Linux router as embedded computer for robots

Posted by gidesa on January 14, 2010, 8:31 am

Hello,
I am wondering if it is possible to use a device with embedded Linux
(as wifi routers, NAS, etc.) as a real embedded computer for a robot.
Especially wifi routers today are cheap, often contain an embedded
Linux version, and have some I/O ports (Lan and Wifi, of course, plus
serial console and Usb sometimes).

Posted by Joe Pfeiffer on January 14, 2010, 11:23 am

> Hello,
> I am wondering if it is possible to use a device with embedded Linux
> (as wifi routers, NAS, etc.) as a real embedded computer for a robot.
> Especially wifi routers today are cheap, often contain an embedded
> Linux version, and have some I/O ports (Lan and Wifi, of course, plus
> serial console and Usb sometimes).

The hard part is how to get enough IO -- the routers really don't have
much. If you've got a platform that will funnel its IO into a serial or
USB port, then it's probably feasible. That's how I'm running an
iRobot Create from a 486 SBC. Of course, that means there's really a
lower-level controller on board too.
--
As we enjoy great advantages from the inventions of others, we should
be glad of an opportunity to serve others by any invention of ours;
and this we should do freely and generously. (Benjamin Franklin)

Posted by D Herring on January 14, 2010, 11:09 pm

Joe Pfeiffer wrote:

>> Hello,
>> I am wondering if it is possible to use a device with embedded Linux
>> (as wifi routers, NAS, etc.) as a real embedded computer for a robot.
>> Especially wifi routers today are cheap, often contain an embedded
>> Linux version, and have some I/O ports (Lan and Wifi, of course, plus
>> serial console and Usb sometimes).

>
> The hard part is how to get enough IO -- the routers really don't have
> much. If you've got a platform that will funnel its IO into a serial or
> USB port, then it's probably feasible. That's how I'm running an
> iRobot Create from a 486 SBC. Of course, that means there's really a
> lower-level controller on board too.

I was looking at those netbooks (e.g. EEE PC or Dell Mini) with SSD
hard drives and having the same thought. These are potentially
game-changing for moderately-sized mobile robots, if you can just get
the I/O.

First time video input looked like the easy part!

- Daniel

Posted by Joe Pfeiffer on January 15, 2010, 1:14 am

> Joe Pfeiffer wrote:

>>> Hello,
>>> I am wondering if it is possible to use a device with embedded Linux
>>> (as wifi routers, NAS, etc.) as a real embedded computer for a robot.
>>> Especially wifi routers today are cheap, often contain an embedded
>>> Linux version, and have some I/O ports (Lan and Wifi, of course, plus
>>> serial console and Usb sometimes).

>> The hard part is how to get enough IO -- the routers really don't have
>> much. If you've got a platform that will funnel its IO into a serial or
>> USB port, then it's probably feasible. That's how I'm running an
>> iRobot Create from a 486 SBC. Of course, that means there's really a
>> lower-level controller on board too.

> I was looking at those netbooks (e.g. EEE PC or Dell Mini) with SSD
> hard drives and having the same thought. These are potentially
> game-changing for moderately-sized mobile robots, if you can just get
> the I/O.
> First time video input looked like the easy part!

There was an article on using the FTDI FT245R USB/parallel interface and
a PIC processor in the August '09 Circuit Cellar, which probably has
what somebody would need to get the interface from a netbook to a robot
going. Unfortunately, it was buried under a title about automatic
Homeland Security threat-level indication, so it was easy to miss.

Though embedded single-board computers still look like the easy and
slightly cheaper way, to me.
--
As we enjoy great advantages from the inventions of others, we should
be glad of an opportunity to serve others by any invention of ours;
and this we should do freely and generously. (Benjamin Franklin)

Posted by gidesa on January 15, 2010, 11:19 am

> Joe Pfeiffer wrote:

> >> Hello,
> >> I am wondering if it is possible to use a device with embedded Linux
> >> (as =A0wifi routers, NAS, etc.) as a real embedded computer for a robo=

> >> Especially wifi routers today are cheap, often contain an embedded
> >> Linux version, and have some I/O ports (Lan and Wifi, of course, plus
> >> serial console and Usb sometimes).

> > The hard part is how to get enough IO -- the routers really don't have
> > much. =A0If you've got a platform that will funnel its IO into a serial=

> > USB port, then it's probably feasible. =A0That's how I'm running an
> > iRobot Create from a 486 SBC. =A0Of course, that means there's really a
> > lower-level controller on board too.

> I was looking at those netbooks (e.g. EEE PC or Dell Mini) with SSD
> hard drives and having the same thought. =A0These are potentially
> game-changing for moderately-sized mobile robots, if you can just get
> the I/O.
> First time video input looked like the easy part!

Indeed I just built a robot controlled from a netbook, using an home
made PCB with a Pic micro, connected to the netbook by an USB-serial
converter.
See my site:
http://gidesa.altervista.org/robot/robot1.php

But the netbook is a bit expensive, and of course it's not suited to
control a little robot, the one that now I would build.

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