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Web-Controlled Boe-bot — Parallax Forums

Web-Controlled Boe-bot

Without a clueWithout a clue Posts: 5
edited 2005-05-17 16:18 in Robotics
Hello all!

The parallax web includes an article stating instructions for creating a web-controlled Boebot is on their site under robotics.
·Where? I've searched and found nothing.
I'm still in the beginning phase looking for the required parts and basic instructions.
Can anyone tell me where the aritcle is or give me some tips?

TJ

Comments

  • Chris SavageChris Savage Parallax Engineering Posts: 14,406
    edited 2005-04-28 15:57
    TJ,

    ·· What reference·on the "Parallax Web" are you referring to?

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    Chris Savage
    Parallax Tech Support
    csavage@parallax.com
  • Paul BakerPaul Baker Posts: 6,351
    edited 2005-04-28 16:32
    A quick rummage through Parallax's articles turned up this: http://www.parallax.com/dl/docs/article/FCwLinux.pdf

    It is a web controlled cat-feeder using a stamp connected to a PC running linux and a web server. They created a Python based CGI script to provide the web interface. This is likely not exactly what your looking for but it should provide you enough information to get started with your project. Free PC versions of web servers (I use Abyss because its free and easy to configure) and scripting languages are availible on the internet.
  • Buck RogersBuck Rogers Posts: 2,185
    edited 2005-04-28 17:02
    Hello from Buck Rogers
    I remember that! It was created by a pair of consultants to satisfy their cats interest in eating all the time, when they are busy. It originated in Linux Journal magazine within the first few months of this year, or sometime last year. http://www.linuxjournal.com·

    I find it illogical that the couple would go this route, because there are actually more complicated solution for doing this. But it makes sense because the hardware from Parallax is simple in the extreme because people can adapt it for other purposes then feeding cats treats.

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    Buck Rogers

    www.gregg.levine.name
  • Without a clueWithout a clue Posts: 5
    edited 2005-04-28 17:57
    The article I read about it is:

    http://www.parallax.com/dl/docs/article/IntSprg03.pdf

    Thanks for looking into it.· A picture and article are on page 2.

    TJ
  • Chris SavageChris Savage Parallax Engineering Posts: 14,406
    edited 2005-04-28 18:05
    Hello,

    ·· That's an old article that we no longer have available on our site.· I'll see what I can do about locating the information, but can't make any promises.



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    Chris Savage
    Parallax Tech Support
    csavage@parallax.com
  • Without a clueWithout a clue Posts: 5
    edited 2005-04-28 18:35
    OLD ARTICLE????

    Seems like that's the stuff to publish now.· Lots of my hobby buddies are wanting to move in that direction.· Put a package together and market it, I KNOW it would sell!

    Tim
  • Ken GraceyKen Gracey Posts: 7,392
    edited 2005-04-28 18:54
    Tim,

    That particular implementation was using MicroWebServ, a PC-based product which has since been discontinued. It provided a PC-based web server which enabled the Stamp to replace variables within a web page. In its most simplistic format, it uploaded a new web page to a web site as often as it wished. For bi-directional control, MicroWebServ used a FORM-POST HTML code in which a user could enter data (or press a button on a web page) and it would be transmitted to the PC hosting the page and on to its serial port. The single-direction FTP page-replacement approach was very simple and effective, but two way control was a bit more complex.

    The MicroWebServ product was effective, but it was discontinued for a couple of reasons (a) general lack of interest - it was before its time about seven years ago and (b) lack of support from the designer.

    Since then, the Red-I Embedded Web Server took over as the best solution. Due to poor product management from the manufacturer, it was also discontinued. There are still other products that can be used to do the job (SENA, NetBurner, Lantronix, etc.) but we currently don't have such a solution from our company. I'm looking for one which would be the ideal fit, though. Web-based microcontroller control is of interest to me and it is currently a hole in our product line.

    And because the article was based entirely on MicroWebServ, it is useless at this point. I am looking for it anyway. Considering it required a whole PC and other, small embedded designs are available I don't think it is the best solution anyway.

    Ken Gracey
    Parallax, Inc.
  • Without a clueWithout a clue Posts: 5
    edited 2005-04-28 19:00
    Thanks for the research Ken,

    I'll take a look at some of those other s/w solutions while keeping my eye open for a new product line from Parallax.

    Thanks everyone!
    Tim
  • Ken GraceyKen Gracey Posts: 7,392
    edited 2005-04-29 02:15
    Tim,

    I found the documentation referenced in that article you were reading. It's attached to this post.

    Also, I notice that http://www.csmicrosystems.com/·is still showing MicroWebServ on their home page. This must mean, contrary to what I thought, that the product is still supported. If that's the case, the attached application should get you pretty close to making your robot web-controlled with their software.

    Sincerely,

    Ken Gracey
    Parallax, Inc.

