Rapid programming of embedded autonomous robots

This paper presents a fast and accurate method for programming simple strategies for small autonomous robots based on embedded processing platforms. There are several approaches in programming of mobile and industrial robots, but the most common one is online programming. This method begins with so called teaching phase during which human operator guides the robot by issuing a set of simple commands. All that commands are automatically logged and saved into a command log, which in the operation phase eventually serves as final program. In case of industrial robots, the whole process including teaching and operation phase runs on the same platform, usually PC, which by the rule has convenient user interface. On the other side, small embedded robot platforms do not have appropriate user interfaces and their programs must be written in the form of hard-coded precompiled firmware. This paper describes the architecture of the robot and supporting system which are designed in the way that support convenient usage of PC based software during development phase, and a fast and accurate method for translation of tested command sequence into the embedded platform firmware running the robot during the deployment phase.