Upgraded Plans and the Goal

My ASP.NET project is still in learning mode. I have basically reread the things I have known earlier. Just now I am studying database controls that I never used with my old database application, the Open Door Mission Master Database. I used an existing application that I modified.  I am going to the new area now.

I have designed a simple resident  database for my organization St. Francis Charities based on Microsoft Access. The goal is turn that to the Internet based ASP.NET/SQL Server application. Then I will but that to the cloud using Microsoft Azure.

I have also studied the VB6 "Charts Channel" software. I am feeling more comfortable with it. It needs only perseverance to convert  that to .NET. I can clean some unnecessary parts of it to make conversion simpler. VB6 and the Object Oriented .NET are different and I cannot estimate the exact conversion time just now. My optimistic schedule is three months.

Eddie is the way to learn C# and the real Object Oriented Program design.

Three things are now going on and they support the goal  to make a  telepresence, position and navigation software for Eddie robot. The estimated time  to do it is six months. It is a kind of graduation work after what I have learned during  past forty years. I pray and hope I will get a chance to make it happen.

Troubles

Eddie caused lot of troubles this weekend and then I found that battery level was too low! It was a shame and also a relief, because I thought that the control board is faulty again. Then the charger unit was broke and I built a temporary one using a LCD monitor power source. These were the engineering incidents.

 

I built a new serial port application. Now the serial interface is as a control in a form. That's way it used to be in old VB6. Then I got a problem when I tried to update fields on the form. I got error messages that controls cannot be updated from the different thread. I never had that kind of issue with VB6. Now I have to worry about threads. Threads are naturally basic stuff with multitasking, but I miss the old VB6. Anyway, after Googling I found a workaround. Basically a new thread must be created.
I was studying also ASP.NET databases. The new SQL Server Express 2014 has a new graphical  interface for creating queries like MS Access  has. In the old SQL Server 2008 the only way is  you have type queries with the query language.

The battle continues.

WPF

I started to code my small robot control software, but it wasn't so easy I thought. I have learned to  update form fields straight from the program module, but it won't work easy way. The reason is Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF). I have to possibly go back to "school" and study more or find a workaround. Perhaps back to normal Windows forms.

The good news is I got the old Visual Basic 6 based "Charts Channel"  program work under Windows XP. I miss the old times when all was easier...

I have finally start to study Internet databases with ASP.NET.

ASP.NET 2

I am reading the book Wrox: Beginning ASP.NET 4.5.1: in C# and VB. Third of the book is now accomplished. I made some shortcuts, because I am interested in databases in the latter part of this book. The book itself is very good. The book is using Visual Studio 2013.  I am using it, although Visual Studio 2015 is available. There should not be any mismatches.

I designed and coded  SQL databases using Client/Server model. Currently all is going to the cloud and ASP.NET is the answer, if Microsoft technology is used. ASP,NET is trickier to program than the Client/Server. I excepted it was easier, but I have now to adjust. I have seen many online database applications based on ASP.NET.

I will get Eddie back tomorrow!

ASP.NET 1

I am also studying ASP.NET. The target is to create database to the Azure (MS Cloud) and possibly website that is connected to Eddie

New Dashboard

Proposed user interface is now renewed:

Straight slider is controlling both wheels with the same power and turn slider  distributes it. It is like steering a ship. Stop button set slider values to zero stopping Eddie.

I have used a lot of time to get one old VB6 program to work. It will possibly benefit Eddie.

I get Eddie in touch after Thanksgiving and then is the testing time.

Some Thoughts and Future Plans

Eddie can now read his USB port fluently. I was stuck with string and character handling. It is different from the technics 20 years ago. Some testing and learning is needed.

Eddie was originally designed and targeted for the Microsoft Robotics Studio that was considered complicated and difficult. I am now keeping things simple. Eddie will read sensors, evaluate next step, go forward etc.. It is not so sophisticated, but should work.

I have an old navigation & position  software and naturally a source code. Converting that to Eddie is a huge challenge. I am going to try. Basically I have to rewrite the whole software, because it was designed with MS Visual Basic with other add-ins. I simply cannot convert it with current conversion tools.

I like to make an indoor navigation system. There are ways to do that. GPS won't work inside, anyway. A Finnish startup company IndoorAtlas has a solution that is based on magnetic anomalies, that exist in buildings because of their metal structures. I worked a lot with magnetometers and their applications. I regret that I didn't invent that:)

When I bought Eddie. I had an idea to create visitor tour robot over Internet. It makes tour  through predesigned paths in a building and yard. Skype technology will be possibly used. So visitors don't need to visit  in a tour place. A big challenge!

Other idea is a land mine detection system that touch a bit what I was doing in past. Or something totally new...

OK, this was a dreaming session and back to work tomorrow to make ground work