Programming Octavius in Software

Creator QR Code ISO/IEC18004 in Software Programming Octavius

18

length, it may seem complicated, but it actually contains very little code that we haven t already discussed Essentially, the program allows us to change Octavius direction whenever we want, or to stop him and discontinue his exploratory behavior completely All the while, Octavius is continually updating his ultrasonic range-finding data The best part is that the program can be easily modified whenever I add new sensory capabilities to Octavius

HailOctaviusbas can also be easily modified to run on our master processor, so if you decide to build your own 20X2-based robot, it would make a great starting point for exploring the word of PICAXE robotics Of course, our Hail, Octavius! project is just the beginning Its main purpose is to provide a framework within which to safely endow a robot with additional sensory/motor functions as he grows and develops We ll discuss some of the many possibilities in the Epilogue, along with what s in store for Octavius as he continues his journey of exploration and development

IN ROBOT YEARS, OCTAVIUS IS STILL in his infancy; he s just beginning to toddle about, and he hasn t even learned to talk yet! (Although, as we re about to see, that s high on my list of priorities) Now that I have completed the manuscript for this book, I ve been thinking about some of the capabilities that I would like to add to Octavius The following list comes readily to mind, and I m sure you could easily make several additions to it:

Additional EZ0 ultrasonic ranging sensors: Just as I began writing this Epilogue, the two additional EZ0 ultrasonic ranging sensors that I recently ordered arrived in my (snail) mailbox It s been a struggle to continue writing, but as soon as I complete the Epilogue, Octavius and I are going to have some fun! Speech synthesis: To help Octavius learn his first words, I ll probably use the Devantech SP03 Speech Module Although I recently read that it may have been discontinued, I happen to have one on hand, so it s my best choice for now The main function that I have in mind for the SP03 is as a replacement for Octavius seven-segment LED display It would provide a much more flexible output device for real-time status reports and other helpful information as we go along Battery monitoring and status reporting: So far, I have been quite impressed with how well Octavius batteries have been functioning In spite of the fact that I have been spending a

considerable amount of time with Octavius lately, his batteries seem to be able to run for weeks at a time without needing to be recharged Even so, it would be a real convenience if I enabled him to verbally report his battery status from time to time It s a really simple project (just interfacing a couple of his ADC inputs and voltage dividers with his two batteries), so it won t be long before Octavius will be able to tell me when he s hungry

Self-charging capability: Of course, the next logical step would be to enable Octavius to feed himself whenever his batteries are running low My first thought is to implement an infrared beacon that Octavius can use to find his refueling station I m sure it will require a fair amount of thought and experimentation, but it s a project that I ll definitely tackle before long Wireless communication link to a Mac or PC: I have done some experimenting with inexpensive wireless links, and I find them to be frustrating, to say the least Recently, I began working with the xBee Communication Modules They are more expensive than the typical 315MHz and 434MHz units that seem to be available everywhere, but they are also much more reliable Since I m willing to spend the extra cash to foster my boy s development, that s what he s going to get!