The purpose of WIFIBOT is to develop and make low cost robotic systems for an increasing number of applications using off the shelf technologies like the WiFi, which is the common denominator of all our products.  WIFIBOT was born to fulfill the need there was in the market for affordable and technically intermediate mobile robots. The existing option would either fall into the category of toys either into the category of expensive advanced robots intended for research. The WIFIBOT products come in the middle of the two and face little competition in this category. The final goal of WIFIBOT is to take out robotics from the labs by proposing products presenting intermediate capabilities and features while remaining functional and affordable to a large public.

 



The embedded system

All our actual products and those to come in the future will have a similar multi-network architecture, that is a main embedded Ethernet network that is always present and one or more secondary networks (i.e: I²C-USB-CAN-IEEE 1394) linked together by a central calculator acting as a bridge between them. Those networks can be completed by other non network interfaces such as RS232, In/Out pins, or PS2.

The different networks or buses are built if necessary around embedded switches for interconnecting the different elements. Depending of the version of the robot, those networks can be used for connecting several processors, sensor modules, WiFi Access points, IP cameras, webcams or any other element which interface is supported by the robot.

This architecture means our robots are fully customizable, they are perfect for those professionals or hobbyists who, interested in robotics, want an open platform. It is fully programmable, allowing you to experiment, carry your own research and add your custom modules for increased capabilities adapted to your needs.

 

 

 

 

 

The WiFi network and multi-robot applications

The WiFiBoT robots have a particular interest which lies in their architecture and the natural interconnection of their embedded LANs (Local Area Network) through wireless WiFi. This is implemented by the presence of a WiFi Access Point embedded in the robot. This access point can be configured as an Access Point properly speaking or as a bridge in infrastructure and adhoc modes. Through this interconnection the decision organs of the different robots can communicate with each other or else a robot can access directly to the modules present physically in another robot just like if that module would be embedded in its own system and all this in a transparent way for the other robots. This direct access can be extended for example to non mobile elements like for example a base equipped with a camera that guides the robot or that  the robot uses to guide itself during a docking maneuver. Infrastructure mode means the different elements don’t talk to each  other directly, instead they talk to a central device called access point (AP) which manages all communications. In adhoc mode, devices talk directly to each other, there is no central management. An important notion in infrastructure mode is “roaming”, it means the device will connect to the AP that is closer to it when it starts losing connection with the previous AP it was connected to.

Mesh Networking

Some of our products (WiFiBoT 4G) feature an additional functionality to the standard WiFi by using a routing algorithm called OLSR. Those routing algorithms work when an adhoc network is set and allow the robot to work as a repeater and convey information when this can’t be transmitted directly between two connected devices. The routing table builds itself dynamically following the evolution in space of the robots. This is very interesting when you have a multi-robot application or swarms of robots because this allows the robots to greatly extend their range of action by “roaming” automatically by connecting to other robots or pre-positioned devices.
 
A robot configured in infrastructure mode (in opposition to adhoc mode) can roam too in a standard wired pre-positioned WiFi infrastructure, although the robot won’t have the repeater functionality, that is enough to move all over a prepared site.

 

 

Current product development:

WIFIBOT has a strategy of permanent development searching for new markets. Having first concentrated on traditional educational and research applications for our robots, current projects target surveillance applications. The WiFi technology around which our robots are built is today in full expansion in both public and private places. Then, many of today’s surveillance systems are based on wired or wireless (WiFi) Ethernet TCP/IP networks. Those networks can be closed or further connected through the internet to a distant monitoring center. Those two fact allow the WiFiBoTs to be easily and transparently integrated in existing infrastructures without requiring new investments in many sites already in place.

For example any IP surveillance software can have access directly on a camera embedded in the robot just like it would with a fixed camera. The control of the robot being managed by a separate independent software.

The concept we are developing is the one of a couple robot-base to be controlled through the internet. In the concept, the robots are tools to be used in punctual interventions. In normal situation the robots will be located inside their base and shut down while having their battery level kept to the maximum. At any time, a distant operator will then be able to connect from the internet to the base and launch and guide the robot in order to inspect a zone, house or apartment. Once the intervention is over, the user returns the robot to its base where it will shut down and its battery charged again. The base is  not only a charging station but a bridge between the robot and the internet as well as a shelter to protect it from the weather or during transport.