RoboWaiter



RoboWaiter Description

RoboWaiter is a laptop-based robot designed to take drink orders from customers and deliver these drinks. The robot is programmed in Visual Basic 6.0 and utilizes speech recognition technology(Microsoft Speech Engine), and motion detection(Logitech Lego Camera) to recognize potential customers and take their orders.

Specs

bullet Each deck base is 12 inches in diameter (30cm).
bullet The base has dual 12 volt 20in-lb torque drive motors (The Max speed is 18 meters per minute under full load)
bullet The drive wheels are six inches (15 cm) in diameter.
bullet Each caster wheel is three inches (7.5 cm) in diameter.
bullet The base is balanced with two casters.
bullet A motor driver kit is included with the base and is based on the TI SN754410 chip.
bullet Two free optics are included and can be used for simple pulse encoders.
bullet The maximum recommended payload is 35 lbs. (13.6 kgs.).

 

 

RoboWaiter Pictures

robot base front view of base
3/4 view of base back view of base
motor and wheel breadboard interface
motor driver board Logitech Lego camera
control program control program source code

 

RoboWaiter Links

Parts

MAX 99 Base, motor driver board, sonar sensor, shaft encoders, etc... - https://www.zagrosrobotics.com/
Batteries, breadboard, wires, etc... - http://www.digikey.com
Camera - http://www.legomindstorms.com

Software Utilities

UserPort - UserPort is a simple kernel mode driver for Windows NT/2000/XP that will give programs access to I/O ports. This makes it possible to access the hardware I/O ports directly under Windows NT/2000/XP just like 95/98/ME. Once the UserPort driver is loaded, it becomes transparent and simple to use.
Quick Cam SDK - A Logitech SDK that allows creating an easy camera interface to a PC or laptop
Microsoft Speech Engine - decent single word/phrase speech processing and recognition as well as a Text-to-Speech Engine
QBASIC - a Microsoft Basic compiler that is useful for debugging motor control

Source Code

TEST.BAS - A QBASIC program that allows to test motor control from the command line
MAXBOX.BAS - A QBASIC program that forces the robot to travel in a box pattern
 

 

 

If you have any questions or comments, please contact:

Andrey Shvartsman - e-mail: andrey8@yahoo.com