XBEE 3.3 V DC input voltage

XBee required 3.3 DC voltage to be operated..This low dc voltage can be obtained by converting 5V DC into 3V DC by feed the output of 5V to the voltage regulator LM317..This low voltage input is one of the advantages of using XBee in autonomous robot because the battery life time will be much more longer..

SKXBEE Mode in C Language

//Mode : Xbee
// Description : Control the robot using UART ( XBEE or an UART wireless module.
//======================================================

void wireless_xbee (void)

{
lcd_clr();
while(1)
{

lcd_goto (0);
if (data[0] == 100)

{
send_string(" XBEE CONTROL ");
SPEEDL = 200;
SPEEDR = 200;
while(1)

{
lcd_goto(20);
if (RCREG == '8')

{
forward();
send_string("FORWARD ");
}

else if (RCREG == '2')
{
backward();
send_string("BACKWARD ");
}

else if (RCREG == '6')
{
right();
send_string("TURN RIGHT ");

}
else if (RCREG == '4')
{
left();
send_string("TURN LEFT ");

}
else if (RCREG == '5')
{
stop();
send_string("INVALID COMMAND ");

}

else
{
stop();
send_string("INVALID COMMAND ");

}
}
}
else send_string("COMMAND");
}
}

Range Test for XBee

Range test can be done via XCTU software by simply clicking the range test tab..The range test tab is designed to verify the range of the radio link by sending a user specified data packet and verifying the response packet is the same, within the time specified. For performing a standard range test, there are several steps that must be followed..

1: Configure the Base with API enabled and a unique 16 bit or 64 bit source address. 2: Configure the remote radio with a unique source address and set the Destination address to equal the Base radio’s source address.
3: Enable the API option of the X-CTU on the PC Settings tab and connect the base radio to the PC.
4: Connect the red loopback adapter to the remote radio and place them a distance apart.
5: Enter either the 16 bit or 64 bit destination address of the remote radio into the Destination Address box on the Range Test tab.
6: Create a data packet of your choosing by typing in the data in the Transmit box
7: To start a Range test, click on Start.



You will notice the TX failures, Purge, CCA, and ACK messages will increment accordingly while the range test is performed. To stop a range test, click on the Stop button. The problem now is, i cannot perform the range test due to some error. I followed all the instructions but there is an error which is "timeout waiting for data".I'm still thinking on how to overcome this error..

Testing to connect the SKXBEE in single PC.

To test the XBee modules, we can test the communication by using 1 PC only..Just open 2 X-CTU software and click on different com port..In this case, click on com port 10 & 11..


After that,click at moderm configuration and click read the check the version and address of the XBEE..Key in value "2222" at destination address low and "1111" at 16-bit source address for com port and 10 and vice versa for com port 11.


Click write for both com port the store the address at XBEE and this may take 30 seconds to complete..After the moderm is connected to each other, try the terminal bar to see the flow of communication..The blue colour represent the transmitted data while the red colour represent received data..If the communication testing between XBEE is completed, we can proceed to the next step which communication via microcontroller..

Updating X-CTU Firmware

The 2 pieces of SKXBEE had been received on Tuesday..According to them,the SKXBEE firmware is corrupted..Their install back the firmware to the latest version which is 10-CD..The current XCTU software does not support this latest version and in order to detect the SKXBEE I updated the version of firmware..This can be done by clicking on "moderm configuration" and then click download new version via web..It takes time to update the firmware..

Mobile Robot Platform by Cytron.

Almost every major university has one or more labs that focus on mobile robot research..In UniKL-Bmi also there has been several researchs on mobile robot including my project..Recently,Cytron tech designed a Mobile Robot Platform (MRP) for an educational platform for research purpose. It is designed to easily customizable, functionalities expandable that provides total flexibility for robotic application testing and development. MRP use Compaq Presario CQ20 as a main processor and powered by 2 12V 7Ah Sealed Lead Acid Battery..The actuator is 2 DC brushless motors and laser range finder as a sensor..



In terms of application, MRP can be used as guide, receptionist, waiter/waitress, mobile clone, surveillance, delivery and surveying robot. The robot is being control by remote PC through WiFi..

Testing the wireless camera

The wireless camera testing was done and there is no problem faced..The receiver must be connected to TV card and then the TV card is connected to USB port laptop..USB TV Card was choosen because its the only way to connect a wireless camera to a laptop..There is no RGB port build for laptop and USB TV card is the solution..The camera transmitter is connected to the robot base..The system is seperate, the camera will use it own transmitter device..Soon, the laptop can record all the video that had been captured by the camera and it can be use as a surveillance system.