    P.S. The other solutions I identifed are mostly hardware-based.
    pdf
    pdf
    Web Controlled Boe-Bot.pdf
    375K
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2005-05-13 15:06
    Ken's solution is software that requires your computer remain on and provide a serial port interface to the BasicStamp.· It is a bit heavy on the hardware side.

    There are other tiny web servers in the form of hardware that can interface with the BasicStamp and plug directly into a LAN.

    If I were to have a Web-based robot, I would use one of these two solutions·to generate code to either an IR tx interface [noparse][[/noparse]which would require line of sight with the robot] or a radio controlled data link [noparse][[/noparse]Parallax sells one].

    So, the whole project could easily be done.

    Sorry to say, I can't give you a specific name as I have never used one. But, there are several advertized in Nuts and Volts and I am interest in them.· I just don't have enough tme for all I have right now.

    This really begs the question of why Parallax doesn't have a prefered hardware solution. They seem to try really hard to provide a good array of hardware. My guess is that it is one of so many diverse projects that it has slipped aside in all their busy-ness.

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    G. Herzog in Taiwan

    Post Edited (Kramer) : 5/13/2005 3:15:02 PM GMT
  • Ryan ClarkeRyan Clarke Posts: 738
    edited 2005-05-13 21:35
    Siteplayer (netmedia) is an easy hookup to the stamp line...(see other threads about the Redi)

    Thread here:
    http://forums.parallax.com/forums/default.aspx?f=8&m=61276

    You can also look at the offerings from Lantronix, EDTP, etc...

    If you want more 'work' then I believe there has been a TCP/IP stack written for the SX chips...

    I have hooked lots of things up to the web- let me know if I can help...

    Ryan
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2005-05-14 12:32
    I didn't know that the SX chips could do the job.

    That is interesting as Parallax could provide there own.

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    G. Herzog in Taiwan
  • Ryan ClarkeRyan Clarke Posts: 738
    edited 2005-05-17 00:11
    http://www.sxlist.com/techref/scenix/sx48-52.htm
    http://www.sxlist.com/techref/scenix/lib/io/osi3/tcpip/isx_2_3_5.src
    http://www.sxlist.com/techref/scenix/lib/io/osi3/tcpip/index.htm



    Only the 48-52 pin SXes.

    Cool.

    Ryan
  • OrionOrion Posts: 236
    edited 2005-05-17 01:24
    WOW! there’s an N&V series waiting to happen.........
  • steve_bsteve_b Posts: 1,563
    edited 2005-05-17 12:41
    I've been looking for some serial/ethernet devices this last day or two....
    we have a Data Acq. system that dumps directly to the network but we have a separate project that requires a direct feed of this information (which is serial)....
    so I've found a couple of 'little boxes' that will let you communicate serial/ethernet somewhat easily.· You can also use them for serial-TCP tunneling (meaning you could use the ethernet network to send your serial commands to your device..)

    Here's a couple sites I found:
    http://www.precidia.com/products/ipocket_232.html
    http://www.neteon.net/prod.asp?pc=13&p=110&pcn=1-Port%20Serial%20Device%20Server
    http://scmstore.com/english/IPControl/Programmable&Embedded/default.asp

    The last one I like a bit more as it is a board that looks similar to all other stamp 'add-ons'.
    Pricing...well...I'd like to see the cheaper!! lol·· You can find multi-port ones but they just get more expensive as you add more ports.
    But these will also let you use a wireless router to communicate across the house to different devices (once it's converted to Ethernet you can get away with it of course you need one at both ends [noparse]:p[/noparse] ).



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    ·

    Steve
    http://ca.geocities.com/steve.brady@rogers.com/index.html
    "Inside each and every one of us is our one, true authentic swing. Something we was born with. Something that's ours and ours alone. Something that can't be learned... something that's got to be remembered."
  • Ryan ClarkeRyan Clarke Posts: 738
    edited 2005-05-17 16:18
    Yes, the Netmedia Siteplayers are inexpensive (relatively)- The siteplayer telnet module does just that, uses ethernet as a bridge to legacy serial devices.

    The vanilla siteplayer connects nicely to the BS2.

    http://www.siteplayer.com/
    http://www.edtp.com/ (look at packetwhacker)
    http://www.ladyada.net/techproj/aether/index.html
    http://www.modtronix.com/index.php?cPath=1_36
    http://www.lantronix.com/device-networking/embedded-device-servers/micro.html
    http://www.ponsphere.org/projects/ftb.php?pjt=spcb

    That should keep you busy for a while [noparse];)[/noparse]

    Of course you could try to find a Red-i on eBay as well...but there are LOTS of pre-made solutions for getting Stamps online, as well as getting ether to serial communication....

    Right now I'm working on a carrier board for the SX + etherjack & magnetics...

    My solution (and I think all of those I listed above) come in WAY cheaper AND SMALLER than those you found....

    Ryan
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