Simple Arduino Robotics Platform!

Step 4 Add a Netbook to explore unknown worlds from a distance

With a full PC onboard your Arduino robot, you are able to drive your robot from as far as your WiFi can reach without any cords to limit the robot to one area.  A good candidate for this job is a netbook, because netbooks are tiny, lightweight, have a built-in battery, have WiFi, and most even have built in webcams that can be used to stream the robot's view back to a safe place where you can control it.  Also, if your netbook is equipped with mobile broadband service, your range is practically unlimited.  With enough batteries you could drive your robot to the local pizza place and place an order over the webcam (not recommended, robots aren't usually allowed in pizza places, even if they were people are likely going to try to steal the robot and maybe even the pizza).  It may also be a good way to explore the dark depths of your basement from the comfort of your office chair, though adding some headlights may be very helpful in this case.

There are many ways to get this working, many are probably a lot easier than mine, though I am not familiar with Processing or script-based languages so I opted to use Linux and C++ to create a wireless control link between my base station (a.k.a. old ThinkPad) and my new Lenovo IdeaPad netbook that is connected to the Arduino drive base.  Both PC's are running Ubuntu.  My ThinkPad is plugged into my school's LAN and my IdeaPad is connected to my WiFi access point that is also connected to the school's LAN (I couldn't get a reliable video stream from the school WiFi since everyone else is using it, so I set up my own router to provide a good connection).  A good connection is especially important in my case since I have not implemented any error-checking or timeout.  If the network connection suddenly drops, the robot keeps going until it crashes into something or I run and stop it.  This is the main factor behind my decision to slow down the drivetrain both by gearing the motors down and implementing a software speed limit.

Comments

[Midwestmariner]

btw nice dr pepper can on step 4

[Midwestmariner]

great guide! Im gonna get an arduino for christmas probbably. I cant wait for that