Building an IoT Image Transmission Control Crawler with Raspberry Pi and Node.js

This article is contributed by float, introducing a remote-controlled car robot project based on the Raspberry Pi platform, supporting image transmission and remote control. The software part of the project is open source, and I recommend it to enthusiasts and Raspberry Pi lovers.

The inspiration for the project comes from the main character Wall-E in Pixar’s animated film “WALL-E”. A cute robot that survives in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, cleaning the Earth day after day.

This is a very interesting IoT project! It runs on an ARM architecture-based Raspberry Pi development board. With the excellent performance of Node and the cross-platform compatible hardware framework Johnny-Five, we created this project. This project includes server-side to front-end programs, developed in JavaScript, and features include video monitoring, temperature data collection, remote control, distance measurement, GPS positioning, and more. Developers interested in IoT are welcome to issue issues.

Introduction

This project includes server-side to front-end programs, developed in JavaScript, and features include video monitoring, temperature data collection, remote control, distance measurement, GPS positioning, and more. Developers interested in IoT are welcome to issue issues.

Technology Stack

Johnny-Five
Vue
Express
Chart.js
MongoDB

Target Features

[x] Support real-time video monitoring (completed)
[x] Support camera rotation (completed)
[x] Support manual motor control (completed)
[x] Support temperature collection (completed)
[ ] Support GPS positioning
[ ] Support distance detection
[ ] Support line tracking function
[ ] Support free cruising

Environment Configuration and Dependencies

Raspberry Pi Development Board (Raspberry Pi 3 Model B)
Ubuntu Mate 16.0.4 Operating System
Node && NPM
MJPG-streamer

Running the Project

Project Download

git clone https://github.com/zexiplus/WALL.E.git
cd WALL.E
npm install

Run Web Interface Program in Development Mode

npm run dev
// then open the browser at http://localhost:1234

Run Web Interface Program in Production Environment

npm run build
npm run local
//then open the browser at http://localhost:2999

Run Server Program

npm run board

Material Preparation

Wiring Instructions

The wiring reference diagram is as follows:Currently, the modules connected to the circuit include motor driver module, MPU6050 integrated module, servo motor module, and camera module.

The motor driver module receives the high and low levels from the IO pins and outputs 12V voltage to drive the motor. The servo motor module is used to rotate the camera, which is fixed on the axis supported by the servo motor. The MPU6050 module can sense the surrounding temperature and measure acceleration, etc.

Due to the communication channel of the GPS module conflicting with Wi-Fi, it cannot be introduced temporarily, and GPS positioning will be completed in later versions.

This project uses WiringPi coding for Raspberry Pi IO pins, as shown:

Wiring Description:

The signal line of the servo motor connects to pin 1 of the Raspberry Pi development board (WiringPi coding, the same below). The SCL of the MPU6050 sensor connects to pin 3 of the Raspberry Pi development board, and the SDA connects to pin 2. The four input terminals of the motor driver module connect to Raspberry Pi pins 21, 22, 23, and 24.

Actual Image of the Car:

Project Maintainer

GitHub | floatProject License Agreement: GPL

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