Discussion about Menu Navigation and Features

maximus5684 commented 3 years ago

Thanks to @mattp256 for getting this started! This repository closes CentralIllinoisRoboticsClub/wheele#19.

This issue is to discuss desired features and menu/navigation items in the GUI.

mattp256 commented 3 years ago

@coderkarl suggests scrollbar interface with adjustable sensitivity for entering waypoint numbers quickly instead of punching in numbers on a keypad

MikeDvorsky commented 3 years ago

I took a stab at documenting a structure for the GUI. This document assumes an external joystick for manual control and an external switch for Auto/Manual mode selection.

WheeleRemoteTouchscreen.txt

mattp256 commented 3 years ago

Some ideas from build session today...

In addition to being able to display headings and remaining distance to waypoints, also display current x,y position
Have method for being able to start Wheele following a path after waypoints are entered
Possibly a return to home (origin (0,0)) button
Possibly a way to roslaunch without having to login (although the systemd autostart could also do this)
For LoRa test - display visual feedback if response is received to test message

mattp256 commented 2 years ago

More design discussion at build session today about hardware and network architecture...

Wheele has Arduino Nano on top and bottom.

Makes sense to interface with Wheele's top Arduino over LoRa instead of plugging a LoRa directly into Raspberry Pi over USB so that dead man safety switch still does not depend on the Pi.

Wheele's top & bottom Arduino's communicate over CAN that also connects to Pi.

For communicating between wireless touchscreen and Pi, considered a request response protocol vs. a simple broadcast protocol. Seems to be a simpler design to just have the Wheele Pi do a periodic broadcast of a batch of ROS information. Pi would broadcast over CAN. to be received by top Arduino, and transmitted over LoRa to the touchscreen. Some scenarios may still require a request/response (e.g. "rostopic echo" feature)

Agreed would be nice to query ROS network information over LoRa to cut WiFi out of the picture, and just for convenience of doing everything from the touchscreen.

CAN protocol implemented on top arduino and on Raspberry Pi Can2Ros

Some interesting data that would be nice to be available for viewing on touchscreen:

Battery Voltage
Active Nodes
Rostime
Command Velocity (cmd_vel)
Do a type of rostopic echo on touchscreen for troubleshooting - request a topic, get a response at certain rate
Display versions of software that are running on the various boards on Wheele

mattp256 commented 2 years ago

For adding GPS Module to display, antenna should be mounted facing up. Would be nice to give antenna a clear path to sky instead of going through screen. May need to extend display mounting to allow for antenna to be mounted optimally.

mattp256 commented 2 years ago

Some ideas from build session today...

Rather than display absolute latitude/longitude from the GPS, would be useful to have a "set reference" feature, then display position relative to the reference origin point in Easting/Northing meters

Also talked about a possible low power mode to avoid the need for a physical switch. Touchscreen and display in theory could be powered separately, theory being that the touchscreen is less power hungry than the full display. Could do periodic wakeup and check for screen press indicating wakeup

CentralIllinoisRoboticsClub / wheele_gui

Discussion about Menu Navigation and Features #1