A* pathfinding via Bluetooth

[SpikeT]

I'm creating a program for controlling NXT from PC via Bluetooth.
User can control the robot to search and then save object locations
into a database.

After that the robot can run autonomously to any know objects
by using A* (A-star) search algorithm.

I posted a video showing a sample of what this program could do at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJPod8uPoq0

Hope this can help you guys for any project idea

[SpikeT]

I upload a new video at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQM3eOI2gN4

some comment would be nice...guy

[gloomyandy]

Interesting video. Would like to see a little more about your internal map representation (would be good to see your A* algorithm actually choosing a path. Also do you store any notion of the size/occupied space of each object in your map? What about the size of the robot, is that represented at all? Also do you really need an SQL database for 3 objects? What are the advantages of using that rather than simply storing things in memory?

[SpikeT]

Thanks for the comment,

You were right about using DB for only 3 objects, but
I did it this way because I can have more options to play with
in the future.

Mapping all objects on the map is sure troublesome. I'm
using simple grid-map the grid size is 1x1 cm.
The objects that I put on the map are a robot current position,
estimate origins of the obstacles, and target positions.

Before running the pathfinding algorithm, the size of those
objects will be expanded(from the center).
The key is I put extra clearance
space when expanding the obstacle.

obstacle -> 30x30 (object =10 and 10 more on each side for clearance)

The pathfinding algorithm was modified from http://www.policyalmanac.org/games/aStarTutorial.htm

By the way, do you know where I can find some other
mapping technique that works well with NXT(only one sonar sensor)?

[SpikeT]

I posted a new video at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwTOn-AlgBU

showing more about pathfinding.

[tlaukkan]

Hi SpikeT

I have started to work on similar project and plan to release any thing useful as open source. Would be interesting to exchange ideas and links to existing work in the internet.

I am using ultrasonic sensor as well to find distances to objects and walls. Still testing the sensor so I am not sure whether I would need to update to optical one to get accurate enough data.

Do you think raster or vector based data structure better for storing map information?

-Tommi