GigaBrain.io new project update

[megamarky]

Hi all

I'd like to introduce a new project and platform that is under work currently in Beta Testing mode. It's a robotic controller to control multiple servos simultaneously with a RaspberryPI using touch gesture controls.

Join the Beta Stage http://gigabrain.io

What's the most simple way to send signals to move servos? And we resolved this by using hashtags to setup pin numbers in the application configuration. So you could write a simple message "#leftarm 1030" to send a control signal to the left arm that is connected to a I2C controlled PCA9685 board servo pin.

PCA9685 board or RPI default board PWM output pins are currently used to send controls to servos.

The current version is standalone so it works inside your RPI with a user interface that is secured by a username and password that you enter in the installation.

There's lots of upcoming features planned for GigaBrain so stay tuned. Here's screenshots

Collection of Robot projects to use with GigaBrain

Robot collection images from Thingiverse and EzRobot

[megamarky]

There's a demo video in http://gigabrain.io site that shows a simple movement with multiple controllers.

The demo uses this 3d printed hexapod that has 9g micro servos attached. The power source is basic 4x AA Batteries that works for about 6 servos maximum. Other option is to connect a 7.4 Volts Lithium battery with a UBEC 5Volt Regulator to the PCA9685 Board.

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:797211

If you have any assembly questions on parts please ask.

[megamarky]

Documentation for starting the GigaBrain controlling service controlling-0.1.0-RELEASE version

Application is run with Java and takes input either a configuration for Raspberry PI pin or PCA9685 pin.

The configuration parameters for PCA9685:
CONTROLLING_ENABLE_PCA9685 = Boolean (true or false) Turn on PCA9685 configuration
CONTROLLING_PCA9685_OUTPUT_TAGS = String separated with , List the hashtags that are mapped to pins in the same order as PINS
CONTROLLING_PCA9685_OUTPUT_PINS = Integer List the pin numbers that are mapped to output GPIO ports in the same order as TAGS
CONTROLLING_USERNAME = String User interface username
CONTROLLING_PASSWORD = String User interface password

Code: Select all

java -jar /usr/local/gigabrain/standalone/controlling-0.1.0-RELEASE.jar --CONTROLLING_ENABLE_PCA9685=true --CONTROLLING_PCA9685_OUTPUT_TAGS=r1,r2,r3,r4,r5,r6,r7,r8,l1,l2,l3,l4,l5,l6,l7,l8 --CONTROLLING_PCA9685_OUTPUT_PINS=0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15 --CONTROLLING_USERNAME=user --CONTROLLING_PASSWORD=test4433 

The configuration parameters for Raspberry PI pins:
CONTROLLING_ENABLE_RPI = Boolean (true or false) Turn on PCA9685 configuration
CONTROLLING_OUTPUT_TAGS = String separated with , List the hashtags that are mapped to pins in the same order as PINS
CONTROLLING_OUTPUT_PINS = Integer List the pin numbers that are mapped to output GPIO ports in the same order as TAGS
CONTROLLING_USERNAME = String User interface username
CONTROLLING_PASSWORD = String User interface password

Code: Select all

java -jar /usr/local/gigabrain/standalone/controlling-0.1.0-RELEASE.jar --CONTROLLING_ENABLE_RPI=true --CONTROLLING_OUTPUT_TAGS=r1,r2,r3 --CONTROLLING_OUTPUT_PINS=1,24,26 --CONTROLLING_USERNAME=user --CONTROLLING_PASSWORD=test4433

The maximum number of pins to control for PCA9685 in this version is 16, one board in 0x40 bus is configured automatically. The user interface has 18 controls so you have to choose which 2 will be left out from configuration. In default configuration r9 and l9 are left out.
The installation script creates these scripts as default. Javadoc documentation will be released soon.

[megamarky]

Upcoming controlling-0.2.0-RELEASE Beta test version include features for:

• Recording robot gestures with multiple servos (max 16)

• Playback gestures

• Combine gestures in playback mode

• Continuous playing of gestures

• Gestures play speed change

Release date 8th November 2017.

It's easy to learn your robot to walk, move and make gestures with more precise movements.
Contact [email protected] if you have need for specific customization for a controller.

GigaBrain.io is Secured and Reliable controller for robotics.

[megamarky]

New version controlling-0.2.0-RELEASE Beta test version is now released and includes following features:

• Record robot gestures with multiple servos (max 16) into Javascript memory (not yet stored)

• Playback gestures

• Linking controls to control multiple limbs with same controller, link 3 limbs (control X,Y,Z sets) to one controller

• Continuous playing of gestures

• Gestures play speed change

• Buffering gestures in frontend and backend services

Thank you for some feedback about the look and feel of the UI, this version the Z axis controller has better movement. You can leave questions or comments on the servos here. Currently tested servos are 9g Tower micro servos. (MG90S) If you would like to control servos with different settings customization is possible, just send a message.

The UI second Range screen does not yet have all the features, these features are for the XYZ controllers.

[megamarky]

Linking feature in controlling-0.2.0-RELEASE works by switching the Link buttons to same colors in controllers. If you have a Quadruped with 6 legs you can link two controllers on the right side and one on the left side. After that you can control the both side's movement with one controller. Notice that the reversing of a single control also works in linking mode.


Recording feature works simply by entering the record name and clicking on Record. After that you can record the controller movements to a single named gesture. End the recording by pressing Record button again. The recording is added to the list below. Playback gesture by Play button. Toggle the Continuous mode on / off. The slider controls the playback speed. Stop playback by clicking Play button again or toggling the Continuous mode off.


