I bought my router off the self at Best Buy and used a scaled down version of DD-WRT. To be honest, I don’t now what is missing from this version. It allows me to bridge, and increase the transmit power of the router. The two things I was looking for. It took a few hours one weekend to find the downloads, carefully read the instructions and perform the process. There are quite a few warnings about turning your new router into a “brick” so be careful.
I looked at the maxport info, but the communication protocol doesn’t seem to be http based. The below board might be interesting but I’m not sure of how it is programmed. I’m interested in http based boards as the client gui could be just a web page.
Great idea. I had never heard of a web control board. It looks like a more straight forward approach. I’m controlling the cubloc over the internet with a VB program. I haven’t tried to put the controls on a web page yet, though they say it’s possible.
The below web.zip file may have some info. Looks like a java applet is used for communication. Bottom is a forum that might have additional info. There is another forum that I need to check as somebody there uses the lantronix products for home automation via the web.
This is what I was looking for. I had seen references to a Java based interface but was not able to find an example. Thanks zoomkat!
I received an email from the company I was buying my second drive motor from. It’s been back ordered until the second week of May. Looks like I have time for programming.
I have been reading a lot about the cubloc controllers and am in fact reading through the manual now. I really am liking what i see, and it is not very expensive, even for the CB405. I think I would get the CB220 and put it on an ABB, or the CB290 ($69.00, has RTC) starter kit ($141.00, includes the CB290). I believe I read that the CB220 is BS2 pin compatible (24 pin). The CB220 ($34.00) is a lot less expensive than the Basic Atom or Atom PRO too, which is a definite plus.
I have quite a bit of experiece with industrial PLC’s, Allen Bradly, Modicon, Siemens, etc, but no experience at all with micro controllers. One of the things that attracted me to the Cubloc was the ladder logic capabilities. Max seems to have packaged the controller/software for industiral users. It’s been reliable enough. I crashed the RC car quite a few times and have not had any problems with the Cubloc stuff. I’m using the CB280 on a 32M board, and Relay8 boards.
One word of caution. I spent a few days getting everything to talk. First, my laptop to the USB/RS232 cable. Then the laptop to the Cubloc. Then the Laptop to the Maxport/Cubloc. The driver for the cable just didn’t work so I downloaded a generic version from the internet. Everything else was an issue of having the firmware for the Cubloc matching the firmware for the Cubloc Studio and Latronic download software. I actually called Max on the phone and he emailed me a link to the correct firmware and walked me through it in about 5 minutes.
One nice feature is that there are 2 RS232 connections. I put the Maxport on one and then use the second to download programs from my laptop.
On another note: The second drive motor for my rover was backordered. So I put one motor on today and dove two wheels on one side of the car. I stood on top of the rover and it drove me up a pretty good hill. So there is plentyof power. I then held one of the non drive wheels and it was able to “Skid Steer” in a circle. I like the idea of Skid steering because of the ease of going either forward or backwards. I intend to drive the car straight into a docking/charging station, and then straight back out of it. I’m picturing a dog house for the docking station (garage). I suppose I’ll paint “Bot” over the door.
I finally received the second drive motor that was backordered in April! So I went back to work on my security rover and now have a working version. I still need to build a docking/charging station, paint the body, and add some gadgets (like bump sensors and alarms), but it looks like this thing is really going to work. You may recall I intend to launch it a thousand miles from home to patrol a vacation property near Canada.
We’ve named it Turtle, since it’s such a speed demon. Due to the internet communication delays we designed it for 20fpm. It weighs in at about 120lbs, so we don’t want to run anyone over.
You have done excellent work on Turtle! From design to implementation, Turtle is a very well done robot.
Are you sure having it go so slow all the time is what you want? I realize Turtle is quite heavy, but it still might be nice to have a couple faster speeds you can select for covering longer distances if needed.
I share a vacation property with my brothers. I’m in South Carolina and the property is on the St. Lawrence river, across from Canada. We have network cameras to watch the wild life, and yahoo’s on the river. But the camera is never quite where you want it. So I’ve built one I can drive around.
I started the project with an RC car but it was way too fast. I cringed each time the 20$ car with $500 of electronics crashed. Then I built one out of a kids car, complete with two air soft uzis. The internet control adds quite a bit of delay. A seond or so to send the signal, another second or so to see the effect and then another second or so to get a new command to the car. Combine that with a bunch of kids with ADD and it spells trouble. I built this one sloooowwww, and the controls don’t allow it to travel more than 30’ in one command. BTW, the kids car only has one drive wheel and always got stuck. It only traveled 2 mph, but was still too fast for accurate navigating over the internet. I just point turtle at a spot across the yard, press go, and then I go get a cup of coffee.
Well, Turtle is nearing completion. I’ve lowered the profile to reduce wind resistance, given it a new paint job, built a garage and charging station and added a GPS.
I posted a new Youtube video of Turtle entering the charging station.
All I have left to do now is add sonar and a lot of programming. One thing about the Maxport server I’m using is that it allows me to download new microcontroller programs through a wireless internet connection. I don’t even have to leave the kitchen or remove turtles hood
A note about using GPS. It’s great if you’re out in wide open spaces, but if you approah a building or a tree, it throw the signal off quite a bit. Like a couple hundred yards.
WOW, This is by far and hands down the absolute most amazing and fastest build I have ever seen on the forums! I know it wasnt a month project, must have took a lot of time for sure, but you made it seem like you put it together efficiently on time and money. SO COOL! 8)
I bought them at electricmotorwarehouse.com. They were very expensive, about $300.00 each. I ordered one in January to test it, then when I tried to order the second one it was back ordered until the end of August. I was busy doing other things so I left it on back order. It’s an industrial Lessen motor.
Presently I am putting together a rover that is approximately 1/2 the size of your third generation rover.
The chassis is 12.25" X 17.25" with overall dimensions of 21" X 21.5" with the wheels attached. The wheels are not quite to scale at 6.75" dia (s/b 8" dia), but are readily available from SupreDroid Robots as a complete wheel/tire, bearing, half-shaft, and coupler kit.
I plan to drive the wheels with Lynxmotion GHM-14 12vdc motors in a direct drive skid steering configuration. Guidance will be provided by a Thermal Sensor Array (TSA) and Parallax GPS. I presently have a prototype 4WD1 Rover equipped with a Thermal Sensor Array and a Parallax 900MHz transreceiver that takes steering commands from either the TSA or joystick console equipped with the same Parallax 900MHz transreceiver and an LCD display for Rover telemetry. Three Basic Stamps provide the computing power, but I may use a Parallax Propeller in their place to reduce the component count.
I some day may attempt to build a Rover of your dimensions, but my property is just not big enough at this time for a Rover of that size.
Wow, great project. I looked up the components you plan to use and it was quite a learning experience. I had never seen the TSA before. And I have no idea how to go about doing radio telemetry, but it’s probably more accurate than the gps I’m using.
Good luck and keep us updated.
I added a Maxbotix Ultrasonic Range Finder today and it works great. I’m going to add two more so I can navigate between objects (like parked cars).
Looks like I have time for programming.
