WECANT – Sensor Network

To make sure the rover is moving into a direction less dependent on third-party boards, we are developing a new sensor network called WECANT. The name is an abbreviation of the technologies used: Wired Ethernet CAN Adaptive Network Topology. Its purpose is to connect different sensors and actuators into the existing ROS (Robot Operating System). After successful implementation, we can control and monitor an almost unlimited amount of boards through our ROS-platform, as long as they are built according to our standard. Therefore, we defined hardware and software templates for fast and easy development of new sensor and actuator boards. In the following image, the concept of this standard is visible. New boards can be stacked on top of each other, enabling quick connection and space-efficient storage, perfect for tight applications like our rover.WECANT boards stacked onto ICANTThe connection between the server and the sensors/actuators is established through a board…