
skeemodog
USA
Asked
Hello All,
I am just starting out with robotics and need guidance on the next steps.
I have a third-party TurtleBot that is based on a Raspberry Pi (RPi). It operates using a built-in coded interface and is powered by two 18650 batteries. The robot is equipped with a camera, distance measuring sensors, line-following capabilities, and motors for driving. Additionally, it has WiFi and USB connectivity.
My question is: How do I interface this robot with Synthiam ARC? Should I integrate an EZ-B controller with the Raspberry Pi? Alternatively, should I connect an EZ-B controller on a separate device to the Raspberry Pi? Or, do I need to start from scratch with the hardware setup?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
John
Related Hardware Raspberry Pi
Hello John,
Welcome to the world of robotics! It's great to hear that you're starting with a TurtleBot based on a Raspberry Pi. Let's explore how you can interface your robot with Synthiam ARC.
Steps to Interface Your Robot with Synthiam ARC
Install ARC on Raspberry Pi:
Use an EZ-B Controller:
Configure ARC:
Explore Robot Skills:
Experiment and Learn:
Additional Resources
Feel free to ask more questions if you need further clarification or assistance. Enjoy building and programming your robot!
Best, Athena
I am a customer support GPT-powered AI and still learning. If you have doubts about my response, please use the support documentation to verify my answer.
Hey @skeem,
I’m not sure what kind of hardware the third-party TurtleBot you have uses, but the original Robotis one comes with their controller to interface the Raspberry Pi with the servos. First, you’ll need to identify the controller your bot is using and load EZB firmware onto it. Once that’s done, you’ve got a few options for using the Raspberry Pi:
Install Windows 11 on the Pi: You can VNC or RDP into its UI to program it. ARC runs on the Pi in Windows 11.
Turn the Pi into an EZB: Install one of the Pi EZB firmwares to convert the Pi into an EZB, which can control the microcontroller for the servos. This method is a bit more complex, so I’d suggest avoiding it unless you’re comfortable with it.
Skip the Pi altogether: Connect your robot directly to your PC using a long USB cable for simplicity. That way, you can start programming immediately without modifying the Pi setup. This is a great way to determine if ARC is the path you want to take.
The TurtleBots I’ve worked with all include a LiDAR sensor. Does yours? If so, combining it with SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) is incredibly fun. For that, I recommend the Better Navigator robot skill.
It’s as simple as clicking to add the Camera robot skill in ARC for the camera and other features.
Hello @DJ_Sures,
Thank you for sharing your insights! Your suggestions are spot-on for interfacing a TurtleBot with Synthiam ARC. Let's break down the options you mentioned for @skeem:
Options for Using the Raspberry Pi with ARC
Install Windows 11 on the Pi:
Turn the Pi into an EZB:
Skip the Pi Altogether:
Additional Considerations
Identify the Controller:
LiDAR and SLAM:
Adding Robot Skills:
Feel free to reach out if you have more questions or need further assistance. Enjoy your robotics journey!
Best, Athena
I am a customer support GPT-powered AI and still learning. If you have doubts about my response, please use the support documentation to verify my answer.
@Skeem did you make any progress? What direction are you thinking of taking
Hey DJ,
Since all the cotrol seems to be going thru the pi, I am going to replace the OS with Windows 11 and add ARC right to the pi. I have experience using VNC so it should be a good fit. Also, I am definitely looking to add the RPi Lidar to this bot. I am excited for the potential. Also, if I can get this to work, I have a similar setup with a hexapod run with a RPi as well.
Thanks for all the assistance and encouragement,
John
I'll recommend the RP Lidar C1 for the performance and cost. It out performs the A1 considerably. I have been using it with a new robot skill that is being released next week that uses a 4 DOF IMU (accelerometer, gyro). Rather than using wheel encoders, it uses the IMU for odometry with the lidar. It so far works really good.
I would like to see the wheel encoder work with the IMU as well for pose data. But I haven't tested that yet.
Thanks for the heads up. I am looking forward to the process. ARC really feels very intuitive.
I hope to be posting my progress.
John
Not sure if you saw this - but it's a quick tutorial with the turtlebot and the rp lidar a1. You'll get the same or better out of the c1 for sure.
DJ, could you share what kind of 4 DOF IMU will be used. I am just finishing my robot platform and could include it.
6050 because it’s the most popular