GEERHEAD
Note the window out in front
where the Axis 206 network
camera resides, and the locations
of the router and the CompactRIO
embedded controller.
All of the Element robot’s components are internalized.
the data from the IR and ultrasonic sensors to make
decisions about how to navigate its environment,” per NI.
Second, the robot controls the motors via its FPGA
(Field Programmable Gate Array)
using outputs from the obstacle
avoidance algorithm. The FPGA
outputs pulse-width modulated
signals through the digital I/O
lines which control the motors.
DaNI
If you are new to the LabVIEW and NI RIO platform, the LabVIEW
Robotics Starter Kit, “DaNI,” is available as an evaluation or
prototyping platform. This pre-built platform includes an NI Single-Board RIO, a PING))) Ultrasonic distance sensor, motors, encoders,
and a mechanical frame from Pitsco Education. Out-of-the-box, DaNI
uses the LabVIEW
Robotics Module to
perform obstacle
avoidance and
can navigate
autonomously.
This expandable platform features built-in digital and analog I/O,
connectors to NI C Series modules, in addition to an on-board Ethernet
and serial port allowing for the connectivity of additional third-party
sensors and actuators. DaNI includes a 180-day evaluation of the
LabVIEW platform in addition to its real-time module, FPGA module,
and Robotics module.
12 SERVO 08.2010
