CLIPS interface

CLIPS [1] is an AI programming language, used in the course 31380, Intelligent Systems [2].

At Automation we have made a special version of CLIPS with an interface to our Small Mobile Robots. This version is available both in GNU/Linux and MS Windows.

The interface provides the following 3 CLIPS functions.

SMRConnect

SMRConnect()
SMRConnect(hostname)
SMRConnect(hostname, port)

In the first form, CLIPS must be running on the SMR itself. In the second form, CLIPS can be running on any computer on the network. In the third form, a non-standard port number can be specified - this is not normally needed.

  hostname:   The SMR to connect to. A string or symbol.
  port:   The TCP port to connect to. An integer.

A connection is established to the SMR server program. The return value is a Boolean, indicating success or failure.

NB! Before the SMRConnect call is performed the clipsserver must be started on the used SMR i.e. logon the SMR using ssh, start the server /usr/local/smr/bin/clipsserver and choose menupoint 17.

SMRTalk

SMRTalk(command)
  command:   The command to send to the SMR server. A string.

A command is sent to the SMR server program and the response is returned. The return value is a string.

SMRDisconnect

SMRDisconnect()

Any existing connection to an SMR is terminated. The return value is the Boolean TRUE.

Example

$ /usr/local/smr/bin/smrclips 
         CLIPS (V6.21 06/15/03)
CLIPS> (SMRConnect smr4)
TRUE
CLIPS> (SMRTalk "fwd 1 @v0.2")
"ID1"
CLIPS> (SMRTalk "eval $odox")
"0.997012 "
CLIPS> (SMRTalk "getevent 5")
"ID1 stopcond 0.000000"
CLIPS> (SMRDisconnect)
TRUE
CLIPS>