Go!Leo
Web Application for Autonomous Navigation and Real-Time Steering for Leo Rover
The main goal is to create the Go!Leo control system , a simple web interface for the autonomous transportation of a fleet of rovers. This system is intended to reduce operational costs and open new business applications. The primary deliverable is the Go!Leo web application, built with the React framework. This application will provide: Real-Time Steering Mode: This includes a live video stream , keyboard/joystick controls , and indicators for battery level and connection status. Autonomous Navigation Mode: This features SLAM-based room mapping , visualization of the map and robot's position, and the ability to select waypoints on the map for autonomous navigation. The project's success will be verified through a phased rollout. Key verification steps include testing keyboard/joystick control, testing mapping in a controlled environment, and validating localization accuracy. A critical performance metric is low latency in steering mode.
The project addresses the problem of inefficient transport of small equipment and the high operational costs of simple navigation and mobile service operations, particularly in environments like public facilities or university campuses. Manually performing these tasks wastes employee time and requires the constant presence of costly personnel. The Go!Leo system aims to solve this by providing a single, accessible web application for controlling Leo Rover robots. This interface eliminates technological barriers and training costs associated with complex, non-web-based software, integrating both real-time manual control and autonomous navigation into one platform.
Final Products: The main artifacts are the Go!Leo web application, potentially as a Progressive Web App, and the Backend Server. Supporting Tools: These include the on-rover REST API Server (FastAPI), the Rosbridge WebSocket server, the web video server, and all the necessary ROS2 Nodes for SLAM, Nav2, and motor control. Characteristics: The frontend is built with React. The backend uses Python/FastAPI and is hosted on WCSS. The rover itself runs on a Raspberry Pi 5 with ROS2 Humble and LeoOS. Communication relies on WebSockets and REST APIs .
The primary beneficiaries are the end users and operators, who gain a simple, installation-free web interface to control the robots. This system improves their operational efficiency by enabling flexible steering (via keyboard or joystick) and enhancing situational awareness through a live video feed and status indicators. Organizations (like universities or businesses) benefit significantly from a reduction in operational costs and time savings. The system allows for increased service availability and simultaneity, enabling new applications like an autonomous bicycle repair station or automated equipment transport. This also opens new business opportunities, such as robot rentals for events or campus subscription services. Finally, the project aims to benefit wider communities by enabling the development of specialized robots.
