Roboteq makes mobile robot design available for free download

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Oct. 20, 2003

Roboteq Inc. has created a mobile robotics demonstration platform and is making the mechanical, electronic, and software design available for free download on its website. According to Roboteq, the platform, called the "PC-bot", is highly extensible and is meant to serve as a basis for a wide range of customized mobile robot designs featuring web cameras, motion detection software, and more.

(Click here to enlarge above image)

The battery-operated, 4-wheel-drive, 1.5 by 2 foot robot features Roboteq's new AX2550 DC Motor Controller along with one of VIA's tiny EPIA Mini-ITX PC-compatible motherboards. The VIA motherboard controls the PC-bot via an RS232 serial interface to the Roboteq motor controller. The VIA motherboard also interfaces to an 801.11 wireless LAN card and a USB video camera, thereby providing a live video feed to a remote laptop computer where an operator can drive the robot and obtain telemetry data.

Roboteq PC-bot and wireless remote control
(Click above image to enlarge)

The software for this initial implementation is based on Windows, "because of availability and speed of integration," a Roboteq spokesperson said. However, the spokesperson said Roboteq envisions that Linux-based software that boots from a Flash card or USB pen drive will eventually be developed, and the company plans to support community efforts along those lines.

Roboteq's PC-bot design -- including mechanical and electrical drawings, assembly instructions, and software -- is available for free access at Roboteq's website.

A few typical enhancements Roboteq anticipates include:

Eliminate the hard disk by booting the OS from a USB pen drive or Flash card
Use an open source operating system such as Linux
Add navigation instruments such as GPS, compass, and sonar
Do image recognition
Add speech and sound via the Mainboard's sound card
Carry and operate a robotic arm
and more . . .

Roboteq has established an email list associated with the PC-bot.

(Click here for further information)

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Home \| News \| About \| Contact

	Ziff Davis Enterprise Home \| Contact Us \| Advertise \| Link to Us \| Reprints \| Magazine Subscriptions \| Newsletters Tech RSS Feeds \| White Papers \| ROI Calculators \| Tech Podcasts \| Tech Video \| VARs \| Channel News
	Baseline \| Careers \| Channel Insider \| CIO Insight \| DesktopLinux \| DeviceForge \| DevSource \| eSeminars \| eWEEK \| Enterprise Network Security \| LinuxDevices \| Linux Watch \| Microsoft Watch \| Mid-market \| Networking \| PDF Zone \| Publish \| Security IT Hub \| Strategic Partner \| Web Buyer's Guide \| Windows for Devices
	Developer Shed \| Dev Shed \| ASP Free \| Dev Articles \| Dev Hardware \| SEO Chat \| Tutorialized \| Scripts \| Code Walkers \| Web Hosters \| Dev Mechanic \| Dev Archives \| igrep
Use of this site is governed by our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Except where otherwise specified, the contents of this site are copyright © 1999-2009 Ziff Davis Enterprise Holdings Inc. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Ziff Davis Enterprise is prohibited.