Date: July 15, 2007 Functionality ------------- Component that will give a robot the ability to know it's location and travel through a user generated map. I don't really want to specify an amount of accuracy because I really want exact location at all times but I'll accept it to be at least as accurate as it takes for the system to function reliably. If that's inches fine if it's feet fine. I want to have the ability to rank each piece of the map with a hazard level or preferred area of travel 0-9 ranking 0-1 could be hazard level 2-7 be room labels 8,9 could be a preferred area of travel. I want the bot to build a map on the fly marking hazards and recalibrating position at set intervals or events. I would like to get this functioning to the best of our abilities with a minimum of componets as specified hereafter. I might add other components if required or if other functions are wanted. To help with troubleshooting it would be helpfull to have a link to a PC and have it transmit back data for viewing only. This could be left on the final product if desired but I don't want it to be required to function. Hardware -------- Platform: Parallax Propeller "navigation system" should be self contained and not part of the CPU of the robot. Sensors: PING, IRPD, Compass, and wheel encoders. Communication with external systems: RF link or Blue Tooth link to a PC and have it transmit back data (from Robot to PC) for viewing only. Communnication between operator/user and the robot: not defined yet What I'm missing in the specification is the purpose of the robot to which the mapping system will be added. Of course one could say that the mapping system should fit any application (robot) requiring mapping capabilities but that is not fair. As mentioned before: position data should "be at least as accurate as it takes for the system to function reliably". This implies that we must agree what applications we have in mind and as a result which accuracy is needed for such applications.