RaspberryTortoise
Contents
Status
This project is in the concept stage. We are down selecting components and looking at feasibility for modification and hacking.
Current Objective
To interface the Raspberry Pi GPIO to control a rover like vehicle.
Ambitions
This is a list of the things we hope to achieve with the Tortiose.
- Network enabled communications (wifi & SSH)
- Web enabled controls
- Visual Feedback (camera)
- Semi-Autonomous operations
- Object Detection & Avoidance
- Environment Exporation and mapping (GPS?)
- Area Patrol
Concept Design
Platform
The chosen platform for the RaspberryTortoise is a BigTrak [1].
BigTraks were a popular motion-programmable 'robot' vehicle originally released in the late 1970s through to the 1980's.
These toys have been making a come-back as a 'nostalgia' toy. The are relatively cheap and contain all the key components needed to make an working robot. Existing work has identified the major components of the original BigTrak were simple[2]. This project aims to modify the control system to inteface with the Raspberry Pi.
Questions / Problems to be solved
Power Requirements
The RPi is known to run off 5V[3] it should also run off 4xA batteries, up to 700mA is required to operate the device and any attached peripherals. It is understood that should the RPi draw more current that thermal fuses will kickin to protect the devices from damage.
We do not yet know the power requirements of the modern BigTrak, the original vehicles run off a 6V power source provided by a stack of batteries [4].
Adding an RPi and associated peripherals is expected in increase the load such that more battery capacity is required.
Before the power management can be decided at least one modern BigTrak need to be investigated.
Power Sources
- Possible rechargable batteries
- Solar Cell for daylight operation or to recharge / top-up battery
- 11000mAH battery used in other RPi projects
- Solar Panels for increased battery life?
Vehicle Interface
- How to interface the RPi to the motor controller and sensor board.
Network Connectivity
- WiFi - so we can SSH in to the RPi to issue new commands etc.
Sensors and Peripherals
- Camera
