Boe-Dar Simulated Boe-Bot Robot Radar Display Identifies Robot Location
Provided by Phil Pilgrim as a complete project you can build
The Boe-Bot Radar (Boe-Dar) project lets the Boe-Bot transmit its position wirelessly to a PC host program which displays the data in a simulated "radar" screen. This project is done entirely with standard Parallax products and requires no special programming other than some fine-tuning of encoders. The Boe-Dar PC software program is provided for free below courtesy of Phil Pilgrim. The Boe-Dar software shows the Boe-Bot's coordinate position relative to home, travel velocity, event detection (infrared) and graphs the path of travel.
Boe-Dar software is a starting point for more advanced applications. With modification of the example code you could add bumper switches or ultrasonic rangers for better object avoidance in large rooms, determine how the Boe-Bot could get back to its starting location, or use a digital compass to aid in traveling a predominant direction across a building while encountering multiple objects. The SureLink modules work reliably up to 500 feet.
| Boe-dar Boe-Bot |
Boe-dar Software |
PC-side Receiver |
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Boe-Dar Hardware Requirements
In addition to your PC, setting up a
Boe-Dar project requires the following Parallax hardware
and software:
-
Boe-Dar Software (.zip)
- Boe-Bot Full Kit (#28132)
- Boe-Bot Digital Encoder Kit (#28107)
- (2) SureLink RF Module Sets (#30065)
- QuickLink RF Demo Board (#30066)
Boe-Dar Example
Starting with on our standard Robotics 2.0 infrared object detection circuit, add the Boe-Bot Digital Encoder Kit and the SureLink RF module to the chassis and breadboard. Program the Boe-Bot with the Boe-dar.bs2 source code.
The SureLink RF module is connected to your PC's serial port, where it will first be configured for a certain mode of operation. Then, it will receive coordinate and event data from the wireless Boe-Bot and send to Boe-dar software (the documentation explains the data packets). The Boe-Dar.exe software will receive the data and plot the Boe-Bot's path of travel.
Start the Boe-Dar software. Configuring Boe-Dar is a cinch. The EVENTS button plots colored squares for each object encountered by the Boe-Bot. TRACK displays the path of travel and SWEEP provides a plot of the Boe-Bot's current location. Boe-dar may be configured for a larger range, also. The example below shows the Boe-Bot traveling down the hallway before it reached the end to turn around.
SWEEP function enabled shows current location of the Boe-Bot.
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