Make setup repeatable
Development containers keep the software environment explicit and make the setup instructions easier to reproduce across student computers.
PROJECT / 03 · System integration · Teaching · Developer experience
A ROS 2 robot students can operate
A Raspberry Pi robot, reproducible development containers, motor communication, and wireless teleoperation for hands-on robotics instruction.
How the pieces connect
01
DevelopA reproducible Docker environment
02
ConnectWi-Fi communication using Zenoh
03
CommandROS 2 control messages and UART motor commands
04
ObserveReturned telemetry and physical robot behavior
01 / THE CHALLENGE
A physical engineering problem
A teaching robot needs more than working motor code. Students need a repeatable environment, understandable interfaces, and a clear path from a laptop command to physical motion and returned sensor data.
02 / MY CONTRIBUTION
What I worked on
- Built Docker development-container workflows for the robot and instructor/student computers.
- Integrated Raspberry Pi UART communication with the motor controller.
- Connected bidirectional Wi-Fi telemetry and teleoperation through Zenoh.
- Documented setup for Windows, macOS, and Linux and developed exercises in Python, ROS 2, sensors, and control.
03 / SYSTEM WORKFLOW
How the pieces connect
- 01
Develop
A reproducible Docker environment
- 02
Connect
Wi-Fi communication using Zenoh
- 03
Command
ROS 2 control messages and UART motor commands
- 04
Observe
Returned telemetry and physical robot behavior
04 / ENGINEERING DECISIONS
Decisions behind the implementation
Close the communication loop
The workflow includes commands going to the robot and data returning to the laptop, so students can see both sides of a robotic system.
Teach the interfaces
Exercises connect topics, message types, sensor data, and motor commands to the behavior students observe on the real platform.
05 / OUTCOME
What the work demonstrates
Demonstrated robot-to-laptop data, reverse control commands, instructor teleoperation, and student reception of robot data. The platform supports hands-on instruction in robotic systems, instrumentation, and control.
Developed for EEL 1603 at Florida International University.