https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCjjBlcown8

Well this was fun. Ingredients:

• Makeblock Bluetooth module To execute instructions from smartphone.

• LG Optimus Dynamic Strapped on robot for sensors. WiFi to talk with Mission Control. Bluetooth to control robot.

• Tornado server Runs on PC. Connects to phone via SL4A. Talks with web UI using websockets.

• Websockets To stream sensor data from phone to web UI. Also relays commands from web UI to robot.

• Web UI Basic webpage with Javascript to handle keyboard events and draw things

• D3.js For rendering the accelerometer G-meter (not shown in video)

• HTML Canvas I just used a 2-D grid and rectangles (fillRect) to draw the robot’s snail trail.

• Physics v = d/t; d = v*t Estimate distance traveled by robot using motor “velocity” and time.

• Ye Olde Trigonometry To convert bearing + distance traveled to x-y position in room.

You know, this could make a good school project. Lots of applied basic science, math and programming.

I promise to put up details and code in a later post :)

(If I forget, please email aaron@secretsciencelab.com and I’ll share everything with you.)