Software Installations

Sunday, May 15, 2016

Updating firmware of Wi-Fi ESP8266 Module using FTDI

"This is one procedure for downloading and installing the latest available firmware on an ESP8266 using the flash tool provided by Espressif, the chip manufacturer."

Windows 10
PuTTY 0.67

Hint:

The operation of the ESP8266 outside of stated limits may be unstable and unreliable - you could damage your sanity.
The ESP8266 may draw more current than the 3.3V regulator on your Arduino can supply - you could damage your Arduino. Use a separate 3.3v power source.

Hardware:

ESP8266 - ESP01 module
FTDI - FT232RL module
StepDown 5v-3.3v module

Schematics:

Schematics using FTDI of 5v and a stepdown module

Downloads:

ESP Flash Download Tool
Getting the Latest Firmware

Click on the SDKs entry under Downloads, and then click on "latest release" under Announcements.
The latest release of the Non-OS SDK (Software Development Kit).

Installing the Firmware:

Power up your ESP connecting it to your PC.
Press and hold the Reset button, and then press and hold the Flash button. Release the Reset button, and then release the Flash button.
Click the box in the flash download tool GUI window labeled "SpiAutoSet," which will cause the download tool to automatically select the correct flash size and crystal frequency.
In the flash download tool GUI window, select checkbox on the left and click the START button.

Flash Download Tool DOS window

Flash Download Tool GUI window

Press and hold the Reset button, and then press and hold the Flash button. Release the Reset button, and then release the Flash button. Click the START button in the Flash Download Tool GUI window. The download should begin, and its progress should be shown in the Flash Download Tool GUI window and the log window, as depicted below.

Loading firmware

When the flash operation is complete, close the Flash Download Tool. Remove power from the ESP board, and then reconnect the power.

Testing:

Open PuTTY, and click the Serial radio button. Enter the COM port number (which must be less than 10) and the baud rate (which will most likely be 115200 or 9600.)
Click the Open button, and a PuTTY terminal session window should open.

Enable Caps Lock on your PC, and type AT, but don't press Enter. You should see AT in the PuTTY terminal window. If you don't, you may have selected the wrong COM port or the wrong baud rate. Close PuTTY and start again at the top of this section. The permissible baud rates are: 9600, 19200, 38400, 74880, 115200, 230400, 460800, and 921600; try each one in turn until you find the one that works.
Enable Caps Lock on your PC, and type AT, but don't press Enter. You should see AT in the PuTTY terminal window. Type a + sign followed by GMR. When you see AT+GMR in the PuTTY terminal window, while holding the Ctrl key down, press the M key followed by the J key. Release the Ctrl key. You should see the ESP8266 firmware information in the PuTTY terminal window similar to that shown in the picture below.

Links:

Sunday, March 27, 2016

Install OpenCV and WebPy on Raspberry Pi

Raspbian
OpenCV

Install:

Install Raspberry Pi updates:
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
sudo rpi-update
Reboot:
Install webpy:
cd ~
wget http://webpy.org/static/web.py-0.37.tar.gz
gzip -d -r web.py-0.37.tar.gz
tar -xvf web.py-0.37.tar
cd ./web.py-0.37
sudo python setup.py install
Install OpenCV requirements:
sudo apt-get install build-essential cmake pkg-config
sudo apt-get install libgtk2.0-dev
sudo apt-get install libavcodec-dev libavformat-dev libswscale-dev libv4l-dev
sudo apt-get install libatlas-base-dev gfortran
wget https://bootstrap.pypa.io/get-pip.py
sudo python get-pip.py
sudo pip install virtualenv virtualenvwrapper
sudo rm -rf ~/.cache/pip
Then, update your ~/.profile file to include the following 3 lines:
# virtualenv and virtualenvwrapper
export WORKON_HOME=$HOME/.virtualenvs
source /usr/local/bin/virtualenvwrapper.sh
Reload profile:
source ~/.profile
mkvirtualenv cv
sudo apt-get install python2.7-dev
pip install numpy (zzz... 45min)
Download and Install OpenCV:
wget -O opencv-2.4.10.zip http://sourceforge.net/projects/opencvlibrary/files/opencv-unix/2.4.11/opencv-2.4.11.zip/download
unzip opencv-2.4.11.zip
cd opencv-2.4.11
mkdir build
cd build
cmake -D CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=RELEASE -D CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=/usr/local -D BUILD_NEW_PYTHON_SUPPORT=ON -D INSTALL_C_EXAMPLES=ON -D INSTALL_PYTHON_EXAMPLES=ON -D BUILD_EXAMPLES=ON ..
???this or the last one??? cmake -D CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=RELEASE -D CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=/usr/local -D WITH_TBB=ON -D BUILD_NEW_PYTHON_SUPPORT=ON -D WITH_V4L=ON -D INSTALL_C_EXAMPLES=ON -D INSTALL_PYTHON_EXAMPLES=ON -D BUILD_EXAMPLES=ON -D WITH_QT=ON -D WITH_OPENGL=ON ..
Compile OpenCV:
make (zzz... 9h)
sudo make install
sudo ldconfig
Check if installtion is ok:
ls /usr/local/lib/python2.7/dist-packages
But in order to utilize OpenCV within our cv virtual environment, we first need to sym-link:
cd ~/.virtualenvs/cv/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/
ln -s /usr/local/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/cv2.so cv2.so
ln -s /usr/local/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/cv.py cv.py

Links:

Monday, January 18, 2016

MobileSim - Simulator for Pioneer (MobileRobots) Robots

Windows 10

Aria 2.9.0.1 (32bits)
MobileSim 0.7.2

Status:

2016.01.18 - Simulator (MobileSim) is working. Python example (simple.py) is working with MobileSim.

