Introduction

Figure 1: BotSense Framework

The BotSense software package provides a client-server framework for clients to remotely interface to proxied server devices over IP. Additional proxied devices may be easily added by developers using the open and documented programming interface.

Figure 1 illustrates the BotSense framework. The bsProxy server plus any specific module plug-ins operate on the target system. The target system has direct access to the devices and resources to be proxied. The client applications may running either on or off target. Compiled C/C++ applications are linked to the BotSense libraries. Python clients use the modules imported from the BotSense python package.

Motivation

The BotSense effort is motivated by the need by RoadNarrows to support diverse robotic systems and remote embedded devices in unified and virtualized framework over the ubiquitous Internet. Client applications using BotSense may then be implemented rapidly to a consistent, common, open API.

Objective

The objective is to create an IP-based, open-source, near real-time client-server middleware framework that readily supports multiple computing architectures including embedded processors with limited resources. The proxy server supports concurrent clients. Both request-response and streaming-out message exchange patterns are supported. The extensible framework easily supports application-specific new proxied (pseudo) devices and robotic systems.

Some Horse Sense

"Common sense is not so common."	- Voltaire
"Common sense...Get some!"	- Anonymous
"Robot sense...Build some!"	- RoadNarrows