I think the handing the envelop option would be best for this application security wise, as the door would probably be to heavy and the arm you are looking at would only be 5-7inches long, barely enough to get the door open.

Hi all,

Based on your feedback, I have continued and done some reading in the forum + youtube, ...etc.

I come down to an easy question I could not figure out yet. How, in practice, can I trigger a saved routine via Internet ( Wifi) to the Ez-Robot.

I understand that via ARC, I can build my routine and give it a name. and then load it to robot.

Next question, is how to trigger it reliably ( I will have a keypad near the door, when correct code is typed, I would like it to trigger the Routine) ?

Thank you for your guidance,

I would use an Arduino instead of EZ-B. Its a shame to use an EZ-B for such a simple task. Regards.

Quote:

I understand that via ARC, I can build my routine and give it a name. and then load it to robot.

This is not accurate. ARC or ARC Mobile needs to be running on a PC or mobile device in constant communication to the EZ-B. This gives you all of hte power of a real computer rather than the limited instructions of a micro-controller like an Arduino. The EZ-B itself has no memory or ability to run stored programs.

There are literally hundreds of options then for triggering something because you don't need to just manage the inputs that the EZ-B can take, but can use anything that can communicate with a PC as well.

Alan

Really, there are a ton of options for this.

A script can run non-stop that is monitoring for events. An event could be a pir sensor switched or really any sensor, or even a file placed on a hard drive. Anything pretty much could trigger the script to then run another script in a different thread. You can have as many scripts as you want to have that can each either work with other scripts or work independent of other scripts.

Think about this... You could train the face of the individual when at the front desk. From there, when the person goes to the room or whatever it is, it could recognize the person, greet them, open the door and do whatever else you want it to do.

You could have up to 254 rooms all working in this way all communicating back to the same copy of ARC. It would probably take you less time to setup the project to do this than it would to install a pre-built system, seriously.

The added benefit would be that the cameras could trip when a PIR sensor trips outside of someones door. This could be used for security. Messages could be played for the guests through the speaker that is specific to the room that the person is in.

If you just want to unlock the door, use an arduino. If you want to get creative about what you want this to do, and add the ability for you to expand on this as much as you want and as new ideas pop into your head, go with the EZ-B.

Hi all,

Thank you for your patience.

OK for Arduino will do it being a simple task. I am more in a mindset to get into learning what can be done, via robotic platform and change a few things every now and then. I will rather go for the EZ-B as to expand from there. Also, the style of the robot is more appealing as I am not confident that with Arduino, I can do something good looking for the guests to take pictures and be impressed !

TechGuru, That clarifies it thank you ( the triggerring scripts / + wifi )

The PC controls it via WIFI. So the idea is to trigger via the PC , which gives options. Can this PC be in the cloud somewhere and have a local IP on the WIFI local network ( like VPN) ? ( previous post, was referring to microphone on PC instead of on Robot)

CochranRobotics,

Thank you for all these possibilities.

I will get a device first and start experimenting. I'll share here as soon as I get something interesting

Quote:

Can this PC be in the cloud somewhere and have a local IP on the WIFI local network ( like VPN) ? ( previous post, was referring to microphone on PC instead of on Robot)

Yes, or you can port forward ports 23 and 24 to the EZ-B 's IP address, although I would not recommend that because port 23 gets a lot of hack attempts on any public IP adress.

EZ-B has a speaker but not a microphone, so yes, for any voice control it uses the PC' s microphone. There are options for doing that remotely too, although it unfortunately gets a bit complex (I have yet to find a simple WiFi microphone solution. Maybe DJ will make one someday).

Alan

@hakemrb

If you want to have a computer on board the robot to allow it to act on it's own without having to be wirelessly tied to a PC somewhere else, you could use a mini PC (One which is small and fits into a small box). Then, you would control it remotely using a VPN over your WiFi setup. The mini PC would, in turn, connect to the EZB-4 via the same WiFi setup. This would be easiest if they all were in client mode.

By running the ARC program on the on board mini PC and accessing that program from another PC (laptop or desktop) you can make changes, control the robot, write scripts, etc. and simply leave it running when done. The robot is then running entirely on it's own with no need to be wirelessly tied to a fixed computer somewhere else.

The WiFi connection can also be used to transmit notifications to other computers as needed to alert you, the human, to any problems it may have or simply relay information about what it is doing at a given moment. Heck, it could send you text messages even. Maybe call you up on the phone. And, of course, speak to you directly if you are nearby.