Todo:

Test java example.

Instalation on Windows:

Download and install ARIA SDK.
Configure PATH system variable - C:\Development\Aria_2.9.0-1_32bit\bin;C:\Development\Aria_2.9.0-1_32bit\python;C:\Development\Aria_2.9.0-1_32bit\java
Configure PYTHONPATH system variable - C:\Development\Aria_2.9.0-1_32bit\python
Download and install MobileSim.

Testing Python Examples:

cd \Development\Aria_2.9.0-1_32bit\PythonExamples
Start MobileSim, with C:\Development\Aria_2.9.0-1_32bit\maps\triangle.map
python simple.py

References:

ARIA SDK - Wiki, Download and Documentation
MobileSim - Wiki, Download and Documentation
http://www.mobilerobots.com/ResearchRobots/PioneerP3DX.aspx
http://www.mobilerobots.com/Software.aspx
http://www.mobilerobots.com/Mobile_Robots.aspx

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Installing Ubuntu 12.04 and ARIA (Pioneer API) on BeagleBone (White)

Windows 7
Ubuntu 12.04
Win32DiskImager
PuTTY 0.63
ARIA 2.9.0

Status:

2015.06.24 - "ARIA has been installed in /usr/local/Aria".
2015.06.24 - "ARIA has been installed in /usr/local/Aria" on Ubuntu 14.04. But ARIA APIs and demo app are running an error "ImportError: /usr/local/Aria/python/_AriaPy.so: cannot open shared object file:"

Installing Ubuntu 14.04 for BeagleBone:

Download Ubuntu for BeagleBone microSD card image (bone-ubuntu-14.04.2-console-armhf-2015-06-11-2gb.img.xz).
Write image to microSD card using Win32DiskImager.
Boot BeagleBone Board with RJ45 pluged.
Access BeagleBone with SSH client (user: ubuntu pass: temppwd)
Change sudo password:
sudo -i
passwd (ubuntu)
exit

Compiling ARIA from sources:

Installing dependencies to compile de sources:
sudo apt-get install binutils-multiarch gcc-4.6 build-essential swig python-dev python-setuptools python-serial
Configuring Enviroment to recompile ARIA files from sources:
Create PYTHONPATH and PYTHON_INCLUDE system variable:
sudo nano ~/.bashrc
Include these four lines below at the end of this file:
PYTHONPATH="/usr/local/Aria/python:${PYTHONPATH}"
export PYTHONPATH
PYTHON_INCLUDE="/usr/include/python2.7:${PYTHON_INCLUDE}"
export PYTHON_INCLUDE
Start a new shell or reload the config file by running the command below:
source ~/.bashrc
Download ARIA 2.9.0 - Other 32-bit Linux systems (Generic compressed TAR archive) with GCC 4.6
cd ~/
wget http://robots.mobilerobots.com/ARIA/download/current/ARIA-2.9.0+gcc4.6.tgz
tar -xzvf ARIA-2.9.0+gcc4.6.tgz
cd Aria-2.9.0/
sudo make install
The result is listed below:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ARIA has been installed in /usr/local/Aria.

To be able to use the ARIA libraries, you must now add /usr/local/Aria/lib
to your LD_LIBRARY_PATH environment variable, or to the /etc/ld.so.conf system file,
then run 'ldconfig'
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rebuild Python wrapper Library:
sudo nano ~/Aria-2.9.0/Makefile
CXX:=g++-4.6
PYTHON_INCLUDE:=/usr/include/python2.7
PYTHON_INCLUDE_FLAGS=-I/usr/include/python2.7
sudo make python (zzz... +- 1h)
Setting enviroment variable:
sudo nano /etc/ld.so.conf.d/aria.conf
Include these two lines (below) on this file:
include /usr/local/Aria/lib
include /usr/local/Aria/python
configure dynamic linker run-time bindings:
sudo ldconfig

References:

Sunday, April 12, 2015

Raspbian - Stream - Webcam+Motion Or Pi Camera+MMAL Motion

Raspbian v2015-02-16
Motion
MMAL Motion

Status:

20150412 - It's working.

Notes:

Pi camera works at 10~14fps.
Webcam works at 30?fps.
Using 50% for jpeg quality and size: 256x144px (Pi Camera).
With this configuration, CPU use is about 33%~96% for motion with webcam, and about 19%~53% for mmal-motion and Pi Camera.
It only works with firefox (Windows and Android? version).