Controlling works best with a mobile phone / tablet / laptop with a Touch screen. The best way to connect to the controller is to connect the Raspberry PI to the same Wifi with your mobile phone and opening up the controller with mobile phone browser at http://RPI_IPADDRESS:5003

[megamarky]

Relaunching the http://gigabrain.io site. New action videos are coming to site soon.

[megamarky]

Added new action videos for robot controlling with Raspberry PI using PCA9685 http://gigabrain.io
- Linking controls together to control multiple servos simultaneously
- Controlling movement examples

The development snapshot version has configurations for multiple PCA9685 boards with address configuration, so you can control about 1000 servos simultaneously (total 62 addresses 40-102, total amount of servos 62*16 = 992). There is also configurations for the PCA9685 bus number and servo frequency.

The source code is free and you can sign up to the first beta release in http://gigabrain.io

Thanks Larry for the score.

[megamarky]

Added a new grip video to http://gigabrain.io that shows two controllers that have the X axis reversed to work as a simple gripper.

[megamarky]

Usage security for the controller is very important, we added the usage rules and disclaimer to notice the safety rules.

The future upcoming development version has features for
- Controller Configuration storage
- Gesture Record permanent storage

Personal usage of the controller is free for standalone usage and source code is released in GitHub when the Beta starts.

[megamarky]

Released a Beta version of a multiplayer robotic slingshot game for two players. It's really easy to setup with just a Raspberry Pi and two servos connected to it.
http://gigabrain.io/Two%20player%20slin ... %20Pi.html

Additional setup is also included to play the game with a PCA9685 board and addiotional power source.

If you have servos lying around, setup is easy. Second version of the game will be released soon.

The robotic controller release day is coming soon...

[megamarky]

DIY Movement controlling building blocks for critters, hexapods and new forms.



3d printable parts are here:
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2835652
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2836995

[megamarky]

Free demo released on a new universal robotic controller for Raspberry Pi. You can create your easy to build 3d printable robotic joints and connect them to movement with these instructions.

3d printable robotic building blocks
https://www.hackster.io/gigabrain/robot ... cks-11b2c4

Raspberry Pi servo controller DEMO
http://gigabrain.io

[megamarky]

Opened a free DEMO controller to control maximum 6 servos with a mobile user interface.

http://gigabrain.io/demo/standalonedemo.html

We have done initial testings for the controller with Microsoft's backed up IoT Forge. Looking forward also for your feedback.

[megamarky]

We'd like to research about what input or output devices or drivers would you need to control in your projects? We are developing an easy to use Mobile app touch control for movement capture, playback and timing.

Our current selection is PWM controlled devices as servo motors and LED controlling. PWM controlled ESC and motor controls for RC are also possible.

Current development is with multiple simultaneous stepper motor controlling and we'd like to ask your feedback for the development. We offer beta test stage seats also for testing and feedback of the app.

What stepper motors boards or drivers do you need to control? What about other driver needs like input drivers? Would you like to participate in Raspberry Pi Beta testing for stepper motor controlling?

Hope you have time to answer for this short questionnaire by a PM or an email to [email protected] and request a Beta testing.

[megamarky]

Here's a short questionnaire about what features you would like to use in your own projects?

https://linkto.run/p/TAHHOJ5H

We are developing support for Dynamixel and LX-16A actuator interfaces. Contact at http://gigabrain.io if you are interested in controlling Dynamixel actuators with easy mobile phone touch user interface.

Pololu and FEETECH SCServo and control board interfaces are also possible if enough demand arises.

[megamarky]

Demo version has a new release with following new features
controllingdemo-0.1.1-RELEASE

• New option to center controller when released

• Recording to store and playback gestures

• Continuous playback to repeat a gesture

• Fixed a bug in linking controllers with the Link button

Demo version install instructions http://gigabrain.io/demo/standalonedemo.html

Full featured controller has features to save recordings. Upcoming features include stepper motor control, Dynamixel actuator control, ROS integration (Robotic Operating System http://www.ros.org/ ). If you are interested in the demo version including these features, please contact.

[megamarky]

All Makers aboard
Join the new gigabrainIO Open Movement BETA.
- Record movements for your automated robot or device
- Upload movements to cloud for analysis with a Web / Mobile UI
- Share your device's movements with others and download new movements

Beta instructions
http://gigabrain.io/demo/movement.html



Remember to give any feedback for your experience.

[megamarky]

There's new simple movements added to the gigabrain movement library.
These are good to move one or two servos simultaneously at one direction at a time.

http://gigabrain.io/movements/list

- Open Slow Turns one servo from 0 angle to 180 angle slowly
- Close Slow Turns one servo from 180 angle to 0 angle slowly
- Open Double Fast Turns two servos from 0 angle to 180 angle fast
- Close Double Fast Turns two servos from 180 angle to 0 angle fast

You can analyse the movements from the interface or create your own. The movements are tagged with #generic tag, in the mobile app user interface write the tagname "#generic" next to load button and hit Load.

[megamarky]

Hey we released a new cool glass UI for our easy robotic controlling app for Raspberry Pi and Arduino. A major fix is also that now all the controllers can be used at the same time. Now only the premium version has an option to secure the controller interfaces, ask us more about that feature. This version is much easier and faster to install and start

Video of the action https://vimeo.com/338411915

Controlling UI look and feel


Here's more info about the new version http://gigabrain.io/movements/install

[megamarky]

Added new features to export movement to Arduino board. You can record a movement to the movement list below and export it to Arduino from the interface Export / Arduino button.

http://gigabrain.io/movements/list

Here is a video showing the Arduino export feature
https://vimeo.com/329054573

Would you need a specific signal or interface? Please connect with the feedback from the gigabrain.io front page.

Stepper motor demo with G-Code signal modifications is also available.

Have a good summer with projects!