Instructions for getting started

Back to Robobot

This part needs to be redone

Major parts are deprecated, but some are OK.

Connect to the raspberry pi

There are more possibilities to connect to the raspberry pi:

• a screen and a keyboard (nice, but not good for a mobile robot)
• a net cable from Robobot directly to your PC (better, but still a cable)
• connect both the Robobot and your PC to the same local network using cable
• connect Robobot to net using a cable and the PC to the net that has access to the same net
• connect raspberry to eduroam (one of the others needed first to configure logon)
• there are other ways too

Connecting Raspberry pi to PC using cable

Connect your PC with Robobot using a network cable.

Your PC should receive an IP from the raspberry pi and the raspberry pi on the Robobot should have IP: 192.168.17.2, so logon (from Linux, or using putty):

Linux console command:

ssh local@192.168.17.2

Putty (Windows, Apple or Linux):

use ssh, IP 192.168.17.2, port 22
username local

ask for the password

Usefull Linux commands

Here is some common commands in Linux

ls     (directory file list)
cd     (change to home directory)
cd some_directory    (change to a subdirectory)
exit   (logout, e.g. of a ssh session)
grep -n string_to_look_for_in_a_file  *.cpp     (find a string in a file, e.g. a variable or a function)
sudo some_command    (execute a command as "root" - root is a superuser with administrator rights to everything)
pkill some_application_name  (stop (or kill) a running process with name "some_application_name")
pgrep some_application_name  (see if a process is running - good to use before a kill)
mv  from_file to_file    (rename a file)
cp  from_file to_file    (copy a file)
rm  some_file            (remove (delete) a file)
nano some_file           (simple text editor)
zip, unzip               (pack or unpack files -  try zip --help   to see how.
top     (see process load and memory usage)
make    (compile all as described in the "Makefile" in the same directory)
make -j4 (compile using up to 4 CPU cores - faster if more files need to be compiled)

All commands have an on-line help if you add --help or -h after the command. If this is not enough, then try

man ls

to get the manual page for the ls command.

Connecting network

Start by plugging the Raspberry Pi either directly to your PC or to one of the routers on campus. Make sure that you are on the same local network for this.

SSH into the Raspberry Pi by opening a terminal and typing

ssh local@jasmin.local

Replace jasmin with the name of the your robot

WiFi network

Now open wpa_supplicant.conf

sudo nano /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf

If you added an wifi access point, it probably looks something like this

network={
       ssid="device"
       key_mgmt=NONE
}

or

network={
       ssid="tdc432"
       psk="sectre_password"
       key_mgmt=WPA-PSK
       id_str=home

}

You can add any number of the "network" groups for all the networks you get across If you don't like the network password to be visible, see guide below.

Private network

Generate encrypted key with

wpa_passphrase mySSID secret776

if the desired SSID is "mySSID" and the password is "secret776", then copy the result into /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf (except the line with the password in clear text).

network={
       ssid="mySSID"
       #psk="secret776"
       psk=812439e952156aea9983f3df5a389cf3f9c2e9f30ae2624eaad1551612a6ef71
}

Connecting Raspberry Pi to Eduroam

When connecting to Eduroam you will eventually have to type in your username and password in the wpa_supplicant.conf-file. In order for your password not to be visible, generate a hash-code for it

echo -n password_here | iconv -t utf16le | openssl md4

Copy the hash-code and clear the terminal window

clear

Now open wpa_supplicant.conf

sudo nano /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf

Comment out or replace whatever in this file so that the content corresponds to the following

country=DK
ctrl_interface=DIR=/var/run/wpa_supplicant GROUP=netdev
ctrl_interface_group=0
update_config=1
network={
        ssid="eduroam"
        scan_ssid=1
        key_mgmt=WPA-EAP
        eap=PEAP
        phase2="auth=MSCHAPV2"
        identity="username"
        password=hash:your_hash_code
}

Replace username with your username for Eduroam, i.e. your student number and replace your_hash_code with the hash-code you generated in the previous step.

Reboot the Raspberry Pi

sudo reboot

When the Pi has rebooted, connect to it using SSH once again. Check that the Pi is connected to WiFi

ifconfig

Under wlan0 confirm that the Pi has received an IP (inet addr) and note down the first three sections of the IP - they are most likely 10.16.175.xxx

The MAC address (HWaddr) of the Pi should also be noted down - this probably starts with B8:27:EB:xx:xx:xx make sure to get all of it.

Remove the LAN-cabel and connect to the Pi using the IP

ssh local@IP

Replace IP with the actual ID of the robot.

Graphics (X)

If you want to forward the graphics from the Pi use -X when connecting

ssh -X local@IP

Find IP of robot

In case the Pi gets a new IP address after reboot, you can search for it using the MAC address and nmap. If nmap is not installed, start by installing it

sudo apt-get install nmap

To search for the Pi using the MAC address in terminal type

sudo nmap -sP 10.16.175.0/24 | awk '/^Nmap/{ip=$NF}/B8:27:EB:23:A0:F5/{print ip}'

where 10.16.175 is the first three sections of the IP you noted down and B8:27:EB:23:A0:F5 is the MAC address of the Pi. This should return the IP of the Pi.

Hardware Setup

All low level hardware is controlled by the Teensy microprocessor. For the most part, you don't need to make changes here, but some tuning and setup will be necessary. The easiest way to tune parameters and debug mission-lines is through the QtGUI interface:

svn co svn://repos.gbar.dtu.dk/jcan/regbot/qtgui qtgui

The installation might require additional software as listed here under python packages. A manual to QtGUI and possible mission-lines is available here.

Regulators

The Teensy operates with several regulation loops. These can be tuned for optimal performance. The regulators are adjusted under the "Control" tab in QtGUI. Following is listed working parameters for robobot primary functionality:

Velocity

The velocity regulator ensures that the robot keeps the intended speed under different loads. A good set of starting parameters would be as following:

Controller: Kp = 15 | Integrator: Tau_i = 0.15, Limit = 4 | Output limit = 9

Heading

The heading controller should ensure that the robobot keeps the correct heading, this regulator can be setup with:

Controller: Kp = 0.9 | Pre filter:  Tau_zero = 0, Tau_pole = 0.01

Follow edge

This controller helps the robobot navigate after lines marked on the floor. A good starting point is:

P-Controller: Kp = 0.075 

For the edge controller to work properly, a calibration under the "Edge" tab might be necessary, especially to detect white crossing and black crossing. In this case, make sure to calibrate values to the actual tape on the floor.

Calibrating front wheel

Some ROBOBOTs has a servo-controlled front wheel. This can be in conflict with the rear-wheel steering, so it needs to be calibrated.

The heading should also be adjusted by calibrating the nose wheel controlled by a servo. This is done under the "Servo" tab where servo 0 - the steering servo - should be offset so that the wheel actually points straight.

NB! controlling of servos using the REGBOT app is rather bad.

GIF of Robobot driving on tape-lines