About one week ago, I want to build a WiFi robot. The simple idea is hacking old Wireless Access Point or so called Routers into programmable platform. Wireless routers is small computer with processor and multiple I/O port. Usually cheap and easier to development than 8051-like single-chip systems. We do not need to create architect from scratch. Just do something like restoring firmware with OpenWRT/DD-WRT. There are many great embedded-linux os for routers with Broadcom CPU, and fully open-source. Choosing one of them suitable for our requirements is not a hard work.
At this moment, routers that prices less than $2,000 NTD often have a lot of functions. Support USB for WebCam/SoundCard/Storage installation. And WRT embedded-linux os have build-in device drivers. The only thing we need to do is put it all together, configure and write a little programs.
R/C cars are also cheap, just bought one from kid's toys mall. Usually less than $500 NTD, thanks for Made In China. Cheap R/C cars often use RX-2/RX-3 chip that's Realtek design from Taiwan. RX-N series chip has 5 pins for Forward, Backward, Right, Left and Turbo control. The R/C cars product provide us other parts of circuit, so we save a lot time and few money. We need to make new circut to hook these pins, controlled by signals received from RS-232 or another port type.
I search for many web sites. Many people build their own WiFi robots and sharing experiences via web.
Here and
here have useful guides.
Yesterday, I looked for videos in Youtube. That's
many and many people show their own robots. I found an interesting video named "WiFi-Bot: A Wireless LAN Enabled Car". The really cool guy use a Tablet PC to control R/C car. In the live show, his car runs easy and smooth. So amazing, that's god damn cool. At the last few seconds. He keep e-mail address tell viewers, request for more docs/refs is welcome. You can see this video below.
I want to request some details from this cool guy. But, the hardest big problem is my poor, poor and poor English. If the letter only contains short text like "Give me more about WiFi-bot data. Thanks!". I think it is impossible to get reply. Finally, I wrote down few lines to explain my request.
I'm looking for Computer-controlled Car design.
But never have experiences.
I prepare some parts, like WiFi AP, R/C Car, ..
But that's so hard to put together.
Your video on Youtube "WiFi-Bot: A Wireless LAN Enabled Car" is so interesting.
I wish to know more about it.
Would you like send me some details docs ?
Thanks a lot.
After two hours, the man Hadi Esper(he has good heart and good understanding) reply me. He attach two PDF documents, desing and implementation docs for WiFi-Bot. The robot is his final year project at university. And he also tell me "feel free to approach me with any other enquiries". Thanks god, I found nice person would teach me something about building WiFi robot.
My weakness part is the circuit design. I have no background knowledge and skills about Electronics. The low-end hardware I/O, signal control is another big problem. But I think this startup means everything will solves in the futher if I have enough executive determination.
To Imagine, Thinking, Just Doing. The 3-step process is my rule for goal-achievement. Maybe we can't make good enough result, but always learn good experiences. Everything is just play for fun, so don't worry be happy.
Master 60' magazine of this month provide a useful tips:
"There is one quality which one must possess to win, and that is definiteness of purpose, the knowledge of what one wants, and a burning desire to achieve it." --- Napoleon Hill
