ardhat / rc-car-controller

Operate a RC car over the internet via node.js using socket.io and johnny-five

ShereCar RC Car Controller

Control a RC car over the internet via node.js using socket.io and johnny-five.

Hardware Requirements

• Raspberry Pi
• Arduino UNO
• USB connection from RPi to Arduino UNO
• Wires for power and ground
• Wires from Aruidno Pin 10 to steering servo
• Wires from Aruidno Pin 9 to throttle servo

Libraries Requirements

• Socket.io
• Express.js
• Johnny-five
• OpenCV
• RaspiCam
• Python OpenCV
• Python PiCamera

Getting the Raspberry Pi Ready

• Update/upgrade OS, then restart
• sudo apt-get update
• sudo apt-get upgrade
• sudo rpi-update
• sudo ldconfig
• sudo shutdown -r now
• Note: If rpi-update doesn't work, certificates may be needed, there are notes on how to do this at the bottom
• Install node.js
• wget http://node-arm.herokuapp.com/node_latest_armhf.deb
• sudo dpkg -i node_latest_armhf.deb
• Install node modules
• npm install socket.io express johnny-five

To run opencv.py

• Install python libraries
• sudo apt-get install libopencv-dev python-pip python-opencv python-dev python-picamera

Using the Controller

• Start up the nodejs server
• sudo node server.js
• Open a web browser to the Raspberry Pi's internet location
• Enter the Raspberry Pi's address into the field and click the connect button
• Control the RC Car

Alternate options to run

• Run the node server when there's no Arduino attached
• sudo node server.js noArduino

File Layout

• server.js - socketio server, forwards information between opencv.py and webpage. Commands Arduino via johnny-five
• index.html - webpage served by node server
• manual control socketio emits
• robot status from socketio
• retrieves static elements from public folder
• opencv.py - raspberry pi camera and opencv processing
• only has face detection for now
• updates opencv image in public folder

Possible Future Enhancements

• Nodejs version for opencv and raspi camera
• Proper 3d printed mounts for RC car components
• Easier way to configure RC car for use at new locations
• Stream OpenCV video to the internet

Possible Future Library Requirements

• ZeroRPC - and ZMQ
• sudo apt-get install libzmq-dev
• npm install zerorpc
• sudo pip install zerorpc

Other Information

• If rpi-update doesn't work, git and/or certifications may be needed, use Hexxeh
• $ sudo apt-get install ca-certificates
• $ sudo apt-get install git-core
• $ sudo apt-get install rpi-update
• Then use rpi-update as normal
• $ sudo rpi-update
• $ sudo ldconfig
• $ sudo reboot