ActivMedia Robotics
Quick Start Chapter 4
Your ActivMedia robot comes ready for action.11 This chapter describes how to operate
the mobile robot with the Saphira demonstration software. For more details about
programming and operating your ActivMedia mobile robot with Saphira, ARIA, or other
client software, see their respective programming manuals.
Preparative Assembly
Out of the box, your ActivMedia robot comes fully assembled, with its batteries fully
charged—just slide them into the battery box through the back door. You also may
need to attach an antenna or plug in an accessory that we intentionally left unattached
so as to prevent damage during shipping. Consult the Tech Notes and accessory
manuals that may accompany your robot for final assembly details.
Figure 14. Your robot server needs a serial link with a client computer.
Your robot requires a serial communication link with a client for operation. The serial link
may be:
! A tether from the robot’s 9-pin serial connector on the Console to a computer
! A piggyback laptop cabled to the robot’s 9-pin serial connector on the Console
! An optional radio modem pair—one inside the robot attached to the
microcontroller’s host serial port, and a companion radio modem connected to
the serial port of the client computer
! An integrated onboard PC wired internally for direct onboard control
Saphira Client Installation
The Saphira client software-development environment, including the Saphira
demonstration program and robot Simulator, comes on CD-ROM with your new robot. It
is configured and compiled for Windows© 9x/ME as well as for RedHat© Linux-based PCs.
If you have an onboard PC installed with software from the factory, the Saphira
demonstration program already is installed. ActivMedia Robotics customers also may
obtain Saphira and related software and updates for other platforms from our support
website (see Chapter 1, Introduction, for details.) You will need the ID and password
from your Registration Sheet in order to access portions of our customer website:
http://robots.activmedia.com
When installed, Saphira typically requires four megabytes of hard-disk space. To install
the software, follow the instructions in the accompanying README file.
19
11 You may need to attach some accessories and the PeopleBot V1’s pedestal needs to be attached.