Android Operating system based GUI
applications can not only be used in controlling electrical appliances,
but also in controlling robots. These days’ robots are used on a
widespread scale and in many different ways to perform tasks as
required. Given below are projects regarding controlling few robots. Not
only robots, it is possible to use Android applications for many other
uses like displaying a message electronically, controlling the traffic
signals. The Android application consists of a touch screen panel where
upon touching a designated area, a contact is established between the
two conducting layers on either side of the glass and the coordinates of
that area are sent in form of data to the control unit of the software.
Accordingly this data is processed and is then sent to any Bluetooth
device through wireless connectivity.
Below we are going to see some of the projects related to control of electronics by Android based applications.
1. War Field Spying Robot with Night Vision Wireless Camera by Android Applications
Robots have a widespread application in
military where they are used in many applications like spying, target
detecting and destroying etc. The robots used in military are not fully
automatic as they are controlled by human beings. This control can be
done remotely through RF or IR or Bluetooth or GSM communication. Here a
spying robot is build which is embedded with a wireless camera which is
used to take pictures at night time and transmit these images to a TV.
Here the whole operation and movement of the robot is controlled by the
signals from a GUI based application on an Android operated smart phone.
Block Diagram
One GUI application on the Android
smart phone with a touch screen panel consists of relevant touch
buttons which denote the required directions of motion for the robotic
motor. For example when the button corresponding to the ‘forward’
direction is touched, corresponding signal is developed which is
transmitted to a Bluetooth device. This Bluetooth device is interfaced
to the microcontroller and this command is fed to the microcontroller.
As per the program, the microcontroller gives appropriate logic signal
to the motor driver to operate the motors so as to the move the robot in
the desired direction. Similarly, the camera works using the IR
illumination for night time vision.
For details click here: War Field Spying Robot with Night Vision Wireless Camera by Android Applications
2. Fire Fighting Robot Remotely Operated by Android Applications
Robots can be used in place of
conventional fire brigade vehicles (where the whole operation is carried
out manually) for remotely extinguishing the fire. These robots can be
fully automatic or can be controlled remotely. Here such a robot is
developed which consists of a water tank and a pipe connected to the
tank such that water is supplied from the tank to the pipe which is
thrown out from the pipe through a nozzle as per operation by the user.
The whole operation of the robot and its movement is done by control
signals from a GUI application on the Android based smart phone.
Block Diagram
The touch screen panel of the GUI
application provides different touch buttons to achieve the control of
the robot in different directions and also to operate the water pump and
its jet spray in the required direction. When the required button is
touched, the coordinates of that button are transferred to the software
of the smart phone and then transmitted to the Bluetooth device as
signals. The microcontroller interfaced with the Bluetooth device,
receives this signal and as per the program, gives appropriate signals
to the motor driver to rotate the motors in the desired direction.
3. Pick and Place Robotic Arm and Movement Controlled by Android Wirelessly
A pick and place robot is a mobile robot
with a gripper for applying appropriate pressure on an object by
reaching to its location and then catching it. The gripper along with a
movable boom can hold the object and then place it at the required
place as desired. This whole operation is carried out by motors which
in turn are controlled through remote control. This project is developed
as a pick and place robot wherein the movement of the robot as well as
its boom arm is controlled by a GUI based application on an Android
operated smart phone.
Block Diagram
The GUI application is build on a touch
screen panel of the phone which consists of appropriate buttons to
achieve appropriate movement of the robot as well as its end effecter.
Using the buttons, the appropriate signals are transmitted via Bluetooth
communication to the microcontroller and as per the program; the
microcontroller sends relevant logic to the motor drivers to drive the
motors.
The command to move the arm (end
effecter) in the desired direction is given by touching the relevant
button on the smart phone. This command is processed and used by the
microcontroller to provide signals to the motor driver so as to rotate
the arm motor in the desired direction. When an object is brought near
the gripper, as per the command from the application, the gripper opens
and the object is held with required pressure and the gripper motor
stops automatically.
For details click here: Pick and Place Robotic Arm and Movement Controlled by Android Wirelessly
4. Metal Detector Robotic Vehicle Operated by Android Application
Robots are used in hazardous
applications like sensing landmines. Landmines are explosive metallic
devices which are placed beneath the land and are hard to detect. Using
the conventional technique of manually detecting landmines using metal
detectors has proved to be dangerous and inconvenient. This project
develops a robotic vehicle with a metal detector system embedded on it
which can sense the presence of metals ahead of it. The whole control of
the robot is done by an Android based smart phone application.
Block Diagram
The GUI based application on the smart
phone consists of a touch screen panel with appropriate buttons to
achieve motion of the robot in desired direction. The control signals
are transmitted to a Bluetooth device interfaxed to the microcontroller
and as per the program, the microcontroller gives logic signals to the
motor driver to rotate the motors in the desired direction or stop the
motor. A metal detector consisting of a coil in resonance is embedded on
the circuit and when a metal comes near it, because of faraday’s law of
induction, the resonance is disturbed that gives the indication of the
metal being detected and accordingly this indication is shown by a LED
glowing with an audible buzzer sound.
