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2013 11:28:29 AM Mobile robots are beginning to move out of the
lab and into real environments [Roman, 1991]. However, as the
convenience of a laboratory is left behind, development,
debugging, site-installation, and end-user operation are
becoming more difficult. While in the laboratory, many mobile
robot developers use tethers to link the onboard computer to a
convenient desktop monitor and keyboard. This paper presents the
design and implementation of a Wireless Development System (WDS)
for mobile robots. The WDS has unique features that can greatly
facilitate the development and debugging process for mobile
robots. In experimentation with mobile robots, a development
cycle usually consists of two parts: run-time, and what we call
"debug-time." Debug-time is the portion of the development cycle
in which the experimenter modifies and compiles the software
that controls the functions of the mobile robot. Then, during
run-time, the robot is actual