Installing Motion for Webcam:

Install Motion:
sudo mkdir /home/webcam
sudo chmod 777 /home/webcam
cd /home/webcam
sudo apt-get install motion
Configure Motion:
sudo nano /etc/motion/motion.conf
Changing config file:
daemon on
framerate 15
threshold 500
gap 10
max_mpeg_time 30
output_normal center
ffmpeg_video_codec msmpeg4
target_dir /home/webcam
webcam_motion on
webcam_maxrate 30
webcam_port 8085
webcam_localhost off
Configure autostart of Motion:
sudo nano /etc/default/motion
Start Motion:
sudo motion
Troubleshooting:
"cannot create process id file ..."
mkdir /var/run/motion
chmod a+rwxt /var/run/motion

Testing Motion for Webcam:

http://<Raspberry-pi_IP-address>:8085

Installing MMAL Motion for Pi Camera:

Install Motion, dependencies and MMAL Motion:
sudo apt-get install motion libjpeg62
cd ~/
mkdir mmal
cd mmal
wget https://www.dropbox.com/s/jw5r1wss32tdibb/motion-mmal-opt.tar.gz
tar -zxvf motion-mmal-opt.tar.gz
cd ./motion-mmal
Configure Motion:
nano motion-mmalcam.conf
Changing config file:
daemon on
gap 10
mmalcam_secondary_buffer_upscale 2
stream_secondary off (ON to use with mmalcam_secondary_buffer_upscale)
output_secondary_pictures off (ON to use with mmalcam_secondary_buffer_upscale)
ffmpeg_output_secondary_movies off (ON to use with mmalcam_secondary_buffer_upscale)
Start MMAL Motion:
cd ~/mmal/motion-mmal/
./motion-mmal -n -c motion-mmalcam.conf

Testing MMAL Motion for Pi Camera:

http://<Raspberry-pi_IP-address>:8081

References:

Other options for Streaming:

Motion Google Drive Uploader and Emailer

Sunday, April 5, 2015

Raspbian - Pi Camera - MJPG-Streamer and Raspistill

Raspbian v2015-02-16
MJPG-Streamer v182
Raspistill

Status:

20150505 - Its working.

Notes:

Since pi camera is 5Mpx and HD, we're using 854x480 resolution.
Pi camera works at 1~2fps.
Using "Sport" exposure option to reduce distortion generated by the moviment.
Using 50% for jpeg quality (file size = +- 200kb. If use 10% then +-23Kb, else if 34% then +-150kb, else if 75% then +-240kb, else if 1280x720x50% than +-510kb).
With this configuration, CPU use is about 2%~3% for raspistill and +-2% for mjpg-streamer.
Using 640x360x50% results in 100kb file size.
It works with firefox and chrome (Windows and Android versions).

ToDo:

Compare performances (mjpg-streamer-raspistill / motion).

Installing:

Enabling Pi Camera:
sudo raspi-config
Select Enable camera and hit Enter, then go to Finish and you'll be prompted to reboot.
Install build dependencies:
sudo apt-get install libjpeg8-dev imagemagick libv4l-dev
Add missing videodev.h:
sudo ln -s /usr/include/linux/videodev2.h /usr/include/linux/videodev.h
Download MJPG-Streamer:
wget http://sourceforge.net/code-snapshots/svn/m/mj/mjpg-streamer/code/mjpg-streamer-code-182.zip
Unzip the MJPG-Streamer source code:
unzip mjpg-streamer-code-182.zip
Build MJPG-Streamer:
cd mjpg-streamer-code-182/mjpg-streamer
make mjpg_streamer input_file.so output_http.so
Install MJPG-Streamer:
sudo cp mjpg_streamer /usr/local/bin
sudo cp output_http.so input_file.so /usr/local/lib/
sudo cp -R www /usr/local/www
Start the camera and MJPG-Streamer:
mkdir /tmp/stream
raspistill --nopreview -w 640 -h 480 -q 5 -o /tmp/stream/pic.jpg -tl 100 -t 9999999 -th 0:0:0 & LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/usr/local/lib mjpg_streamer -i "input_file.so -f /tmp/stream -n pic.jpg" -o "output_http.so -w /usr/local/www"
Cleanup (removing source code files):
cd ../../
rm -rf mjpg-streamer-182

Testing:

http://<Raspberry-pi_IP-address>:8080

References:

Other options for Streaming:

Saturday, December 6, 2014

Raspberry Pi - Using eSpeak with Pidora

Raspberry Pi
Pidora 2014
eSpeak 1.47.11

Status:

It's working.

Install:

login as root:
yum install espeak

Test:

Login as an user (not root):
espeak "testing with espeak"
espeak testing,with,espeak
espeak -vpt "testando a voz da lingua portuguesa"

Troubleshotting:

Don't run espeak with root user, it will freeze and only will work again after reboot;
eSpeak was interfered by alsa-tools*, xdotool and libxdo;
Sometimes espeak freezes when it's trying to speak a word with incorrect syntax;
Sometimes espeak freezes, or just don't tell anything, if it receives two commands in a short time.

References: