nodebots presentation @seekjobs

nodebots

Steven de SalasJavaScript Developer

What is this talk about?

• 30 minutes • Robots

– Hardware Parts, Electronics, Fabrication, Power– Microcontrollers vs Microprocessors (lots!)

• NodeJS & JavaScript– Using Node to talk to USB, Bluetooth, Firmata– JS Libraries, other languages.

• Quick Demo• Getting Started

What is nodebots?

• It’s a meetup. • That takes place in a

few cities. • For people who like to

make robots. • And who like

JavaScript.

nodebots day 2016

nodebots day 2016

Sumo bot fighting

nodebots day 2016

That’s Andrew, He runs the (Melbourne) meetup

Robots

Robots

What does it What does it taketake to build to build one?one?

Robots

Lets take one apart.Lets take one apart.

Robots

What do we have?

What do we have?

Frame

What do we have?

MotorisedWheels

What do we have?

Batteries

What do we have?

Jumper Leads

What do we have?

Breadboard

What do we have?

Rubber Bands

What do we have?

Blue Tac

What do we have?

Zip Ties

What do we have?

Sensors

What do we have?

Brain(Microcontroller)

Modern Day Applied Electronics

✓X

What is a Microcontroller?

• Like a small computerwithout an O/S




• Physical computing



• Physical computing• Runs a piece of code

over and over again




over and over again• Receive and send

electrical signals





electrical signals• Turns things on and off





electrical signals• Turns things on and off

2Kb RAM, 16 MHz

Phenomenal Cosmic Powers !!!

Processing Power vs 80s Consumer Devices

16

2

32

1.88 8

1

64

208

128

64

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

Arduino UNO Atari 800 Comm 64 Mac 128K

CPU (MHz)RAM (Kb)Flash (Kb)

Processing Powervs Today’s Consumer Devices

16

2

32

1GHz

1Gb

8Gb 2,4GHz

2Gb

32Gb 1,4GHz

1Gb

64Gb

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

Arduino UNO RasPi 3B Galaxy S5 iPhone 6


Processing Powervs Today’s Consumer Devices

16

2

32

1GHz

1Gb

8Gb 2,4GHz

2Gb

32Gb 1,4GHz

1Gb

64Gb

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

Arduino UNO RasPi 3B Galaxy S5 iPhone 6


What about Moore’s Law?Microcontrollers do not appear to follow it.

Programming a Microcontroller

• C++, no garbage collection • Program big? Cannot fit• Long strings = out of memory• Array resizing? (Mem Pointers)

Academically interesting

Programming a Microcontroller

• C++, no garbage collection • Program big? Cannot fit• Long strings = out of memory• Array resizing? (Mem Pointers)

In practice:• SD Storage = tricky• Wifi = good luck• HTTPS = no luck

Academically interesting

Archaic

Why not use a proper computer instead?

• No Analog Sensors• No PWM• Cannot drive motors• Will fry at high loads

In Short: Great for processing, not

good for manipulating electricity.

Raspberry Pi 3B

CPU 1GHzRAM 1GbLanguages AnyStorage To 64 GbConnectivity Wifi, HTTPs

Microcontroller vs Microprocessor

• No O/S• Low RAM, no HD / network• Rugged• More power (200 mA)• Digital & Analog• Speaks C++

• Runs Linux• Lots RAM, HD + Network• Delicate • Less Power (50 mA)• Digital Only• Speaks Everything

How about we put them together?


USB


SLAVEHandles theElectronics

MASTERReviews dataCoordinates &Makes decisions

USB

Two-way Serial communication


SLAVEHandles theElectronics

MASTERReviews dataCoordinates &Makes decisions

USB

Two-way Serial communication I RULZ

Communication

var SerialPort = require(‘serialport’).SerialPort;

var usb = new SerialPort(‘/dev/tty0’, { baudrate: 115200});

usb.on(‘open’, function () { console.log('Connected!') usb.write(‘hey buddy, turn on the light');});

USB

Communication




> hey buddy, turn on the light

USB

Communication




> ???> hey buddy, turn on the light

USB

Communication




> ???

