XMRemoteRobot

Introduction

A project where we use smartphones and smartwatches as robot processor "brains".

This app is the messaging server which currently enables remote-control via "SignalR". That means we can control a wide range of distant devices over the public Internet.

For demos and quick testing our signals cause light patches on the device screen to change brightness. This gets detected by LDR sensors which feed into motor and servo control circuits.
For more precise control the device passes commands to microprocessors via bluetooth.

What's in the menu?

"Test01" and "Test02" are the test pages for larger screen devices, tablet or bigger.
"Robot01" and "Robot02" are the corresponding optional-extra pages for smartphones or other android devices acting as robot brains.

In "Test01" we get to click buttons on the left of the page and a rectangle on the right changes color. If nothing is happening try clicking the left "Register" button. The big deal here is that the command travels to a SignalR server and back which could be a journey of thousands of kilometres. We can check the journey time.

We can then click on "Change to Device" to make the right hand view disappear, then open this website with a smartphone, or other device, and click on "Robot01" in the menu. The screen left hand side gives us a "CommanderId" number which we need to enter into the smartphone to get a pairing happening.

"Test02" is our remote control for the drive motors of "Roxie the Robot". We can use a smartphone to open this website and click on "Robot02".
On the left is a green circle where we move the mouse to control "Roxie". We can also click "Change to GamePad" if we have a USB game controller available.

 

Videos

The "light patch" interface enables any device with a browser to act as a robot brain by opening a web page.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4PWizgi_Ck

Robot Remote Control Achieved
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVQCipqSoCs

Evolution of a Snake Robot
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kkDN4BqMLU

Snake Robot moves with "inchworm" gait
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fH-PG9sievw

Blog
HiTechFromLoTech is about looking for the hidden talents in ordinary and accessible technologies then putting them together in new and interesting ways for maker interest, education, and even research and invention.
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