Exactly a year has passed since my last post on the Dogbot. I ended up getting very frustrated with my inability to get sensible odometry out of the Pololu Encoders using the Orangutan SVP auxiliary processor, and needed to put the project aside for a while.

I believe that I spend a good few weeks digging into the code, to see why I wasn’t getting sensible readings from either, or at times both, of the sensors. Then I gave up, and took up an easier challenge being learning PWM control, and started building the Retrograde Clock.

Recently, I picked up the Dogbot again, and determined that I would make it work. I worked out that one of the Encoders was not right, using my excellent new Seeedstudio DSO Nano. So, then I ordered a new Encoder. At the same time I ordered a new chassis for Dogbot, as the old one was damaged by my cleaner, and decided to replace the medium capacity Liquidware Backpack, used for driving the motors, with a high capacity variety.

I took the opportunity to rebuild the dogbot onto the new chassis, and to simplify the system to make it more robust. One construction change was to use the Wall Plugs as a flexible structure, and screw into their ends, rather than using them as a spacer with a bolt through the middle. This allowed me to use the ends of the wall plugs as mounting points, because they could be fastened tight. Previously, because of the angles, they had needed to remain relatively loose.

I have removed the rear mounted PIR sensor at this stage. It is easy to add again, at the appropriate time.

Following reconstruction, I found that the Encoders continued to give unusual (wrong) results. Finally, I looked into the details of the encoder outputs again, using the DSO, and realised that their outputs really NEED to be exactly tuned, using the tiny pots, to 50% duty square waves, otherwise the Orangutan SVP cannot get an accurate count. With this fixed, then the Odometry was built up accurately, measuring the count to travel a fixed distance. With this figure, the actual diameter of each wheel can be calculated, and hence the travel required to go in a straight line.

It is important to note, that Dogbot doesn’t go in anything like a straight line, with full power applied to each motor. The friction, and wheel size differ enough to make it curve quickly from the straight and narrow. So PID is absolutely necessary to keep it running straight. With PID implemented properly then, finally, Dogbot runs straight.

These photographs are taken with the display indicating two items. On the top line, the target distance, represented in x and y distance to travel, is noted. Also the deviation from correct heading to target. The instruction is requesting Dogbot to travel 50cm along what it has been told is the x dimension. The instruction is also implying that the Dogbot is initially facing in y direction, and needs to rotate its poise 90deg clockwise to face along x, before it begins its travels.

The code is set up to all allow specification of an initial poise, and a final poise, as well as x and y distances to travel, for the Transport Task to undertake.

The bottom row of the display shows the distance reading indicated by each of the three sensors across the front of Dogbot. Central indication being the I2C ultrasonic sensor, which is very accurate, but not at all directional. Left being the long range IR sensor, and Right being the medium range IR sensor. These sensors are very directional and can differentiate a thin rod or edge of a hand placed in front of them. Combination of these sensors will enable Dogbot to travel safely in a forward direction.

Not displayed is the output from the I2C thermal sensor. It has been tilted back, so that its vertical array of 8 pixels is looking up from +5deg to +70deg. It can see very small differences in temperature from ambient, which it also reports.

At this stage my work continues to get the Dogbot to consistently travel from one location/poise to another location/poise. Whilst I have the code in a state that it can achieve this, it doesn’t yet do it consistently, because of variables in the drive system that need to be properly tuned. And, I could improve the code a lot too. The code is a bit amateurish.

Notes to photographs

Liquidware battery packs have a on/charge switch that effectively isolates the battery. This has proven useful, as I can turn the motors off, whilst still programming the Orangutan SVP. Not designed, but in hindsight very useful.

To counter sagging voltages, and noise on the supply lines, I have fitted 1uF Tantalum capacitors on all of the sensors. This helps to ensure that they are getting a good supply when they are firing.

Both Thermal array sensor, and Ultrasonic distance sensor are canted up to get their cone of vision away from the floor. I have left the IR distance sensors facing parallel with the floor, as they don’t get false readings from the floor (assuming it is flat), and I don’t want to miss low objects that might interfere with the Dogbot.

I added the fishing weights to the rear of Dogbot to ensure it had good balance. It has sufficient weight to rear from the batteries to stand up properly, but when braking it is quite top-heavy. So, the low heavy weight at the rear helps to ensure that it doesn’t tip over.

Although there are no other items on the motor circuit, I have added some 1nF bypass capacitors on the motors. Can’t hurt.

It is alive. Here the IR glow from the sensors has been captured by the camera. Perhaps Skynet lives?

My next steps are to finish the Transport Task so that it can reliably go from point to point. Then, I’ll integrate more information into the Transport task from the accelerometer sensors, to improve directional accuracy. Then to build some mapping code to allow obstacles to be located and avoided.