Orchestrator Platform

A modular robotics control system with 4-layer architecture for flexible hardware abstraction, safety monitoring, and visual programming capabilities.

4 Layer Architecture
100% Safety Coverage
8+ Core Components
MQTT Real-time Communication
Node-RED Visual Programming
Python Robust Backend

Platform Overview

The Orchestrator Platform is a comprehensive robotics control system designed for flexibility, reliability, and ease of use. Built with modern software engineering principles, it provides a robust foundation for building and controlling robotic systems of any scale.

Why Choose Orchestrator?

The Orchestrator Platform addresses the common challenges in robotics development by providing a unified, modular approach to robot control. Whether you're building a simple mobile robot or a complex multi-robot system, our platform scales to meet your needs.

  • Modular Design: Mix and match components to build exactly what you need
  • Safety First: Multi-layered safety systems ensure reliable operation
  • Visual Programming: Create complex behaviors without writing code
  • Real-time Communication: Low-latency MQTT messaging for responsive control
  • Hardware Agnostic: Works with any hardware that supports standard interfaces
  • Production Ready: Comprehensive testing and deployment tools
Web Dashboard
Node-RED Flows
MQTT Broker
HAL Services
Hardware

Key Features

Comprehensive robotics control platform with enterprise-grade features

Hardware Abstraction Layer

Unified interface for sensors, actuators, and communication with pluggable components and extensible architecture for maximum flexibility.

Multi-layered Safety System

Hardware and software safety checks with emergency stops, obstacle detection, watchdog timers, and real-time monitoring for maximum reliability.

MQTT Communication

Real-time messaging with hierarchical topic structure, configurable QoS levels, and retained messages for seamless integration and control.

Visual Programming

Node-RED integration for flow-based programming with intuitive dashboards, mission sequencers, and real-time telemetry visualization.

State Management

Centralized state persistence with atomic writes, MQTT-based synchronization, schema validation, and automatic recovery capabilities.

Comprehensive Testing

Unit, integration, and functional test coverage with mock hardware simulation and continuous integration support for reliable development.

System Architecture

Clean 4-layer architecture designed for flexibility and maintainability

Layer 4: Control & UI Layer
Node-RED flows, web dashboards, mobile interfaces, and visual programming tools
Layer 3: Communication Layer
MQTT broker, message routing, topic management, and real-time messaging
Layer 2: Hardware Abstraction Layer
Python HAL services, safety monitoring, state management, and logging
Layer 1: Physical Hardware
Raspberry Pi, sensors (encoders, LIDAR), actuators (motors), and GPIO interfaces

Core Components

Modular components for complete robotics control

Motor Controllers
PWM motor control with safety limits
Encoder Sensors
Rotary encoder interface with position tracking
LIDAR Sensors
Distance measurement and obstacle detection
Safety Monitor
Real-time safety checking and emergency stops
State Manager
State persistence and synchronization
Logging Service
Centralized logging with rotation
MQTT Client
Pub/sub messaging with auto-reconnection
Configuration
YAML-based configuration management

Getting Started

Quick setup guide to get your robotics platform running

1

Clone and Install

Get the latest version and set up your environment

git clone <repository-url> cd orchestrator-platform python -m venv venv source venv/bin/activate pip install -r requirements.txt
2

Configure System Dependencies

Install MQTT broker and Node-RED for full functionality

sudo apt install mosquitto mosquitto-clients nodejs npm sudo npm install -g node-red node-red-dashboard sudo systemctl enable mosquitto
3

Configure Hardware

Set up your hardware configuration and enable interfaces

cp configs/example_config.yaml configs/config.yaml # Edit configs/config.yaml with your hardware settings sudo raspi-config # Enable I2C and SPI
4

Start Services

Launch the core services and verify everything is working

python orchestrator_hal.py python safety_monitor_service.py python state_manager_service.py node-red # Optional: Start Node-RED
5

Access Web Interface

Open your browser and start controlling your robot

# Node-RED editor: http://localhost:1880 # Dashboard: http://localhost:1880/ui
6

Verify Installation

Test your setup and run the demo to ensure everything works

# Run basic tests python run_tests.py # Run demo to verify setup python run_demo.py demo_mock_hal # Check system status python -c "from hal_service.config import ConfigurationService; print('Config loaded successfully')"

Documentation

Comprehensive guides and references for all aspects of the platform

User Guide

Complete guide for operating the robot via dashboard and control interfaces

MQTT Reference

Complete MQTT topic structure and message schemas for communication

HAL Components

Hardware abstraction layer components and interfaces

Node-RED Integration

Visual programming interface and dashboard implementation

Deployment Guide

Installation, deployment, and system configuration

Development

Development tools, testing, and contribution guidelines

Why Choose Orchestrator?

Discover the key advantages that make our platform the ideal choice for robotics development

Rapid Development

Get your robot up and running in hours, not weeks. Our modular components and visual programming tools accelerate development cycles.

Enterprise Security

Built-in safety systems, secure communication protocols, and comprehensive error handling ensure reliable operation in production environments.

Scalable Architecture

Start with a single robot and scale to complex multi-robot systems. Our architecture grows with your needs without requiring rewrites.

Easy Integration

Standard interfaces and protocols make it simple to integrate with existing systems, sensors, and third-party hardware.

Team Collaboration

Visual programming and clear documentation enable seamless collaboration between hardware engineers, software developers, and domain experts.

Cost Effective

Reduce development costs with reusable components, comprehensive testing tools, and deployment automation that minimizes operational overhead.

Use Cases & Applications

The Orchestrator Platform is versatile enough to power a wide range of robotics applications

Industrial Automation

Automate warehouse operations, material handling, and manufacturing processes with reliable, scalable robot control systems.

  • Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs)
  • Pick and place robots
  • Quality inspection systems
  • Assembly line automation

Service Robotics

Build intelligent service robots for domestic, commercial, and healthcare applications with advanced navigation and interaction capabilities.

  • Cleaning robots
  • Security patrol robots
  • Healthcare assistance robots
  • Delivery robots

Education & Research

Perfect for educational institutions and research labs looking to teach robotics concepts and prototype new robotic systems.

  • Robotics education platforms
  • Research prototypes
  • Student projects
  • Algorithm development

Agricultural Robotics

Develop precision agriculture robots for planting, monitoring, and harvesting with advanced sensor integration and autonomous navigation.

  • Autonomous tractors
  • Crop monitoring drones
  • Precision planting systems
  • Harvesting robots

Emergency Response

Deploy robots in hazardous environments for search and rescue, disaster response, and emergency monitoring with robust safety systems.

  • Search and rescue robots
  • Hazardous material handling
  • Disaster assessment drones
  • Emergency communication relays

Custom Applications

The modular architecture allows you to build custom robotic solutions for any specific application or industry requirement.

  • Custom sensor integration
  • Specialized actuators
  • Industry-specific protocols
  • Unique control algorithms

Technology Stack

Built with modern, reliable technologies for robust robotics control

Python 3.8+
MQTT
Node-RED
Raspberry Pi
Docker
Ansible
pytest
YAML