activitybot-bluetooth-controller

This is a controller I wrote for my Parallax Activitybot to allow it to be controlled over bluetooth from a web page connected through a NodeJS app.

How it works

The Activitybot has the RN-42 bluetooth interface. The NodeJS app uses Eelco's [node-bluetooth-serial-port (https://github.com/eelcocramer/node-bluetooth-serial-port)] NodeJS module to connect to the robot. It also uses Alaa-eddine K's [eureca.io (http://eureca.io/)] to handle communication between the NodeJS App and the web page.

Requirements

• [ActivityBot (https://www.parallax.com/product/32500)]
• [RN-42 Bluetooth Module (https://www.parallax.com/product/30086)]
• [OPTIONAL Turet (https://www.parallax.com/product/910-28015a)]
• [SimpleIDE for Propeller C (http://learn.parallax.com/node/640)]
• Computer with bluetooth that can run NodeJS

Installation

• Install SimpleIDE
• Change to SimpleIDE workspace (i.e. ..../SimpleIDE)
• git clone https://github.com/dlhinkley/activitybot-bluetooth-controller.git
• Load the code at robot/activityBot.side into Activity Bot
• cd activitybot-bluetooth-controller/controller
• npm install
• node --harmony-proxies index.js

Running

• Turn on Activity Bot
• node --harmony-proxies index.js
• Open a browser and visit http://localhost:8000
• Wait for Status to change to "Connected"
• Drive the robot using the controls

RN-42 Schematic

+--------------+ | RN-42 GND +--- GND | VIN +--- 3.3V | RST +--- P0 | RX +--- P1 | TX +--- P2 | RTS +--- P3 | CTS +--- P4 +--------------+