific to the OLPC. But, for the most-part, it's just Linux :) You could certainly get it running on Ubuntu.

[leevonk]

I've been trying to figure out how to control my robots via the web for a while, could you try to make a tutorial on the installation and use of the control software for robots in general (not necessarily the OLPC connected to an irobot create). This would be awesome, thanks for the help

[makechan]

Where is your God now?

[tgokeefe]

Will this work with a standard Roomba?

[damonkohler]

PyRobot supports both the Roomba and the Create. Though, most of the development is focused on the Create. So yes and no. Yes it can be done. No it won't work out of the box. The first version of this was on a Roomba actually.

[evanwehrer]

You can get these in the developer program at www.laptop.org

[whatup.dub]

Wow, It'd be great to get to hack up an OLPC. Since they "mesh network" could you swarm them? Maybe send your iRobot OLPC's into mine fields and the such? Maybe "chemically questionable" areas with sensors and gps to map out hazards? I think it would be cool to send a few into a factory to check the extent of a hazardous spill instead of risking human lives, etc., etc. "Is that a radioactive ape!? Bring up the web interface, deploy banana!!"

[TheMadScientist]

try as you might, you will never be able to drop enough bananas to fill its hunger...

[damonkohler]

Hah. Awesome. I'm sure there could be some swarming applications too.

[Punkguyta]

This looks pretty sweet, great project I will say, any future plans as far as more add ons? I bet there are a few more things to be added on.

[damonkohler]

Thanks, and sure, there are loads of things to be done. PyRobot (the underlying Python library) is not nearly complete. I think the first thing I'll be trying to improve is audio and video streaming. Right now it works, but it's a little clumsy.

[Punkguyta]

Could you put compression on the video stream? That might help a bit as I'm guessing those OLPC's aren't all that fast eh?

[dduke11]

Awesome instructable man! For the status page you should have a schematic of the roomba and have the various sensors light up when they're activated.

[damonkohler]

Good idea!

[Ora]

AHHHHH! Where did you get that? I've been trying for about a year to get one! I would appreciate it if you would point me in the direction where you purchased yours.

[damonkohler]

Sorry, they handed some out at work for us to play with. I don't know how to purchase one.

[Fenwick]

May I ask where you work?

[damonkohler]

I'm a Googler.

[Ora]

Oh yes, great instructable. Now parents of children unable to go to certain events/places won't have to shell out thousands of dollars to have their less capable children be a part of society.

[rrrmanion]

i robot the manufacturers of the create already make a robot able to do the same its called the connect R sort of thing heres a link :http://www.irobot.com/sp.cfm?pageid=338