Genral inquiry regarding omni robot kit

[hanan]

Hi,

I would like to order several units of the 4wd omni directional robot.

I asked here before how to connect the robot to WiFi.
I have leraned I can also connect it to Xbee and APC220.

As I need to order several units, I would like to raise some more issues that I have :

1. From your expirience, for a newbe, what would be easier - control and adress several robots (need to send driving command for each robot from remote computer) with WiFi (TCP over IP) or with Xbee (and then use parsing to adress each robot)?
2. Would I want ultrasonic/IR sensors can you mount them on the vehicle for me? Do you also make the connection with the Arduino?
3. Wireless – If I order xbee units - can you make the config fo me? (binding for the RX-TX pairs)
4. Movement accuracy – I need the vehicle to be very precise in its movements. For each of the axis of the movement X, Y will it move in straight line in each axis, or will there be a slight variation (i.e. the vehicle will slip) – if so - how much for a flat aluminum plate?
5. Sample code – Can you provide me with sample code for the following? :
   a. Code for movement in each direction X,Y, turn, and control speed?
   b. Code for encoder to send feedback how much did it move in each direction?
   c. Code sample for ultrasonic and IR – how to measure and send their data?
   d. Code sample for sending and receiving messages from Arduino over Xbee?
6. If in the future I will need to make the enclosure bigger (for some additional order) in the X-Y-Z dimensions (+5 to 10 cm) is this something you will be able to do for me?

Best regards,

Hanan.

[hanan]

Hi,

Thanks.
The kit is the 4WD 100mm Mecanum wheel robot kit 10011.

1. Ultrasonic / IR - What type of ultrasonic and IR from your site I can choose so they can connect to the arduino in the robot kit 10011? (I can choose any kind? - Don’t want to order a certain type and find our here I cannot do that)

2. Sample code - As addressed above, I am referring to the robot kit 10011 - Do you provide sample code as asked below? (understood you are a distributor)

3. Xbee issues -
   I see the arduino in the kit 10011 has an IO expansion board, with slot for xbee. - It’s already mounted inside the enclosure and connected to the arduino?
   a. Can I mount this one as the xbee on the IO board? - “Maxstream 1mW XBee Transceiver Module (UFL Connection)” robotshop.com/sfe-maxstream-xbee-transceiver-module-ufl-1.html
   b. As the arduino is inside an enclosure, I assume I better have a long antenna - Can I use this one? - UFL Antenna robotshop.com/productinfo.aspx?pc=RB-Sum-24&lang=en-US .
   c. The problem - I want to mount payload above the enclosure. Where is the location of the antenna connection with reference to the enclosure dimensions? - Do you have a drawing?
   If there will be a problem as the payload might take the whole area on top of the enclosure - what can you suggest me? - can I somehow make the antenna go out from the front/rear area (where you can see the ultrasonic sensor in the picture) - What are the component that I need to buy from your site for this one? - Perhaps I buy this one - “Xbee Arduino Shield” robotshop.com/sfe-xbee-arduino-shield.html mount it somwhere where I need it, and wire it directly to the IO board or to the Arduino? (not very elegant though, no?) - to which pins on the arduino I should connect it that way? (there is some breakdown of the xbee pins on the arduino board?)
   d. connecting the xbee to a remote laptop:
   I can connect the laptop with this one, right? - Droids SAS XBee - DTE Serial Board (DB9)
   e. But as the arduino is inside the enclosure, I would like the option to program it also from the laptop. Is this one compatible with the arduino inside robot kit 10011? - DFRobot Wireless Programming Module for Arduino - robotshop.com/dfrobot-wireless-programming-module-arduino.html
   It says - “… You will need at least one Xbee Adapter and one of the following shield…”. - Shouldn’t this be enough? - “DFRobot Xbee USB adapter” robotshop.com/dfrobot-xbee-usb-adapter-3.html
   f. Does the DFRobot Wireless Programming Module comes with an antenna? Can I connect UFL antenna to it?
   g. Will I be able to remotly program the arduino, or does the enclosure behave as a Faraday cage? (not unless the antenna will be outside right?)

4. For longer operation of the robot - can you provide with other batteries which last longer and fits with the robot kit 10011?

5. Can I switch the omni wheels with other regular wheels for this kit? - what regular wheels from your site matches this robot kit 10011 ?

Thank you for your patience,

Hanan.

[hanan]

" Can you explain what you hope to do with this? "
I thought I must have the antenna outside the enclouse to be able to send/recieve data.
However, if the payload is exactly above, then I need somehow to have the antenna poping from the sides or alike, and then connect it to the arduino.
… and I asked for your advise how to do it, and I suggested, maybe I can mount the xbee with the antenna somewhere else, far from the arduino, I will mount it on Xbee Arduino Shield and connect it with wires to the arduino?

If you say I can still recieve and send data then it does not matter…

Regards,

Hanan.

[cbenson]

Can you specify which omni-directional robot you are considering?

1. From your experience, for a newbie, what would be easier - control and address several robots (need to send driving command for each robot from remote computer) with WiFi (TCP over IP) or with Xbee (and then use parsing to address each robot)?

