braccino

A simple Elixir application to control the Tinkerkit Braccio robotic arm through a web interface.

The name comes from Braccio (which is the name of the robot but also the Italian word for "arm") + Arduino.

Hardware

Raspberry Pi 3b
Arduino Due
Tinkerkit Braccio

Project structure

braccino: shared code between the firmware and the web interface
braccino_firmware: the firmware for the Raspberry Pi 3b, created using Nerves
- arduino-sketch: contains Arduino sketch files
braccino_ui: the web interface, created using Phoenix Live View

How it works

The Tinkerkit Braccio robotic arm is controlled by an Arduino Due. The Arduino Due is connected to the Raspberry Pi 3b via a USB cable and they communicate through UART. The Raspberry Pi hosts a web interface to control the arm.

Setting up

Clone this repository
Install the dependencies of braccino
```
# inside braccino/
mix deps.get
```

Install the dependencies of braccino_ui

# inside braccino_ui/
mix deps.get
npm install --prefix assets

Build static assets of the web UI.

# inside braccino_ui/
npm install --prefix assets --production
npm run deploy --prefix assets
mix phx.digest

Install the dependencies of braccino_firmware

# inside braccino_firmware/
export MIX_TARGET=rpi3
mix deps.get

Build the firmware

# inside braccino_firmware/
export MIX_TARGET=rpi3
mix firmware

Either burn the firmware to an SD card or upload it to the Raspberry Pi 3b.

# inside braccino_firmware/
export MIX_TARGET=rpi3

# to burn the firmware to an SD card
mix firmware.burn

# to upload the firmware
mix upload

Development

If you are using vscode there are two workspaces:

frontend.code-workspace to use in the development of the web interface
full-stack.code-workspace to use in the development of the firmware + web interface

These workspaces contain extension recommendations and configuration.

Frontend

This workspace includes only the braccino and braccino_ui folders.

To start the development server, first install the dependencies, then run mix phx.server.

Fullstack

This workspace includes the braccino, braccino_firmware and braccino_ui folders. It also contains various tasks to automate building the firmware and the web interface and to deploy to the Raspberry Pi.

darcros/braccino