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Tilt servo connection.... — Parallax Forums

Tilt servo connection....

VaatiVaati Posts: 712
edited 2009-06-23 15:48 in Robotics
Ah, I may have broken·the tilt servo on my penguin...· Either that or it's a problem with the code or something...· Has anyone else had a similar problem?

I know it isn't much use to post this without a video or code, but I just wanted to know if I was an anomaly first and foremost, as·I really must get to bed.... [noparse][[/noparse]stifles a yawn]


Thanks.

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Quit buying all those fixed voltage regulators, and·get an Adjustable Power Supply·for your projects!· Includes an LED testing terminal!

Post Edited (Vaati) : 6/23/2009 3:51:25 PM GMT

Comments

  • Ken GraceyKen Gracey Posts: 7,392
    edited 2009-06-11 04:38
    Vaati,

    As a quick test that the tilt servo is good, just connect it to the other port you normally use for stride. Does it work now?

    Also, have you run the servo calibration program? You will see a menu which prompts you through setting up the center of each servo, the limits of movement, etc. While doing this you can stand, walk, or disable servos.

    - Ken
  • VaatiVaati Posts: 712
    edited 2009-06-11 17:10
    Okay, I will post a short clip of the penguin running Penguin-AutonomousNavigation-v1.2.bpx in a moment--I don't think my IBM thinkpad can take a camera being plugged in and a lot of text being entered in a form at once. smile.gif The tilt servo does absolutely nothing when plugged into the other servo port.

    FYI- in the video, I have the servos plugged into the proper ports.

    Thanks.

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    Quit buying all those fixed voltage regulators, and·get an Adjustable Power Supply·for your projects!· Includes an LED testing terminal!
  • VaatiVaati Posts: 712
    edited 2009-06-11 17:48
    Here's the video.

    http://uploads.propmodule.com/vaati___P7110065.MOV

    Once again, thanks to mctrivia's uploader!· For some reason, my video was 16.7 MB....

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    Quit buying all those fixed voltage regulators, and·get an Adjustable Power Supply·for your projects!· Includes an LED testing terminal!
  • HumanoidoHumanoido Posts: 5,770
    edited 2009-06-12 04:34
    You can easily test that servo.
    Run the test program.
    Manually see if the tilt servo is held in place or not.

    A better servo test:
    Run this calibration program.
    http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?p=671204
    If the servo is good, it will calibrate (can move to center position).
    Run the loop test at the end of the program.
    Both servos should remain held in center position.
    If not, the servo is most likely bad.

    humanoido
  • VaatiVaati Posts: 712
    edited 2009-06-12 16:27
    There are a couple of things--I ran the Penguin_automatic_servo_calibrator.bpx and found that the tilt servo does not seem to move no matter what I do. Also, I think there is some sort of problem with the program because I can't run the loop test; it does absolutely nothing when I hit "1" and press enter in order to select "yes."

    I have a sinking feeling that the servo is indeed the problem. I will disassemble my penugin and test the tilt servo by itself with my homework board. Then I can go from there....

    First my propeller, now my penguin... Can't wait to try out the SX! smile.gif


    Thanks again.

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    Quit buying all those fixed voltage regulators, and·get an Adjustable Power Supply·for your projects!· Includes an LED testing terminal!
  • VaatiVaati Posts: 712
    edited 2009-06-12 17:59
    Okay, the servo does not work. I tried the penguin-centerservos.bpx as a .bs2 file extension with just the tilt servo, and all it does is move the smallest fraction of a millimeter. The same thing happens when I run that program as .bpx--the stride servo works, but the tilt servo moves an ittybitty fraction of a millimeter. It makes that infintecimal turn ONLY when I turn on the power of the HWB/Penguin, and no other time (unless of course, I have the power on and rapidly plug and unplug the servo, but it does not center the servo, only move it.)

    Should I contact a Parallax employee in order to have the one naro servo replaced...?

    I hope I have better luck with the next product I get... =|


    Thanks.

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    Quit buying all those fixed voltage regulators, and·get an Adjustable Power Supply·for your projects!· Includes an LED testing terminal!
  • Ken GraceyKen Gracey Posts: 7,392
    edited 2009-06-12 18:08
    Vaati,

    No problem - we'll get you a servo right away. Just send an e-mail to sales@parallax.com and copy this thread address.

    It's a shame that a cruddy component can wreck a nice kit. Servos would be particularly cumbersome to test individually before we package them, but then again we test USB cables this way. I'll make sure our purchasing manager sees this link so she can contact GWS about the servo problems you've experienced.

    Sorry about that!

    Ken Gracey
  • HumanoidoHumanoido Posts: 5,770
    edited 2009-06-15 15:02
    Vaati, you'll have your Penguin up and walking very soon! Parallax is really great about supporting all their products. About that loop test - after calibrating the servos, when entering the loop test: you actually will not see anything happen. This is normal. What the loop test is doing is merely keeping the servos in center position by maintaining a powered loop. So the servos remain centered without moving, even when a little resistance is applied by hand. This is why the loop test is so useful. You will immediately know if a servo is not being held in position and not working.

    humanoido
  • VaatiVaati Posts: 712
    edited 2009-06-23 15:48
    Okay, so I got my replacement servo now and want to make sure that I don't cause problems with it... What program(s) will I need to run in order to get a nicely made walking penguin?


    Thanks.

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    Quit buying all those fixed voltage regulators, and·get an Adjustable Power Supply·for your projects!· Includes an LED testing terminal!
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