During this thesis, we described the process of developing a wireless control unit for controlling mobile platforms. The wireless control unit was made to replace an existing wired joystick, which manipulates the mobile platform. The wireless control unit has eliminated the need for a physical connection, as well as added a graphical interface.
In the first chapter we familiarised with terms wireless control unit, mobile robotic platform and Robot operating system.
We started with the development of electronics, in the first chapters we described circuits needed for battery powered operation and justified the individual components. We also described the additional circuits for reading the analog-to-digital converter, and the keys with built-in debounce circuits. The last section describes the process of making the circuits and testing them.
In the next section, we focused on the unit's housing. The housing was first designed as a 3D model and then printed with a 3D printer.
In the continuation of the thesis we focused on the software part of this thesis. We connected our wireless control unit to the mobile robotic platform via the Robot operating system, and also added our own graphical interface for easier control of the mobile platform.
In the following chapter we tested the wireless control unit on the actual mobile robotic platform. From these tests we got feedback and decided whether the control unit was appropriate.
At the end of the thesis, we summarize and evaluate the product, and predicted possible further development of the wireless control unit.
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