Canada
Asked — Edited
Resolved Resolved by Rich!

Question Regarding Ez-B V4 Wifi Robot Controller

Is it programmable to be able to autonomously perform if there is no wifi available? If yes, during its autonomous performance would it save all the data that sensors have captured?

Communication with cell phone device, I guess that is without a doubt is possible with compatible extensions. If so, could experienced users suggest one to me?

Following are the tasks I am looking to complete

  1. Autonomous platform with sensors to obtain following information: Distance to obstacles, Temperature, Direction, Speed, Distance traveled
  2. Communication via cell phone device
  3. While in autonomous mode, I'd like all the sensor information to be stored, is there SD card extension for data storage or has it already been implemented so users can see the traverse of the robot?

So far I've been going at it with Arduino and now making a complete transition.

Thanks,

  • Ankit


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United Kingdom
#1  

Unless I have missed something huge, the V4 also requires a PC at all times for it to function - this is what gives it much more power than an Arduino.

I had heard talk of a module which would allow an arduino to be connected (I think it was in one of Neik's videos from his visit there) but as it stands, I'm of the impression that the V4, like the V3 requires a PC to control it.

There has also been talk of an iOS version of the software but nothing confirmed yet. Mobile communication is limited to the http remote control and telnet.

#2  

What @Rich said... However, having WiFi on board gives some interesting options if you have a modern smartphone, a data plan, and are willing to set your robot out unattended with your smartphone (or a MiFi type device) on board.

You could have the robot connect to the mobile hotspot of your smartphone or MiFi, and communicate with a PC running at "home base" via the internet. Only thing we need to work out is port forwarding. Easy on most MiFi devices, which typically have full wireless router menus and allow for that. With a Smartphone, probably need Android and Rooted to get a tethering app that will do port forwarding, Certainly Verizon's wireless tether app doesn't support that. You'll also need a way to determine your smartphone/mifi's public IP address so the computer knows what to connect to. Again, probably requires a rooted device and an app, but I am sure such exists. I'll research and update when I have a little time, because this is something I would like to be able to accomplish (although my initial plan was to have the PC on the robot, the new board opens up some possibilities that were difficult to accomplish before - so, redesigning again...).

Alan

Canada
#3  

So this means, without a PC, the board wont function at all. Also, with the on board computer, does it save log files for each second of the process?

And without a computer, would it be able to connect with RC controllers? Like Dx6i from spectrum?

United Kingdom
#4  

Correct, the EZ-B requires a PC. ARC requires a Windows based PC running Windows 7 or Windows 8 where as the SDK can be used to work on other operating systems however this requires more work.

The EZ-B is as powerful as it is due to the PC doing all of the hard work, which is also what makes it so easy. But with nothing to tell it what to do it will not function.

With ARC you could have a script running which can log whatever you want it to log however "out of the box" this is not a feature of ARC. It would be a very simple script to write if you required logging though.

It needs a computer to operate at this time. Again, there was talk of an iOS version of ARC. There is the bones available for Android if you are up for writing an android app. Linux could be used but again requires the SDK and writing your own app (borrowing code from the EZ-OpenBot).

#5  

@ankit , I'm glad the community was able to answer your question. Do you mind marking the thread as resolved ? Thanks in advance! - Josh