Boe Bot CMUcam

Phillip

I have recently purchased one of the cams and have not been able to get it working with the code that is supplied on the CD you get with the cam and also with the code that is posted on the product information webpage. Specifically using function three of the demo code. I cannot get it track a color like the Boe Bot on the video. It works only for a second and then stops. I have tried changing the 'Pause' commands in the code but haven't been successful. Does anyone know how to get the cam to operate correctly? Thanks in advance. Phillip

Franklin

Could you ATTACH your code to your next post so we could take a look?

▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
- Stephen

Mike Green

Also, you might describe how you are powering the BoeBot with the CMUcam and double check your connections.

Phillip

Here is the sample code that is supplied on the CD that comes with the cam. The cam poowers up with out any problems because we can run functions one and two but once we get to function there, the cam stops working. Thanks. Phillip

Phillip

Forgot to mention where in the code I am trying to get working. The part of the code is labeled "Follow and Track Color" It then has an IF/THEN statement about function 3.

Franklin

Sorry, don't see "Follow and Track Color" in the program.

▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
- Stephen

Humanoido

I checked your posted code, and it's identical
to the code I have running on my CMUcam
and Boebot. This code runs perfect and does
not need modifications. Which CMUcam version
do you have? The appmod version with or
without the ribbon cable? You may
need to check the seating on the connector
and boards, verify the jumpers and correct
install, replace the BoeBot batteries, reload in the
code, and try again. One other thing to check - the
plug in connector for the ribbon cable has 2 rows -
only one row will work.

humanoido

Phillip

Thanks for the replies. I have spoken with the maker of the CMUcam (Seattle Robotics) and also to the person who wrote the code for the CMUcam and long story short, my CMUcam had a problem. Parallax sent me another CMUcam and said that they would check to make sure it worked with the code on the included CD before they sent it. I haven't had time to check the new CMUcam but will tomorrow.·So hopefully the problem is·solved.·Also found out from Parallax that the code that is supplied on the product information webpage for the CMUcam is not correct.

Chris Savage

Phillip,

It’s not that the code on our website is incorrect…For the vast majority of CMUCam customers it probably works fine. There were apparently some changes made to recent versions which we were not informed of and which the old code does not work. Of course, code is supplied on CD so there should not be an issue. We may have to find a way to list both programs.

▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Chris Savage
Parallax Tech Support

Humanoido

The Parallax posted code is not working on
CMUcam1 V2.3 with the ribbon cable.
www.parallax.com/Store/Microcontrollers/BASICStampModules/tabid/134/txtSearch/cmu/List/1/ProductID/29/Default.aspx?SortField=ProductName%2cProductName
Most of these programs are not found on the supplied
CMUcam CD. (CMUcam1 AppMod Ver B CD)
So it could be an issue because those codes are
very useful, for example, functions where the LED menu
is not needed, and the ability to find and push a soccer ball!
I never heard back from Seattle Robotics, maybe
they're very busy, but a diagram is still needed showing
exact PINS USED to the appmod board and FROM the
appmod board, and the red camera
board for CMUcam1 version V2.3. Anyone have this?
It's very unusual not to include pin information in the manual
so I think Parallax had little or no involvement in the printing
of the User Guide version 1.0.

One question about the CMUcam code as there are no comments
to explain - what is the difference between turn left &
rotate left, and turn right & rotate right? What is the thinking
in terms of turning directions and angles and the use
and reason for each? (see posted code). Thanks very much
in advance.

humanoido

Phillip

Well the problem continues... The new CMUCam came in and seems to be working correctly. However, when both servos that control the wheels are plugged in to the correct servo ports on the board, the program doesn't know what to do. When only one servo is plugged in, the program works correctly but sense only one wheel is working the Boe-Bot goes in a circle. As soon as the second wheel servo is plugged in, the program shuts down almost instantly. It seems that there is some kind of electrical short but I have tried the CMUCam in several other boards with several other servos and the same problem. Anyone know what is wrong? Thanks.

Phillip

Franklin

Make sure you have enough power and you are not trying to use the stamps or stamp boards regulator for all the parts.

▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
- Stephen

Phillip

The only thing that is attached to the board is the two wheel servos and the cam. Right now while I am trying to get the Boe-Bot working I am using the AC adapter so there should be enough power being supplied.

Mike Green

If you are running the servos off the 5V output of the board's regulator, you may be overloading the regulator. Servos can draw up to 1Amp each when they're starting or under heavy load. If your AC adapter puts out more than 7V or so, you can't run the servos off it directly. You might need a separate AC adapter that puts out 6V and use that for just the servos. You could run the servos and the BoeBot off the 6V adapter if it has enough capacity (2.5A peak).

Phillip

Thanks for the reply Mike. I haven't had time yet to see if the AC adapter is the problem or not but hopefully I will soon.