For details click here: Metal Detector Robotic Vehicle Operated by Android Application
5. Android Application Controlled Remote Robot Operation
A robot can be totally automatic wherein
its movement can be controlled by sensors embedded in the circuit
which can give proper input or it can be semi automatic with the control
in hands of humans. The control can be done remotely by passing signals
to the control unit through RF, GSM or Bluetooth communication. Here in
this project, controlling a robot using Bluetooth communication has
been followed. This is done by using an Android based smart phone.
Block Diagram
The touch screen panel of a GUI based
application consists of 4 buttons to define the forward, reverse, left
and right movement of the robot along with a stop button. While any of
the button is touched, the coordinates related to that position is
transferred to the OS software and a signal is generated. This signal is
transferred to the Bluetooth device after it gets proper paring and
connection. The Bluetooth device is interfaced to the microcontroller
and this signal is fed to the microcontroller. As per the program, the
microcontroller accordingly gives appropriate signals to the motor
driver to provide desired rotation for the motors so that the robot
moves in the desired direction.
For details click here: Android Application Controlled Remote Robot Operation
6. Railway Level Crossing Gate Control by Android Application
This project provides a way to achieve
synchronization between the arrival and departure of trains and the
opening and closing of the crossing gates. Conventional system of
operating the level crossing gate manually is not accurate and has lead
to many accidents in the past. Thus a automatic way of controlling of
opening or closing of gates based on the control signal from the train
driver is more reliable.
Block Diagram
The GUI application on the Android based
smart phone is used by the driver to sent information about the arrival
of the train prior to reaching the gate ,to the microcontroller through
a Bluetooth device. As the microcontroller receives this signal, it
accordingly sends proper logic signals to the motor driver so as to
close the crossing gate. The microcontroller is programmed in such a way
that it sends the signals for a fixed amount of time for closing the
gate (indicating the time for which the train will cross the tracks).
After that particular amount of time, appropriate logic signals are sent
to the motor driver so as to automatically open the crossing gate.
For details click here: Railway Level Crossing Gate Control by Android Application
7. Remotely Controlled Android Based Eelectronic Notice Board
Notice boards are required at many
places like educational institutions, organizations, malls etc. It is
not feasible and convenient to manually stick notices on the board every
time. Instead using an electronic way of displaying the message is
more convenient and time saving. This project defines an electronic
notice board wherein the message is sent from the GUI application of a
smart phone wirelessly and is displayed on the display unit.
Block Diagram
The Android based application is
connected to a Bluetooth device and consists of a touch screen panel
activating the inbuilt keypad. When the message is entered (by touching
the appropriate button on the touch screen panel) and the sent button is
pressed, the ASCII code developed by the program gets converted to
serial data and are then transmitted to a Bluetooth device. This
Bluetooth device is interfaced to a microcontroller and after proper
processing, the microcontroller (as per the program) displays the
message on an LCD module interfaced to it.
For details click here: Remotely Controlled Android Based Eelectronic Notice Board
8. Density Based Auto Traffic Signal Control with Android Based Remote Traffic Override
With growing usage of vehicles in metro
cities, traffic congestion is the major problem faced everyday. This
system defines a solution to this problem by developing a dynamic way of
controlling the traffic lights based on the density of the traffic. In
addition to this, vehicles like ambulances, fire brigade vehicles are
given emergency exit from the junction, based on the control signals
given to the control unit from a GUI based application on the Android
operated smart phone.
Block Diagram
Different sensors are placed at each
side of the junction to sense the density of traffic at each side. As
the traffic density on all sides are equal or low, the traffic lights
are made to glow green for fixed time interval. If at one of the sides,
the traffic density is more, the sensors sense this information and
accordingly as per the program, the microcontroller sends logic signals
to the green LED of that side such that the green light glows for longer
duration of time. A touch screen panel on the GUI based application of
the Android based smart phone consists of buttons to define each
direction from the junction. While an emergency vehicle approaches the
junction, the control signal is sent by touching the appropriate button
(corresponding to the direction in which the emergency vehicle is
supposed to go). This signal is transmitted to the Bluetooth device and
as the microcontroller receives this interrupt signal (from the
Bluetooth device), it sends logic signals to the LEDs such that the red
LED signals at all other sides of the junction are switched ON excepting
that particular side which is switched ON Green. This allows the
emergency vehicle to pass through even if other vehicles are ahead of
it.
For details click here: Density Based Auto Traffic Signal Control with Android Based Remote Traffic Override
If any of the projects described above
interests you, you are free to view further details about the same by
clicking on the appropriate links.
For all those eager to implement these
projects as soon as possible, just answer this basic question – Can you
use Android application for automatic operation of a robot without any
human intervention?
If yes, do tell me how in the comments section below.
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