A Comprehensive Guide to Building a Humanoid Robot on Wheels: Lessons Learned, Programming, and Electronics
Published on: September 30, 2024
Introduction
When developing a humanoid robot on wheels (or any complex robotic system), selecting the right programming language is crucial for performance, ease of use, and scalability. This section discusses how you can approach programming your robot using Python, C++, and Java, covering key considerations, libraries, and how to structure the code for optimal results.
1.Python:High-Level Development with Simple Libraries
Python is a great choice for quick prototyping and high-level development in robotics due to its extensive library support and ease of use. It’s an ideal language for tasks such as face recognition, speech synthesis, and basic sensor handling, especially on platforms like the Raspberry Pi.
Why Use Python:Ease of Use: Python's syntax is simple and easy to understand, making it grea for fast development.
Extensive Libraries: python has a rich ecosystem of libraries, especially for computer vision(openCV), speech processing(pyttsx3, Goolge TTS), and machine learning (TensorFlow, dlib).
Rapid Prototyping:You can quickly test and modify code, which is essential for developing and iterating robotic behaviors
Example python libraries for Robotics-Opencv: For Face Detection and camera control
-cv2.CascadeClassifier() for face detection.
-dlib: For face recognition.
-dlib.get_frontal_face_detector() for face detection.
-pyttsx3 or gTTS (Google Text-to-Speech): For voice output (speech synthesis).
-RPi.GPIO or gpiozero: For controlling GPIO pins to interface with sensors and motors.
- pyaudio: For voice recognition or listening to commands.
-ime and threading: For controlling time delays and multi-threaded behavior in the robot.
Approach in Python:
1. Motor Control : Use the RPi.GPIO library to control DC motors through motor drivers like L298N. Example:
import RPi.GPIO as GPIO
GPIO.setmode(GPIO.BCM)
# Set motor pins
2. Sensor Handling : Use ultrasonic sensors with the GPIO pins to detect obstacles. Example:
import time
import RPi.GPIO as GPIO
# Set up GPIO pins for sensors
GPIO.setup(trigger_pin, GPIO.OUT)
GPIO.setup(echo_pin, GPIO.IN)
3. Face Recognition : Use OpenCV and dlib to detect and recognize faces using the Raspberry Pi camera. Example:
import cv2
import dlib
detector = dlib.get_frontal_face_detector()
camera = cv2.VideoCapture(0)
while True:
ret, frame = camera.read()
gray = cv2.cvtColor(frame, cv2.COLOR_BGR2GRAY)
faces = detector(gray)
4.Speech Synthesis: Use pyttxs3 for speech output Example
import pyttxs3
engine = pyttsx3.init()
engine.say("hello human")
engine.runAndWait()
5.Multi-Threading : Use Python's threading module to run concurent tasks like motor control and face detection. Example:
import threading
def control_motors():
# Motor control code
def face_recognition():
# Face recognition code
t1 = threading.Thread(target=control_motors)
t2 = threading.Thread(target=face_recognition)
t1.start()
t2.start()
Challenges with python
Performance : Python is slower than C++ or Java, especially in time-sensitive tasks like motor control and sensor readings. Real-time performance may be limited on the Raspberry Pi.
Concurrency : Multi-threading and real-time control can be tricky due to the Global Interpreter Lock (GIL) in Python, which can affect concurrent tasks.
2. C++: Peformance-Oriented Developement
C++ is ideal for performance-critical parts of the robotic system, such as motor control, sensor data processing, and other real-time applications. If you need maximum control over hardware and are dealing with high-speed sensor inputs or motor commands, C++ is the language of choice
Why Use C++:
Real-time performance : C++ is a compiled language that allows for low-level access to hardware, prviding faster execution.
Effecient Memory Management : Offers more control over memory and CPU usage, which is essetial for embeded systems and robots
Example C++ libraries for Robotics:
WiringPi or pigpio: For controlling the Raspberry Pi's GPIO pins.
OpenCV: For computer vision tasks like face detection (similar to Python).
Eigen or Armadillo: For matrix operations (important for robotics math).
ROS (Robot Operating System): A powerful framework for building complex robotic systems.
