Welcome

robotFoundry is an easy to use, graphical interface for creating robotic control systems. For a quick introduction, skip to the Quick Start section. For a detailed introduction of how to use the robotFoundry, please examine at the tutorials provided. The Overview begins a broader explanation of the robotFoundry overall, or examine the modules available.

• Installation: How to install robotSuite
  
  
• Simple Camera Display: Simple video tutorial to display images from a camera to the screen.
  Time Required: 5 - 10 minutes.
  
  Learn how to:
  • Create a new project
  • Add a robot to a project
  • Add and set IO modules (the camera)
  • Connect modules
  • Generate code
  • Transfer generated code to a robot
  
  
• Simple Robot Movement Video Tutorial and written tutorial: See how to code a robot to move straight ahead, and then transfer and run that code in robotSim, or on the real robot. Learn to add and use simple movement modules.
  
  Time Required: 5 - 10 minutes.
  
  
• Simple Sumo Behaviour: Learn to use robotFoundry to build a robot with a sumo behaviour, simulate the robot and run it on a physical robot. Use Behaviour templates for the first time!
  
  Time Required: 10 - 15 minutes.
  
  
• Serial Port: Find out your serial port device to communicate with a real robot.
  
  
  
  Key Concepts
  
  
  • Overview: a description of key concepts and how robotFoundry works
    
    
  • Behaviours: make your robot carry out the actions you want
    
  • Data Types: details of the data types used in robotFoundry
    
  • Generating and Transferring Code: create the code your robot needs to run, and send it over to robotSim or to the robot via the Transfer Window
    
  • IO Devices: Physical hardware or sensors on a robot (ie, camera, bumpers, motion system). IO Devices are accessed by IO Modules.
    
  • Modules: the building blocks needed to program your robot
    
  • Projects: save your robot and behaviours for another day
    
  • Robots: what they are, what they can do, and how to program them
    
  • Scripting Module: a powerful module that allows you full coding access to your robot and other modules
    Workspace: The main work area in robotFoundry, and shortcut keys
    
  
  
  Intermediate Topics
  
  
  • About Flow Based Programming: An explanation of the programing style used in robotFoundry
    
    
  • Programming HowTos: tips for expanding your code.
    
    
  • Debugging: The LogFile and RunTimeDisplay modules from the Utilities Toolbox will help you watch what is happening in your code. Use the ImageOut module in the ImageProcessing toolbox will display your images for visual debugging.
    
    
  • Nested behaviours: Place behaviours inside other behaviours to add extra functionality and modularity to your code, as shown in the Nested Simple Sumo Behaviour tutorial.
    
    
  • Scripts: A powerful tool that lets you create your own code inside robotFoundry, Scripting Modules are available in several languages. The Simple Sumo Behaviour - Advanced tutorial uses a script to expand on the previous sumo behaviour, while the PackBot Arm Scan On Command and Autonomous Movement use scripts to control the PackBot's arm and movement.
    
    
  • PackBot Project: Develop a completely self-controlled robot that wanders about, scanning objects it encounters, in 6 easy tutorials.
    Time Required (for all 6 tutorials): about 1 hour.
    
    Learn how to:
    • Develop the code to control a robot yourself (tele-operation)
    • Use scripting modules
    • Use and link multiple behaviours
  
  
  Advanced Topics
  
  
  • Creating Templates: export your own Behaviour or Robot to User Templates to build your own Template library. User Templates appear under the User Robots or User Behaviours tabs.
    
  • Exporting Scripts: export your Script to the User Modules Toolbox to create your own Modules.
    
  • Adding IO: Add a new IO device to your robot in robotFoundry, and watch it run in robotSim.
    
  • Adding DLL Libraries: You can add a pre-existing DLL to a project, and use the DLL(s) in all Scripting Modules in your project.
    
  
  
  Other Resources and References
  
  
  • Cogmation Forums: a great place to ask questions. We answer all questions as quickly as possible - usually right away, but in less than 24 hours.
    
  • robotSim Documentation: all about robotSim