XBee is easier if you are new to robotics - when you send commands, just specify which robot (and have that robot waiting for that specific command). In essence, you “name” them; “Greg… do this” (none of the other robots should react to “Greg”.

1. Would I want ultrasonic/IR sensors can you mount them on the vehicle for me? Do you also make the connection with the Arduino?

We do not offer such services.

2. Wireless – If I order xbee units - can you make the config fo me? (binding for the RX-TX pairs)

We do not offer such services.

3. Movement accuracy – I need the vehicle to be very precise in its movements. For each of the axis of the movement X, Y will it move in straight line in each axis, or will there be a slight variation (i.e. the vehicle will slip) – if so - how much for a flat aluminum plate?

Even with encoders, the accuracy is not 100%, and there will be “slip”. The only way around that is to bind the robot to a track, which limits its motion. We don’t offer raw materials at this time.

4. Sample code – Can you provide me with sample code for the following? :
   a. Code for movement in each direction X,Y, turn, and control speed?
   b. Code for encoder to send feedback how much did it move in each direction?
   c. Code sample for ultrasonic and IR – how to measure and send their data?
   d. Code sample for sending and receiving messages from Arduino over Xbee?

This depends on which product you are considering, though RobotShop does not provide coding services; you must understand we are a distributor and our focus is to sell products.

5. If in the future I will need to make the enclosure bigger (for some additional order) in the X-Y-Z dimensions (+5 to 10 cm) is this something you will be able to do for me?

We don’t offer design / building services.

[cbenson]

1. Ultrasonic / IR - What type of ultrasonic and IR from your site I can choose so they can connect to the arduino in the robot kit 10011? (I can choose any kind? - Don’t want to order a certain type and find our here I cannot do that)

There are four ultrasonic sensors already included, and the microcontroller has room for many more. There are only the four mounting points for the sensors, so it’s up to you to devise ways to mount additional sensors to the chassis.

2. Sample code - As addressed above, I am referring to the robot kit 10011 - Do you provide sample code as asked below? (understood you are a distributor)

There is some sample code available.

3. Xbee issues - I see the arduino in the kit 10011 has an IO expansion board, with slot for xbee. - It’s already mounted inside the enclosure and connected to the arduino?

There is no XBee in the slot, but you can certainly add one. The I/O expansion comes mounted.

a. Can I mount this one as the xbee on the IO board? - “Maxstream 1mW XBee Transceiver Module (UFL Connection)” robotshop.com/sfe-maxstre…ule-ufl-1.html

Certainly - any XBee should work.

b. As the arduino is inside an enclosure, I assume I better have a long antenna - Can I use this one? - UFL Antenna robotshop.com/productinfo…-24&lang=en-US .

It’s a 2.4GHz antenna with the proper connection - on paper the two should work together. However, they are not advertised as working together and we have not tested them ourselves.

c. The problem - I want to mount a payload above the enclosure. Where is the location of the antenna connection with reference to the enclosure dimensions? - Do you have a drawing?

There is no slot for an antenna / connection; it’s up to you to create one, or choose an XBee module with integrated antenna.

If there will be a problem as the payload might take the whole area on top of the enclosure - what can you suggest me? - can I somehow make the antenna go out from the front/rear area (where you can see the ultrasonic sensor in the picture)

You should try it with an XBee with integrated antenna first before modifying the chassis.

What are the component that I need to buy from your site for this one? - Perhaps I buy this one - “Xbee Arduino Shield” robotshop.com/sfe-xbee-arduino-shield.html mount it somwhere where I need it, and wire it directly to the IO board or to the Arduino? (not very elegant though, no?) - to which pins on the arduino I should connect it that way? (there is some breakdown of the xbee pins on the arduino board?)

Can you explain what you hope to do with this?

d. connecting the xbee to a remote laptop: I can connect the laptop with this one, right? - Droids SAS XBee - DTE Serial Board (DB9)

You should choose a USB to XBee breakout board. The Droids SAS XBee breakout you specified does not have a connector.

e. But as the arduino is inside the enclosure, I would like the option to program it also from the laptop. Is this one compatible with the arduino inside robot kit 10011? - DFRobot Wireless Programming Module for Arduino - robotshop.com/dfrobot-wir…e-arduino.html
It says - “… You will need at least one Xbee Adapter and one of the following shield…”. - Shouldn’t this be enough? - “DFRobot Xbee USB adapter” robotshop.com/dfrobot-xbe…adapter-3.html

Yes, though you will need a second XBee mount if you also want to use an XBee module, and even so, you will still need access to the board inside the chassis. We suggest you code the onboard controller to follow set commands and output the sensor data so you don’t need to re-program it too often.

f. Does the DFRobot Wireless Programming Module comes with an antenna? Can I connect UFL antenna to it?

No antenna needed.

g. Will I be able to remotely program the arduino, or does the enclosure behave as a Faraday cage? (not unless the antenna will be outside right?)

The range is reduced because of all the metal, but you can still send/receive signals. The underside is not completely enclosed, and you can use the robot in either orientation.

[cbenson]

Understood. You should get decent range with a normal XBee with integrated antenna. You can always try your approach, and you would only need to move the antenna outside - not the entire XBee module.