 Robot Control (and not only) over IP Networks
This project was submitted to Parallax by Emmanuel Fragoulopoulos:
The aim of the project was the control of electronic devices or a robot at a remote location. The project started as an “Interactive Remote Surveillance System” for my thesis in MSc in Computer Science but after few improvements I have been able to control a small robot and electronic devices and also read sensor data from a remote location.
The electronic devices are connected on the I/O Pins of a BASIC Stamp® 2SX microcontroller. Also a temperature sensor is connected to the BS2SX module so the client can read temperatures from the remote location (We can use any types of sensors to collect data from the environment).
The architecture is based on a Client-Server model. The Client system consists of:
a. A Personal Computer which is connected to the Internet. It is running a simple Web-Server like Tomcat which serves to the Client a web-page containing the Client user interface.
b. The BASIC Stamp module is connected to one of the PC’s serial ports.
c. A web camera which it used to capture images from the remote environment.
d. An application which controls the data communications between the PC and the BS2SX module. This application also helps to configure the parameters of the communication protocol and some options of the image capture subsystem. This application sends data, like the status of the I/O ports or the sensor readings, to the client.
Figure 1. Server Side Application GUI
The Client system consists of a Personal Computer which is connected with the Internet and browses the page that the Server System provides.
The only requirement for the Client is to be able to run a browser with the Java Virtual Machine so the user can interact with the remote environment through an Applet.
Figure 2. Client GUI, No connection with Server
 Figure 3. Client GUI after the connection with Server
The advantages of the system are:
a. It is platform independent (Because of the use of JAVA programming Language)
b. No Client software installation. (Uses Applet Technology)
c. Can control any device that is connected to the BASIC Stamp module.
d. Client-Server communication can be achieved over any IP Network.
e. Takes pictures and creates video from the under surveillance environment. |
