Pizero for ukmarsbot

Adding a Rapberry Pi Zero onto the UK Mars Bot

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NOTE:

Background

The UKMarsBot is a maze solver and line follower, designed by the UK Mars and Robotics Society (UKMars). It has a Arduino Nano attached as the standard microcontroller.

• GitHub Project page: https://github.com/ukmars/ukmarsbot
• UKMars Project page: https://ukmars.org/projects/ukmarsbot/
• Building instructions for the UKMarsBot https://github.com/ukmars/ukmarsbot/wiki

This project aims to add a Raspberry Pi Zero to that basic design.

There is a provisional scope document here

There is a related seperate GitHub project for the Arduino Nano I/O coprocessor software: https://github.com/robzed/ukmarsey

Methods

There are two potential methods of connecting a Raspberry Pi Zero to the UKMARSbot:

1. Produce an adapter board that converts the Pi Zero header to the Arduino Nano footprint, completely replacing the Ardunio Nano.
2. Connect the Raspberry Pi to the Arduino over a serial interface to the existing Arduino Nano and use the Nano as an I/O processor.

This article will examine the second option since this is the simpler option to construct, without a custom PCB. (There are, however, some notes on method 1 provided in 'Replacing the Arduino Nano Entirely'.)

Parts required

• UKMarsBot - tested working with Arduino Nano
• Arduino Nano v3 (or equivalent third-party Nano)
• Pi Zero v1.3

We will be using a Pi Zero (not a Pi Zero W which uses more power).

Table of Contents

• Powering the Pi Zero … 5v Power … consideration on power
• What are the options for communicating between Pi Zero and Arduino Nano?
• Summary of Electrical Connections between Pi Zero and Arduino Nano
• Installing the Pi Zero Operating System
• Logging into the PI
• Disable Linux Console on UART
• Scripting language for the I/O processor
• Mechanical Mounting - Mounting the Pi Zero onto UKMarsBot
• Software for the Pi Zero
• Shutdown down the Pi Zero
• Upgrading the Pi Zero Operating System

Advanced Topics (Not finished)

• Using a Pi Zero W instead of a Pi Zero
• Programming the Nano from the Pi Zero
• Speed up the Raspberry Pi Boot
• Real time processing on the Raspberry Pi
• Reducing Pi Zero Power consumption
• Replacing the Arduino Nano Entirely
• Crazy and Wierd ideas
• Remote Debugging Python on a Robot

Other Topcs

• Sharing the Internet via OTG

Future

• Increasing the 5v power available to the Pi
• Fitting a camera