The candidate devices are:
"X01S SmartWatch" - currently testing. Good results so far, details below. At 64g it is a little heavy but physical size is good and it has full Android 5.1 features and good performance with 1 Gig of RAM which is better than the 500 Meg of the VFD 300 and the other candidates..
"QW09 SmartWatch" - we have bought and tested a "DZ09" which is the same physical hardware with a "Nucleus" operating system. We were unable to program the "DZ09". We do discover that it has a sideways pointing camera and a weight of only 38g. The more expensive Android version "QW09" has Android 4.4 and 500 Meg of RAM which is low end, but that low weight is a very attractive feature. Possible TODO = buy and evaluate QW09.
"Raspberry Pi Zero" - this is physically larger than the SmartWatches although less weight at only about 10g. We can buy an optional extra camera, only about another 2g, that attaches with a flexible ribbon cable which can fit robot layout needs. "Pi Zero" can be programmed in JavaScript with a different framework "node.js". The current biggest barrier and still under investigation is GSM communication - ie cellphone data comms which appears to be a complex and challenging exercise involving connecting a GSM modem to a USB port. The GSM modem has a weight of 21g losing much of the "Pi Zero" weight advantage although we have the option of using USB cabling to separate it from the "Pi Zero" and away from the robot "head" to get better weight distribution. Another issue is that microphone, speaker, motion sensors, GPS are all add on extras for the "Pi Zero" where the X01S has them in the package.
X01S in detail.
As a SmartWatch
Before removing the straps and going robot-brain, I did try it out as a wearable.The X01S works well as a watch and it is a very capable complete SmartPhone. It has a solid metal case which is good for a SmartWatch but not so welcome in a robot brain. I was able to type with my big clumsy finger on a tiny screen while feeling surprised that this was working so well. The improving Google speech recognition is a welcome alternative to typing. Websites are surprisingly readable. Making phone calls and texting is all do-able.
I mail-ordered the X01S from an "AliExpress" seller - "Xiao mi World Store".
Cost including shipping was just under 100 New Zealand dollars which is about 70 US dollars.
On arrival I swapped the SIM card over from the VFD 300 and the X01S was all go with Vodafone New Zealand.
I wanted to get screen lock working with a PIN number. I searched through many options looking for this before finding it under the rather less than obvious "VPN".
That is "Settings" -- "Wireless & Networks" -- "More" -- "VPN"
As a Robot Brain - so not the usual kind of review!
The "DroidScript" framework downloads from the Google Play Store and works fine. DroidScript remote coding over Wi-Fi from a full size computer works which is an essential need for a small device. All my code created on the VFD 300 SmartPhone copied across and ran on the X01S. I use the HTML hybrid interface coding option which I understand may be relatively high demand for the device, so well done X01S.Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and GSM Data all perform well.
Removing the straps was a challenge. They are held by what looks like a screw at each end of a rod but there is only one small screw threading into the end of a long rod. I needed to try both ends to find the end where the screw unscrews then push the rod out from there. On pushing the rod out about 3mm it becomes easy to grab and pull the rest of the way.
Then I discovered as is common with SmartWatches that there are antennas in both watch straps. So it was replace the rods then peel the backing off the straps to unstick the antennas. Doing this, one of the antenna wires pulled out of the watch. However GSM, WiFi and Bluetooth are working well with only one antenna so I am continuing with that. (Maybe I have lost GPS? Todo check),
Strap removal is difficult compared to the DZ09 / QW09 design.
If I was to do this again I would cut the straps 33mm from where they meet the device, although this depends on how the device needs to fit into the robot.
My complete strap removal gave a weight reduction from 85g to 64g.
Other robot brain points of interest:
Is it possible to run and/or recharge from the robot power source?
Yes. External power (5V) is a little unusual being metal touch pads contacted by the USB charger. I would need to make a mock charger but that does look doable. See photos below. The supplied charger unit could become part of a robot but it has magnets in it giving it a relatively high weight of 29g.
The battery weighs 13g so it would be possible to run with that removed and get the unit weight down to 51g. I plan however to keep the battery in the watch for the convenience of being able to work with the watch while the rest of the robot is switched off. Good also to be able to remove the watch from the robot for better access to it for setups and adjustments.
Photos:
Strap removal surgery. Sticky antenna revealed.
Straps removed. X01S with 1 antenna. On the weighing machine.
X01S running my Snake Robot Brain code. That app "XMSnakeBrain" along with other code and designs from the "XMSnakeRobot" open source project is on Github:
https://github.com/manukautech/XMSnakeRobot
There are 2 buttons and the camera on the right side of the X01S.
The camera lens is in the middle.
X01S with charger unit which also acts as the USB adapter.
The 4 pins are a custom USB connection with the outside 2 pins as GND and V+ (5V).
Photo taken with the X01S. Street scene.
Photo taken with X01S. Interior old machinery. Low light, twilight outside.
Test run of remote control of X01S with "AirDroid" and "AirMirror".
The "AirMirror" window mirrors the app running on the X01S.
There is also a camera window so we can see what the Snake Robot is seeing.
In this screenshot I have a snake robot looking at me.
Link to X01S on "Xiao mi World Store" as at 21 Jan 2018.
These links change a lot as do the manufacturing runs of changing device designs.
If you are a future reader finding this link dead, you can try searching AliExpress for "SmartWatch X01S".
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/2017-New-3G-WiFi-X01S-Android-Smartwatch-Phone-Bluetooth-Smart-Watch-1-3GHz-Dual-Core-IP67/32825965106.html
