Featuring the ValentF(x) Mark 1 FPGA Board integrated with a BeagleBone Black embedded Linux minicomputer, this open source robot design is a great reference for advanced DIY robotics enthusiasts!

With the novel goal of serving beverages poolside, this hilarious remote controlled robot can interact with customers through wireless video and audio, display information about drink specials, crack jokes using the voice of Stephen Hawking, and drive the contents of its cooler around with a range of 1000 meters!

Coupling the power and flexibility of FPGAs with an embedded Linux software and hardware stack opens up some very interesting possibilities for DIY robotics.  The fact that sophisticated electronics and software platforms are now readily available and extremely affordable for the average DIY’er makes this a unique time for hackers everywhere.

All that’s typically needed are some good examples of what’s possible!  Here’s a list of some fun electronics / software features the BBot reference design includes:  

• It has a Microsoft .NET graphical user interface that uses Windows Presentation Foundation and follows the proliferous Model, View, ViewMode  l (MVVM) design pattern.
• There is a real-time, C++ control program that runs on the BeagleBone Black under Angstrom Linux. 
• The design has wireless communications of video, audio and control data between the .NET GUI and the embedded control program.
• The Mark 1 board runs an FPGA design that interfaces signals from many of the robot’s hardware devices to the real-time control program.
• On the BBot’s mini display a Qt based graphics program runs and is made possible by the BeagleBone Black’s HDMI video subsystem. 
• A camera with a servo driven pan and tilt mount can also be controlled and viewed from the GUI.
• There are various other small systems that can be controlled from the GUI like an alarm buzzer that can be sounded when people try to steal drinks!

The design’s material set will be available for download in mid-September 2013.  The ValentF(x) wiki will also be a place for further documentation of the FPGA specific parts of the design.

Stay tuned for more info!