Remote control

Tasks to complete

CRITICAL

   - venue tests to determine the level (if any) or IR interference.
       This MUST be undertaken wih all venue lights ON, and if sunlight will anywhere near the field, then tests should also be undertaken during strong sunlight.
   - Remote team has a simple test ciruit.
   - recommend Sensor team undertakes seperate tests with the different IR LEDs/configuration they will use!

Select/Source/Prototype/Finish

   gamepad 手柄 for remotes - hardwired to controller
   general search
   two cheap examples, but need to research interface - anybody know about this / want to do it??
        example 1
        example 2

Central controller

   - work with sensor team
   - input to detect soccer ball
   - outputs for both goals, and robo control (1 for all, but possibly distributed - for example to "light towers" in each corner of soccer field)
   - inputs for ALL remote controls/gamepads
   - configure software/macros or create hardware and software to send commands to robots
   - create 4 light towers for each corner of the soccer field to contain the transmitter LED(s)
   ?? also charger - or charging is seperate

Communications protocol

   - work with software team
     - here's an Attiny2313 example remote control robot
         it is based on the Atmel appnote AVR410
   - work with sensor team

Robot IDs

   - work with software team
   - fixed or manually set (switch or in firmware)

Software - in robots

   - work with software team
   - detect if signal for "me" (this robot)
   - decode action, inplement action

Tasks completed

2nd meeting notes

Team members created and tested simple test circuit to check for venue IR interference.

Team members discussed with sensor team many aspects of the Proposal for integrated Infrared sensors

1st meeting notes

Design points - ideas:

   Lutz suggested try narrow beam IR, so user has to aim at the robot to control. This simplifies the IR remotes to use standard remotes with no modification, and also means every receiver can be identical.
   IR receiver LED to be on TOP of robot - pointing vertically up, and unobstructed from top and sides, so IR control signals can reach from any direction. (**3D model team please note this)
   having the remote control high (say 1 metre) over the robots highly desired to:
       help children aim over the edge of the wall and be able to control the robot
       increase signal strength/control distance
       easier aiming of remote at one specific robot
       ** this means that playing surface should be on the ground OR the people with remotes need to be on raised platform. This may need discussion with the "lady" as will a general discussion on crowd control (keeping a safe distance so no robots 'get lost' and so the most people can actually see what is going on!), plus other facilities - plenty of power points, safe area to lock stuff up, .......
   Proposed robot actions to be controlled via the remote control system:
       Forward/backward
       left/right
       Stop
       Allow for some possible future actions such as "kick".
   Above implies go/stop, not variable speed.

Assumptions:

   IR receiver (LED & circuit) is this teams responsibility. Also see question 2 below!

Questions to other teams/people:

   Anyone have an IR receiver LED in mind (on hand?)
   With the exception of the sensors (IR receiver LED and whatever used to detect walls & ball) - Are ALL the electronics (motor control, processor, IR receiving circuit, charging, ...) going on ONE PCB?

The Remote control team are meeting at 1pm on Saturday at Xinchejian to test the feasibility of the narrow beam remotes. Please bring some remotes, cardboard or other material to test this idea.