The BSTRD is a project originally conceived as a toy. The robot performs basic motion functions, moving forward and back, as well as rotation. The optional gripper arm is fully functional, and the system will even taunt a sibling if you ask it to. Yes, if you ask it to. The project combines the portability of the Compaq IPaq running Windows CE 3.0 with the ubiquity of 802.11b networking and the functionality of the ER1 to provide a voice controlled bot. Myriad uses include grabbing legs or other toys, or simply having the robot tell someone they stink, while you laugh in another room of the house.
In order to give an idea of how all the components fit together, one sample command will be examined in detail.
First, the wireless cards are installed in both the iPaq and laptop, and are attached to the LAN. ER1 control software is then loaded on the robot. The user launches the Lookup application on the iPaq, and presses the microphone button. One of many commands is spoken, let us assume it is “move forward.” Lookup recognizes what this command is by phonetics, and launches a small Java program called MoveForward.class. By opening this class, the Kaffe JVM opens and interprets the class file. Commands in the class file call a helper, ER1Client.class that does the actual communication and opens a telnet to the laptop on port 9000.
With this telnet session open on port 9000 commands are issued to the robot, whose response is check. All of this network communication takes place over a standard 802.11b wireless connection. The robot receives the command, and acts upon it, returning values for success or failure. One the robot signals it is done, the Java program exits back to Lookup and is ready for another command.