How To

First you must install the AccessGrid Software.

From www.accessgrid.org install the AG software.   Make sure all modules are installed.  No detail is provided here because documentation is available at the link, above.

Start the AG Venue Client, from icon on Desktop or from :

Mac: Applications ->AccessGidToolkit3.app

Windows: Start->All Programs->Access Grid Tool Kit 3->Venue Client

First time starting you'll have to fill out some information in a form that will appear.

After the Venue Client starts, you'll see the words  "You're not in a Venue".

Mac Version                                                

(Menu Bar is at top of screen)                      

The default venue server url should be in the url window, if not change it to https://agserver.arsc.edu:9000/Venues/default.

Click on the "go" button next to the url window.

The Venue Client window should now read "ARSC Venue Server Lobby".

                    

Rat, the audio client, should start.

Vic, the video consumer client should start.

Unless you have a multicast enabled network, only your name will show up in rat and the vic window will say "waiting for video" and be empty.

If you don't have a multicast enabled network

Click on tools->bridges-> and choose a bridge.

(Mac Version shown)

If you see "ARSC" choose that one.  If the ARSC bridge is not available, choose another.  You might have to try several before finding one that works.  Start at the top of the list and work down. 

When you find one that works, you will see some video from other sites in the vic window.  There is an AG in Butro 001 that is always on, so you should see a video from the Butrovich Building pointing out the window.

Firewall and port forwarding

If you are behind a firewall you might need to open up exceptions for rat and vic.  You might also have to forward ports 50000 to 55000 on your netwok router to the computer. 

Contact your network or systems administrator for help if you do not see video.

Moving to the robot venue

In the Venue Client's Exit section, double click on "Remote Control Device 1".

This will take you to one of the robot rooms.  You should now see video of the robot table.

Adding the Device Control Service

In the Venue Client data area you will see several files.  Click on DeviceControlService-<NEWEST DATE>.zip and save in:

Windows   C:\Program Files\AGTk-3\NodeServices

OS X   Applications/AccessGridToolkit3.app/Contents/Resources/NodeServices

(OS X users: you might have to put the .zip extension back on the name of the file)

You should see some other zip files there.  If you don't, you're in the wrong place.

**Very Important**

If you are updating the DeviceControlService.zip file there is a user directory in which these files are unzipped.  They must be removed for the new files to be used. They are unzipped automatically when the service is added.

They are located in:

Mac:   /Users/ <user name>/.AccessGrid3/local_services/DeviceControlService

Windows: C:\Documents and Settings\<user name>\Application Data\AccessGrid3\local_services\DeviceControlService

To add the service click  tools->configure node services.

The Access Grid Node Management window will appear.

Click  service->add->   choose DeviceControlService.

DeviceControlService should now be in the Access Grid Node Management window.

If the AG DeviceControl Client window did not start try:

Configuring the Service if network is not multicast enabled

If you do not have a multicast enabled network, the AGDeviceControl Client window will probably be empty.  If so, you will have to configure and start the aggregator.

Skip this section if the AGDeviceControl Client window is not empty (see image below).

In the Access Grid Node Management window, right click on DeviceControlService and choose configure in the widow that pops up.

Turn the aggregator to "On".

Get the aggregator.conf file from the data section and save it somewhere convenient.

Type in the full path to aggregator.conf.  Leave the port as is.  Click ok.

Now, Disable the service and re-enable it or you might have to click "Go" in the Venue Client which will reenter you into the venue.

The AGDeviceControl Client window should now look something like this.

You can choose which devices you want to control by clicking on the tabs at the top.

To move one of the Stamp II bots, highlight one of them in the AGDeviceControl Client window.  In the Forward/Reverse section click above the line to move forward, below the line to move back.  The distance from the line will determine how far the bot moves.

To turn the bot, click in the Turning window.  12 o'clock in the window is always the direction the bot is facing. Click to the right of 12 o'clock to turn the bot right and left of 12 o'clock to turn left.  Again, the distance from 12 o'clock will determine how much the bot turns.

!!!There is a sleep mode that the bots might be in when you arrive.  If they are, it will take about 15 seconds for the bot to response to the first signal.

We change batteries twice a day at about 8am and 5 pm Alaska time.

Read the document in the Data Section called " The Task.txt" to see what you are suppose to do. 

Also you can leave a message by clicking on the "Sign Guestbook" button in the AGDeviceControl Client.

Have fun.  

ARSC Remote Device Control Project Team