Web Interface for older Vex?

[Dr.Bot]

Here is a Youtube of my project - a tele-operated vacuum cleaner:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhFkuzbKiBQ


Is there a Robot-C (or any) web interface available? Something like WebBrix or Sensors from Tufts University?

I want to make a link to a WiFi connected laptop running Apache/CGI and control a USB connected VEX.

Thanks.

[GGCO]

So the robot would be connected to the laptop via USB and listening for messages on the vex serial port?

If that's the case, couldn't you just have a web app running on the laptop, and send signals via usb?

Also, you might want to post this on www.vexforum.com.

[Dr.Bot]

Yes the Laptop rides on the robot - the laptop is connected to the Vex through The USB/Serial connector. Some Semi-Autonomous code runs on the VEX - i.e. obstacle avoidance (Bumper, sonar). The Laptop is hosting a wifi connected webs server or other interface. You use a browser to connect and then control the robot via the web. (If you run Skype you can use the platform as an avatar.

My current platform is designed to be able to move a laptop and a small sweeper inside a typical home.

Thanks for your reply.

[Rick TYler]

Yes the Laptop rides on the robot - the laptop is connected to the Vex through The USB/Serial connector. Some Semi-Autonomous code runs on the VEX - i.e. obstacle avoidance (Bumper, sonar). The Laptop is hosting a wifi connected webs server or other interface. You use a browser to connect and then control the robot via the web. (If you run Skype you can use the platform as an avatar.

My current platform is designed to be able to move a laptop and a small sweeper inside a typical home.

Thanks for your reply.

There are some hard-core VEX hobbyists at www.vexforum.com who could address this for you.

[GGCO]

I'm not totally sure how you would go about doing this with your current setup, but...

Why not have a web server running on the laptop w/ a page full of buttons sliders, etc, etc. When the user moves them/pushes them the server gets a POST request. Right?

How about having code parse the POST request, evaluate it, then send signals through the COM port?

I don't know much about getting the VEX microcontroller to listen for data being sent to it, but I could answer questions with the server stuff.

If you want to do this with ASP.net look at this (http://www.activexperts.com/activcomport/howto/aspnetb/). Also, it might be kind of fun to do with Ruby on Rails. I'm pretty sure there's a ruby gem for reading from COM ports.