Android Telepresence Robot

When you hear about telepresence robots, you might think of those big, expensive units like the ones featured in Modern Family and Big Bang Theory. You may have never imagined building a telepresence robot of your own. Check it out. It's cheaper and easier than you'd think!

Download PocketBot on to your Android device

Parts list

2 Android devices with Android 3.1 or higher, 1 will need OTG support http://android.stackexchange.com/questions/36887/...

Arduino Uno or equivalent

Adafruit Motor Shield

Cell phone window mount

OTG Cable

Adafruit Mini Robot Rover Chassis Kit

AA Battery Holder with switch

4 AA Batteries

May also need assorted screws and spacers to mount the Arduino

Tools

#1 and #2 Phillips screwdriver

Pliers

Hot glue gun

Pretty straight forward. Adafruit has directions if you need them.

Adafruit has directions if you need them.

Use the included hardware to mount the Arduino. Anyway you can get it to fit should be fine.

The lever that holds the cup in place can be pried loose with some force. It has a pin that slides out. You may break it while removing but that's OK. You can just throw that part away along with the suction cup and spring.

I used hot glue for this step.

The next step will show a picture of this.

I also used hot glue for this step. The batteries are very difficult to change. So I think this part should be improved. However the weight of the batteries help counter balance the weight of the phone. This end of the phone could use a little more weight.

You can download the library from github

https://github.com/frankjoshua/PocketBot

Here is a link with information about installing Arduino libraries

You can download PocketBot from the Google Play Store.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tesseractmobile.pocketbot

The phone or tablet should detect when the Arduino is plugged in to it. Click always allow and then OK. Then PocketBot will open.

Slide out the left side drawer. Click on Face/Modes. Then select the "Control" mode.Use the on screen controls to verify the robot is working. The left side joystick should now control the speed and direction of the robot.

Slide out the left side drawer. Click settings. The click "Set Robot Name"You can choose any name you like.

Slide out the left side drawer. Click on Face/Modes. Then select the "Telepresence" mode.After a minute you should see a 7 digit number at the top of the screen. This is like the robots phone number.Also control information will be displayed in this area after you connect remotely with a second android device.

Slide out the left side drawer. Click on Face/Modes. Then select the "Control" mode.

Press the connect button. This will bring up a dialog. Select the remote robot from the list.