Ask and you shall receive…
This little feller can certainly climb…
This was entirely done using Linux. from compiling of the “wasd” sketch, to uploading, to using Serial Monitor to control via keyboard.
Will next try replicating this in Windows 8.1 + hyperterm.
Then I guess we start on XBees…
Very nice indeed. Looking forward to seeing more videos.
Thanks! XBee modules inserted & up & running. Rover is free from it’s umbilical cord now.
Interesting problem came up . So, I’ve assembled Heathkits, soldered for years, even made my own Timex Sinclair Z80 computer years ago (you younger folks will need to Google that one). So this is embarrassing…
Yeah… when soldering the XBee headers… be careful. I had placed the board solder trace side up / component down, and used a small bit of cardboard to keep the un-soldered header pushed up against the board while we soldered the pins in. Ahem. Don’t do this. Solder promptly ran down the pin hole and partially **filled the pin #1 on the header **which I did not discover till later. 
Good thing for vacuum solder removal tools - problem fixed.
Had a bad moment there initially when I couldn’t get the XBee to plug in though. In future, I would use a bit of tape to hold the header in place and prop the board so it is on it’s edge or slightly angled trace side down. Not upside down. I have a non-conductive vise/gripper on my soldering station, so I have no excuse at all for that whoops.
Oh BTW: Regarding the XBee & Linux - USB adapter is 100% plug & play in Linux Ubuntu / Mint distros. I literally plugged XBee into USB adapter, then into a port. Red LED immediately lit on the adapter. Turned on Rover (which had the other XBee already plugged in as noted above), started Arduino, opened serial Monitor, and drove off on wireless. Just like that. I cannot believe how easy that was. There is no “hyperterm” in Linux, but there are some alternatives like minicom or Cutecom as examples. I’ll test them out & see which one seems suited for Rover / robotics.
With wireless range, I now notice that the two motors are not the same speed, so I’ve had to modify as follows: int rightspeed = 248; I’m sure everyone’s will be different.
I guess the next video should be showing off XBee cordless advantage and more adventures. You should see the Cat when the Rover is on…
Geoff
