Propeller Control Board #28205 Need Help ASAP!!

Big Al

I currently have a Propeller Control Board #28205. I also have a hitachi h48c tri axis accelerometer. I am mounting it on an underwater robot. When the accelerometer reads tilt, I want it to activate a little propeller to adjust it to its rightful position. The problem is that for all the object codes, It seems that they are not made for this little red board that I have. I also cannot read what the accelerometer is reading. I am just so confused. I purchased this board for its ease of use with the accelerometer but that has been proven false. If anyone could help me it would be most appreciated.

Philldapill

What output ARE you getting from the accelerometer? Is it a constant number, or does it change? How do you have it hooked up? What object are you using?

Big Al

I am not getting any outputs. The code from the object code requires a VGA output. I can't even get it on a computer screen or debug. The values... when I had originally hooked it up to the basic stamp bored were constantly changing. I was using the only object code for the h48c tri axis accelerometer found in the downloads page. the way it is hooked up, is it plugs right into its designated spot on the propeller control board.

StefanL38

Hello Big Al,

Could you please attach your code to a posting.
For a VGA-Output you need several DA-converters build by resistors.

As the AUX-PINS have 10k resistors in series it's almost impossible to create a VGA-output with this board

To get an Output you have to modify the H48C-VGA-Demo that it uses the serial connection on PIN 31,30

@Parallax:

What I write here is meant as a constructive critic:

This is a professional board manufactured by Parallax itself.
I think your engineers have tested the board with some democode adjusted to THIS BOARD
for ALL SENSORS: H48C, HM55B, MOS-Fetdriver, GPS, Tachometer, Servos

What is the reason that these demofiles can't be downloaded from the product-page ?

Propeller Control Board

From a real good customer-service I expect
demofiles that you can download in the propeller and have a quick test !

Download code
plug sensor
and PLAY

(not pray that the general object will fit the specialties of a certain board)

best regards

Stefan

MagIO2

Would it really be good customer service? What happens now? The customer learns from the first demo, that whenever he copies code, for example from the Object Exchange, he has to take care of the settings. So, you immediately get the most important lesson with the first demo you run. Isn't that cool?

Tom C

Having to think instead of just blindly loading the code and expecting it to run! What an brilliant idea!

Just a thought.

Regards,

TCIII

▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
If you are going to send·a Robot·to save the world, you·better make sure it likes it the way it is!

Post Edited (Tom C) : 4/9/2009 1:19:22 AM GMT

StefanL38

Hello,

OK put the two ideas together:

how about REALLY WELL documentated hardware (the board) and REALLY WELL documented sensors
that it gets easy to develop the software ?

In my former job I had to deal with a lot of bad documented hard- and software.
Sometimes it took several days to get it running because I had to find out how things work by trial and error

The main buisseness in this job was NOT to become a specialist about a certain hard- or software.
The main buisseness was to develop a completed automated system to fulfill all the requirements of the customer.

If I have to decide which products to buy, I prefer WELL documented ones,
that makes it easy to maintain WITHOUT a 8 week trial and error phase until you are able to build all bought components yourself.

best regards

Stefan

Big Al

It was not my goal to just plug in and play. I expected a little work with the overall code. The fact of the matter is, when I called Parallax and asked them the best thing they recomend for my project, they had told me that this board is the best way for me to go. I trusted them, thinking that I could plug in my accelerometer work with the code and then operate. What I have come to find out is the outputs on this board are not your basic outputs. if this were a breadboard design, I would be able to tinker more but I cannot use a breadboard in this situation.

StefanL38

Hello Big Al,

as you have this board now and want to go on right now you can change the code of the H48C-democode
from VGA-output to serial-output over PIN 31,30 which is possible with the conrollerboard you have.

This means you have to replace the object "vga_text" with the object "Extended_FDSerial"

As MagIO mentioned you learn most from adapting the code. Make a start about changing the H48C-VGA-demo-code
and whereever there comes up a question feel free to ask it here in the forum.

I finish this post right here because I would like to see you to show us where your first question comes up

The question can be simple as can be but I would like that you are asking it.

Otherwise I have to guess around where your skill level is
If I guess too high my explanation is hard to understand
If I guess too low my explanation is boring and a waste of time

best regards

Stefan