Skittlebot based on the Initio chassis may actually be a little slow to be a piwars bot, but it’s certainly a great platform to get the basics down.

So the plan is a set of experiments, to get the code going, get the Raspberry Pi and power in a good state, then look at making it all faster and lighter.

this plan is likely optimistic, but lets get as many ideas down as we can first.

Major areas to cover

• Remote - I have a Playstation Six Axis controller. Getting this paired with the device, and repeatable so I have code + PiBakery recipe is expected.
• Straight Line autonomous - build a rig similar to the straight line at piwars - get SkittleBot good at touching no sides and going as fast as it can along the line - not that there IS a line to follow on the floor too - which may be easier than other sensors.
• Camera - the over the rainbow challenge, and the rear ultrasonic sensor.
• Spec out replacement chassis - customised:
  • 3D printed, off the shelf, toy hack or CNC carved?
  • Faster motors.
  • Line follower modules.
  • Power - separate Pi and motor (as SkittleBot already does).
  • Make the bottom half only first - get this right, with a simple bracket for the pan/tilt mechanism I already have.
• Test driving WS2801’s from a Raspberry Pi.
• Replacement top
  • Get styling here - something unique to orionrobots - possibly doing a few thick structural 3D print areas, but many thin/hollow areas that are purely for style.
  • Consider the WS2801 6 Status LED’s at this point.

Remote

The SixAxis controller is Bluetooth. There is a PiBorg guide on connecting them up. Lets follow that - and get it driving over bluetooth.

Consider the inputs library? https://pypi.python.org/pypi/inputs

A bit less heavy than pygame - but not sure it’ll work with the ps3 sixaxis. This library has come from Zeth, a rather instrumental part of PyCon UK!

The PyGame route: PS3 controller with PYGAME