Approach in C++
1. Motor Control: Use WiringPi or pigpio for controlling GPIO pins Example
#include <@wiringPi.h> {just remove the "@" symbol when copying}
pinMode(motorPin, OUTPUT);
digitalWrite(motorPin, HIGH); // Motor ON
2.Sensor Handling: use ultrasonic sensors with WiringPi to trigger and read sensors. Example:
long duration, distance;
digitalWrite(triggerPin, Low);
delayMicroseconds(2);
digitalWrite(triggerPin, HIGH);
delayWrite(triggerpin, LOW);
duration = pulse(echo_pin, HIGH);
distance- duration*0.034/2;
3.Face Recognition: Use OpenCV(same as Python) to detect faces. Example:
cv::CascadeClassifier face_cascasde;
face_cascade.load("haarcascade_frontalface_default.xml");
cv::VideoCapture cap(0);
while(cap.read(frame)){
std::vector<@cv::Rect>faces; //remove the "@ while implementing the code"
face_cascade.detectMultiScale(frame, faces);
}
4.Speech Synthesis: You can use espeak or other TTS libraries available for c++. Example:
System("espeak\"Hello, Human!\"");
5.Multi-threading: Use std::thread to run parallel tasks in C++. Example
std::thread motorThread(controlMotors);
std::thread faceThread(detectFace);
motorThread.join();
faceThread.join();
Challenges with C++:
Complexity:
C++ is more complex than Python and requires careful management of memory and concurrency.
Longer Development Time:
Development time is typically longer compared to Python because C++ requires more detailed setup and management
Hardware Abstaction:
Low-level control may be necessary, but platforms like ROS can simplify this.
3.Java: Cross-Platform Developement with Strong Object-Oriented Design
Java is a versatile, high-level language that can be used for controlling robotics systems, particularly if you’re looking for cross-platform compatibility and a robust object-oriented design. While not as fast as C++ or as simple as Python, Java can provide a balance between performance and ease of development.
Why Use Java:
Object-Oriented Design:Java’s strong object-oriented nature is great for organizing complex robotic systems
Cross-Platform: Java runs on many platforms (including embedded systems), making it a good choice for multi-device systems.
Libraries:Java has libraries for robotics (like Pi4J for Raspberry Pi) and can integrate with frameworks like ROS.
Example Java Libraries for Robotics:
*Pi4J: Java library for accessing the Raspberry Pi’s GPIO pins.
*OpenCV (Java bindings): For face recognition and image processing.
*SpeechRecognition: For voice recognition using Java libraries.
Approach in Java:
1.Motor Control: Use Pi4J to control motors and GPIO pins. Example:
import com.pi4j.io.gpio.*;
GpioController gpio = GpioFactory.getInstance();
GpioPinDigitalOutput motorPin = gpio.provisonDigitalOutputPin(RaspiPin.GPIO_01, "Motor", PinState.LOW);
motorPin.high(); //Motor On
2.Sensor Handling: Read data from ultrasonic sensor using Java and Pi4J. Example:
//Use GPIO pins to trigger and receive echo from ultrasonic sensors
public class Test_Ultrasonic{
public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception{
PiJavaUltrasonic sonic= new PiJavaUltrasonic(
0, //Echo PIN(physical 11)
1,//TRIG PIN (physical 22)
1000, //REJECTION_START ;
long (nano sesocnds)
23529411 //REJECTION_TIME ;
long (nano seconds) );
System.out.println("Start");
while(true){
System.out.println("distance"+sonic.getDistacne()+"mm");
Thread.sleep(1000); //1s
}
}
}
3. Face Recognition: Use OpenCV Java binding for face detection. Example:
//load the OpenCV face detection classifier
CascadeClassifier face_cascade = new CasecadeClassifier("haarcascade_frontalface_default.xml");
// Capture video from the camera
VideoCapture capture = new VideoCapture(0);
Mat frame = new Mat();
while (capture.read(frame)) {
// Convert to grayscale for better detection
Mat gray = new Mat();
Imgproc.cvtColor(frame, gray, Imgproc.COLOR_BGR2GRAY);
// Detect faces in the image
Rect[] facesArray = face_cascade.detectMultiScale(gray, 1.1, 3, 0, new Size(30, 30), new Size(500, 500));
// Draw rectangles around faces
for (Rect face : facesArray) {
Imgproc.rectangle(frame, face.tl(), face.br(), new Scalar(0, 255, 0));
}
// Display the frame
Highgui.imshow("Face Detection", frame);
Highgui.waitKey(1);
}
4.Speech Synthesis: Java has third-party libraries for text-to-speech conversion, such as FreeTTS or eSpeak. Example using eSpeak;
Runtime.getRuntime().exec("espeak \"Hello, Human"");