Connect a Companion PC

Connecting a Companion PC to the Origin One robot platform is an essential step for users who want to test and develop applications with the robot. This guide will walk you through the process of establishing a reliable connection between your Companion PC and the Origin One using an Ethernet cable. By following these steps, you can ensure a stable and efficient communication setup, allowing you to fully leverage the capabilities of the Origin One.

To connect a Companion PC to the Origin One robot platform, follow these steps:

  1. Connect the Ethernet Cable:
    • Connect an Ethernet cable to the outside port of the Origin One. For information on the correct cable to use, please refer to the Electrical Integration Guide.
  2. Mount the Companion PC to the Origin One:
    • Securely attach the Companion PC to the Origin before driving. For information on the mounting options, please refer to the Mechanical Integration Guide
  3. Configure Network Settings on the Companion PC:
    • On the Companion PC, you can set the network configuration on the LAN port in one of two ways: Automatic DHCP Configuration:
    • Set the network configuration on the LAN port to Automatic DHCP (this is usually the default setting on most computers).
    • The internal DHCP server on the Origin One will provide the Companion PC with an IP address in the range 192.168.100.XXX, where XXX is a number between 100 and 249. The IP range [0,99] is reserved by Avular.
    • The lease time for the IP address is 12 hours. If the device remains connected, the lease will be automatically renewed after 6 hours. If the lease time expires, the device will request a new lease when it tries to connect, which may result in a new XXX number. Manual IP Configuration:
    • Set the IP address to a number in the range 192.168.100.XXX, where XXX is a number between 100 and 249.
    • Set the subnet mask to 255.255.255.0.
    • Set the gateway to 192.168.100.1.

You are now connected with a Companion PC to the Origin One robot over the LAN network. This setup allows you to interact with the robot and start developing your applications. From here you can continue setting up a Zenoh bridge connection between the Companion PC and the Origin One to gain access to the ROS 2 network of the Origin One. For detailed instructions on how to configure the Zenoh bridge connection, please consult the Setting up a Zenoh bridge guide.

Setting up a Zenoh bridge