Re: Building OpenROV

[Dominik Fretz]

Hey Simone,

I can't help with all the questions, but a few insights:

BB: 2.5 will have the BB black

OS Image: that's the latest official one. I'm working on an updated version and a solution to automate the process.

Cape: 2.5 will have a very different cape (different arduino and more)

Cockpit: the lattest official version is the master branch of the OpenROV repo. Brian has some stuff in his own branch that is not ready yet.

As discussed today in a (ad hoc) dev call (http://wiki.openrov.com/index.php/2013-07-31_Ad-hoc_Development_Call). 2.5 is ue to ship in September.

Priority is IMHO in getting the current cockpit stable and an image done for the BB black.

Afterwards I would vote for a checkup session on the architecture and especially introduction of testing before we go on!

Maybe you could look into what we would need to refactor for a better layering. Or how to setup a automated testing!

Maybe you want to ask David and Eric directly in a dedicated mail for an @openrov address!

Cheers,

Dominik

On Thu, Aug 1, 2013 at 12:27 AM, Simone Chiaretta <sim...@piyosailing.com> wrote:

Hi,

starting going back to building OpenROV, so asking a sanity check on what I have and what I'd better "upgrade" to a newer version.

Basically I think I have parts that match what has been shipped as kickstarter kits.

By reading through wiki and blog posts I think the status is:

• BeagleBone = no change
• OS image = new image (is this one the latest? https://www.dropbox.com/s/krwbf7gm7z4xoyq/ubuntu-12.04-r8-minimal-armhf-2012-12-02.tar.xz?dl=1)
• Cape = There is a new cape from what I understood, right? what's the difference from what I have?
• External shell = same(?)
• E-chassis = completely different... which one should I use (mine 2.3, current one 2.4, future, the one with just tilting camera, 2.5)
• Tether = I still have the old twisted wire, but cannot find the homeplug adapter here in EU
  
• Battery = is 2.4 just different assembling or also are needed different components?
• EndCaps = is 2.4 just using one set of disks instead of 2?

About the cockpit: is the latest version available from the official repository or from Brian's?

And finally: apart from building the ROV, anything else I can look into during these 2 future slow weeks at work and the following 3 weeks on holiday?

I was thinking of making a PoC of a new structure of the cockpit code with a better separation of concerns between layers and that possibly allows other UI on different devices (and maybe even API) being built. Is that ok, or is there anything more urgent?

Simone

PS: can I have @openrov.com email address? :)

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Simone Chiaretta
Microsoft MVP ASP.NET - ASPInsider
Blog: http://codeclimber.net.nz
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twitter: @simonech

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Twitter: @codewithpassion

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[Simone Chiaretta]

Ok, thank you for the answers about the SW part of 2.5

I'm building the thing in the next weeks so I guess I'll go with 2.4 as I only have time during August :)

Simone

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[Len Shelton]

Who is working on the BBB code? I have tons of time on my hands... how can I contribute? Is there a roadmap somewhere that I've been unable to find? 

[Colin Ho]

Hello Len!

Welcome to the OpenROV dev community! Brian Adams (cc'ed) is working on the BBB code right now. There's lots to work on here, I recommend jumping on the next dev call, but I'm working on putting up a roadmap for the v2.5 we're working on! I just put up the roadmap for the next rev on the wiki here - roadmap 

[Len Shelton]

Thanks Colin! I actually sent Brian an email after you replied via email earlier today. But I think its better to discuss this here so that others can benefit. My questions were: What can you tell me about where you're at with it and how you are approaching it? Are we sticking with Ubuntu? Are you planning on trimming it down to fit on eMMC? 

Thanks for posting the road map!

[Dominik Fretz]

Len,

welcome to the list!

Are you specifically loooking in contriibuting to the beagle bone black or in general to the software?

To create the OpenROV image for the BB, we currently use scripts (https://github.com/OpenROV/openrov-image). The problem with this script is, it builds the complete ubuntu image for the BB and downloads tons of stuff which takes too long.

The plan is to take the stock BB/BBB image and make adjustments (on a desktop pc),aka install needed packages, install the OpenROV SW and scripts.

I'm currently working on this process and will automate it so we can apply it to the BBB too.

Right now we will stick to Ubuntu.

If you are looking into working on the SW as a such, important points for the work past 2.5 will be to get an automated testing harness (Unit tests) for our code base and a refactoring into layers within the software.  

As you rightly said, please keep you communication to the list so we can contribute too. 

Regards,

Dominik

On Fri, Aug 2, 2013 at 7:37 AM, Len Shelton <l...@reefrobotics.com> wrote:

Thanks Colin! I actually sent Brian an email after you replied via email earlier today. But I think its better to discuss this here so that others can benefit. My questions were: What can you tell me about where you're at with it and how you are approaching it? Are we sticking with Ubuntu? Are you planning on trimming it down to fit on eMMC? 

Thanks for posting the road map!

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[Len Shelton]

I want to help with a lot of things. I am a scuba diver and I have a lot of ideas for where this could go. I found this project because I need a data collection platform for another project I have brewing, so I need it to do more than just send a video feed to the surface. I have a working BB prototype, but I don't see much point developing for it when the BBB will surely be the way to go moving forward.

Is anyone aware of a way to make the BBB boot from the external MMC by default without having to hold down the button? If not, then those two forks could be significantly different.

Once I have the BBB running, my first objective was gonna be to get it talking to multiple Arduinos. 

[Simone Chiaretta]

Maybe we could add on the wiki somewhere the areas that people volonteer to work on, and who is the main responsible for the area.

Here is a possible list of the areas

- BeagleBone code and image

- arduino code

- cape HW design

- Cockpit UI (nodejs + js)

- e-chassis

- shell

Simone 
---

Simone Chiaretta

@simonech

Sent from a tablet

[Len Shelton]

Good idea Simone.

FWIW - I think the development calls are a huge disconnect unless each and every one of them are published or transcribed for everyone else.

>Len

[Dominik Fretz]

Len, Development calls are great because they are interactive.

And usually they are with live hangouts and therefore recorded.

Dominik

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[Len Shelton]

How is the public supposed to view these live hangouts?

[Dominik Fretz]

They are usually planed ahead of time and announced on the list.

Everyone who is interested in it can join.

Dominik

On Fri, Aug 2, 2013 at 11:18 PM, Len Shelton <l...@reefrobotics.com> wrote:

How is the public supposed to view these live hangouts?

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[Len Shelton]

Sorry, I meant the recordings of those live hangouts.

[David Lang]

Hey Len,

All the Development Calls are recorded and live on YouTube here: https://plus.google.com/u/1/+DavidLang/videos

-David

OpenROV.com