www.botdream.com

You’ve got it right, Botdream project is now going into Sleep mode (no to say Halt!).

Things are now getting complicated, too much work, no time for family and hobby, some personal life changes occurring, make the botdream robot project far away from his goal, so I’ve decided to re-think on this blog content and maybe start something new from scratch that will have a conclusion! I got a bit lost with some other projects (that were also interesting, here are some examples of what I’ve been doing:

• Making some tests with PIC 18F4550 to work with a CNC (Interface with the Step Motor driver)
• Testing Linux Ubuntu OS (only at normal user level)
• Exploring Debian command line with the SLUG project
• Getting into Linux Embedded Development for Bifferboard hardware (from March to October 2009):
  • Giving my first steps into Linux Embedded World
  • Testing Linux OS OpenWrt with Kernel 2.6.27.5 for Bifferboard
  • Beta tester for the I2C communication Bus over Bifferboard OpenWrt (found that I2C Slave device Write command was hanging I2C bus - software bus)
  • Streaming 2 webcams with Bifferboard+OpenWrt+MjpegStreamer (not documented due to lack of time for final tests and wiki)
  • 1st wiki post BB hardware related: Power bifferboard from 12VDC battery
  • 2nd wiki post over BB OpenWrt SO: Use Bifferboard as Serial-to-Network adapter
  • 3rd wiki post over BB OpenWrt SO: Connect to Internet using a Huawei Mobile Broadband Modem
  • 4th wiki post over BB C and dietlibc development with a GPS module: Connect to a Serial GPS
  • Testing several wifi dongles to work with BB OpenWrt (checkBB mailling-list)
  • Exploring Bifferboard alternative OS that runs from 1MB internal flash with kernel 2.6.30.5: BB Kernel+Initrd (OnBoard-Flash-System)
  • Creating some nice scripts to help getting BB OnBoard-Flash-System up and running quickly: BBOnBoardFlashSystem-2.6.30.5
  • Beta-testing new I2C stuff for the OnBoard-Flash-System: got it running thanks to Biff
  • Beta-Testing new GPIO functionality for the OnBoard-Flash-System: BBGPIO
  • … and some other cool projects that I still have in my drawer (on of them a new Linux powered robot)!

So things got a bit off-track, a little more into the Linux world that requires some hard work and lots of free time to keep up with the community! No Pics and robot development for quite some time, so that is why I’m re-thinking on my blog content, I guess that I prefer to share something that I can really follow instead off having some old posts that are pretty well explained in some specialized blog!

I will also be moving from webhosting server (hostmonster / bluehost S#cks - they don’t keep up with their promises), still haven’t decided if will mirror the botdream related stuff. Slug stuff will live, slug rocks!

Thanks for all your support, hope to be back soon!

Nelson Neves.

It has been quite a while since I have last posted about my robot work … well I have been away from this project mainly due to lack of free time, I’ve been trying to develop some commercial projects using microchip pics, trying may way in into the microcontroller world!

From the free time that I’m left from this projects, I have been studying Linux Debian and making lots of tests with my favorite hardware piece, my NAS drive Linksys NSLU2 (aka SLUG) hacked with Debian distro ‘etch’! I have been able to connect a Logitech Quickcam Pro 9000 HD webcam and stream live video (MJPEG - Motion Jpeg) over network from Ethernet, wireless and 3G mobile Internet interface. More on that later has I will make a tutorial on this and post it here (SLUG section)! Also been working with Graham (sunspot.co.uk) on Slug’s I2C channel to control other electronic devices such has I2C digital temperature sensor, PIC 16F690 to control PAN and  TILT servos attached to webcam, etc. (just a teaser, more on that later).

So, with all of this stuff going on, somethings had to be stopped … unfortunately my robot was one of the selected! Sorry guys!

This is not the end, I do want to complete my robot, even with so many nice hardware coming up, it is very tenting to give up on my robot and start with a new platform and redesign the all concept! Let’s see what happens and hope for the best

It’s been quite a while !!! I have finally dropped all my extra-projects to take good care of my botdream.com.

Still need to finish the 2nd H-Bridge circuit to power up the DC motors. Next I will need to create the hardware interface between PC and modules (H-Bridge 1 and 2, temperature, distance sensor, etc). For that I will use a Microchip PIC 16F628A that will connect to the PC Serial port to communicate with applications and by the other side to an I2C BUS that is connected to the modules!

I’m currently moving from town and need to settle down before I can restart this project … sorry about this! I have also a lot of work to develop and no time left for my hobby. I’ll be back as soon as possible!