$ npm install firmata


USB

Communication




> ???

$ npm install firmata> Yes Master.


USB

Communication




> ???

$ npm install firmata> Yes Master.


Bluetooth = Serial

Running a Servo using C++ (Arduino)

Running a Servo with Johnny Five

var five = require("johnny-five");var board = new five.Board();

board.on("ready", function() {

var servo = new five.Servo({ pin: 10, type: "continuous" });

// Clockwise, top speed. servo.cw(1);});

Johnny Five Library

• npm install johnny-five

• 7K stars, Rick Waldron

• “jQuery for robots”

• Support for many microcontrollers

• Simple, well thought API

• Large community

Running a servo with Cylon JS

var Cylon = require("cylon");

Cylon.robot() .connection("arduino", { adaptor: "firmata", port: "/dev/ttyACM0" }) .device("servo", { driver: "servo", pin: 3 }) .on("ready", function(bot) { var angle = 0;

setInterval(function() { // +20deg every 100ms angle += 20; bot.servo.angle(angle++); }, 100);

}) .start();

Cylon.JS

• npm install cylon

• 2.6K stars

• Many platforms

• Bit haphazard

• Less active community

Do I have to use JavaScript?

Do I have to use JavaScript?Nope. You just need to talk to the USB Serial Port

Do I have to use JavaScript?

artoo

CORE(LibUsbDotNet)

Nope. You just need to talk to the USB Serial Port

(ruby)

DEMO 1: C++ (only)

DEMO 2: C++ <=> (0.10)

DEMO 3: Firmata <=> johnny-five

DEMO 4: Planetary Domination Robot

DEMO 4: Planetary Domination Robot

PROTOCOL ERROR

My own journey

Nov: Arduino Starter KitDec: Arduino Yun Microcontroller (Linux)

Youtube, basic Experiments, Wifi, control via Mobile App.

2016Jan: NodeJS, Sound bot.Mar: Move to MelbourneJul: Nodebots Day. First Nodebot.

2015Aug: Zero knowledge.Sep: Electromagnets,Electronics for dummies

(eBay: $75Second-hand)

Aug: Raspberry Pi 3B. Refinements.Oct: Second Robot. Third robot.

Getting Started

Andrew Fisher https://github.com/ajfisher Chief Tinkerer

Nodebots AU Meetup(Hawthorn)Community Hackerspace First Wed of every month. Arduino Starter Kit

$100 (amazon)

Johnny Fivenode-serialport

npm install serialport npm install johnny-five

EITHER

https://github.com/ajfisher

To Recap

To Recap

1. Robotics => Microcontrollers => C++ code

To Recap

1. Robotics => Microcontrollers => C++ code2. Programming C++ sucks!

To Recap

1. Robotics => Microcontrollers => C++ code2. Programming C++ sucks!3. You can use nodeJS (or any other language)

To Recap

1. Robotics => Microcontrollers => C++ code2. Programming C++ sucks!3. You can use nodeJS (or any other language)4. Just talk to USB / use Firmata or DIY C++

code to tell controller what to do.

To Recap


code to tell controller what to do.5. Added advantage is lots of memory / storage

and networking.

To Recap



and networking.6. Go to Nodebots AU meetup to find out more.

To Recap



and networking.6. Go to Nodebots AU meetup to find out more.7. Build some cool s**t! Because you can!

nodebots day 2016

Sumo bot fighting

THANKS!!!

Steven de Salas https://github.com/sdesalas Apprentice Tinkerer

Nodebots AU Meetup(Hawthorn)Community Hackerspace First Wed of every month. Arduino Starter Kit

$100 (amazon)

Johnny Fivenode-serialport

npm install serialport npm install johnny-five

https://github.com/sdesalas

nodebots presentation @seekjobs

Devices & Hardware