Addendum: How to Use ActivMedia ACTS Software

The ActivMedia Color Tracking Software is used by the RAFS project to recognize chairs. The ACTS software is used exclusively for this purpose for this project. It works by starting up the camera, and then selecting a color on the screen using a lasso-like tool. To use the ACTS software, follow the following steps:

1. At the speedybot command prompt, type: sudo acts
2. When prompted type your password as provided by the robot administrator
3. Once the ACTS dialog box opens make sure that the robot is pointed towards a marked chair.
4. Your screen will look like the following:
   
   
5. Enlarge the view window by clicking the right arrow key until it reads 2.
6. Once a chair is in sight click on the dashed button on the upper left had of the ACTS dialog. Next drag the cursor over the colored portion of the chair on screen.
7. Once this action is done, the selected color will turn blue on the screen. If you have selected the wrong color, many items on the screen may appear this blue color. If this is the case, repeat the previous action of selecting a color on screen (the pink wrapping on the chair posts).
8. This action is needed to train the robot before each use. Due to varying room conditions, fading of paper, etc., the robot must be trained each time before use.

NOTE: If you are using ACTS just to use the chair placement, type the following at the command prompt: sudo acts –c rafs. The “-c” is for a predefined configuration file.