Shop OBEX P1 Docs P2 Docs Learn Events
Robot Control Board — Parallax Forums

Robot Control Board

DutchBotDutchBot Posts: 24
edited 2010-02-28 22:13 in Propeller 1
Hi there,

just received my robot control board by mail and looked for documentation·about it. I'm having a little trouble here, is there anything like a getting started guide especially for the robot control board? Got lot's of other stuff· but I need some help just starting things up. So far I got it connected, downloaded/installed the propellor tool, powered it up, found it on com5 and tried to get some sample code in there (ping included with the tool). Played arround with the script a little to get it to look on port 0 for the ping and pressed F10. It uploaded·but what now? Shouldn't it give me some reading?

I also connected the ping servo bracket and·connected·that·to P1.· No clue how I can get that to move neither.

So as you can see I'm really looking for the power-on button [noparse]:)[/noparse] Thanks for any advice!

Best regards,

Dutchbot

Comments

  • KyeKye Posts: 2,200
    edited 2010-02-28 16:45
    You need to run the demo code and not the driver code. Also open the parallax serial terminal program to communicate to the propeller chip and make sure the baud rates match.

    When programing on a microcontroller you cannot assume stuff will just work and that there's alot of magic happening in the background. Applications must be built from the most basic pieces and be put together.

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    Nyamekye,
  • Mike GreenMike Green Posts: 23,101
    edited 2010-02-28 16:55
    Look at the Propeller Education Kit labs (see the 3rd "sticky" thread at the top of the forum's thread list). This is written for the Propeller Education Kit, but many of the labs also apply to the robot control board and most other Propeller boards.
  • DutchBotDutchBot Posts: 24
    edited 2010-02-28 17:04
    Okay thanks, I managed to get some demo code that helped me out.
  • hover1hover1 Posts: 1,929
    edited 2010-02-28 17:11
    What are you using for a display? The Ping_Demo.spin is looking for an LCD to display the output of the program. Parallax 4X20 Serial LCD (#27979).

    Jim
    DutchBot said...
    Hi there,


    just received my robot control board by mail and looked for documentation about it. I'm having a little trouble here, is there anything like a getting started guide especially for the robot control board? Got lot's of other stuff but I need some help just starting things up. So far I got it connected, downloaded/installed the propellor tool, powered it up, found it on com5 and tried to get some sample code in there (ping included with the tool). Played arround with the script a little to get it to look on port 0 for the ping and pressed F10. It uploaded but what now? Shouldn't it give me some reading?



    I also connected the ping servo bracket and connected that to P1. No clue how I can get that to move neither.



    So as you can see I'm really looking for the power-on button [noparse]:)[/noparse] Thanks for any advice!



    Best regards,



    Dutchbot
  • DutchBotDutchBot Posts: 24
    edited 2010-02-28 22:13
    Hi Jim,

    that was one of the things I noticed. I'm pretty much new to robotics and after trying out some boards (and gotten somewhat dissapointed) I ordered the robot control board. It has all the features I need but I had some troubles getting it to work all together. First thing I wanted to do was move a servo. So I tried some example code but wrong wiring prevented me to see anything move. I managed to set it up correctlty now and am moving several servos and some lights (and I was so happy I danced arround the room [noparse]:)[/noparse]) It wasn't that hard in the end but when you get an envelope with a little board and have no clue it takes a little messing arround.

    Getting the ping to work is phase 2. For me there are still some bits and pieces to figure out. So I'm working on the pir sensor now (which is a bit more simple). Then again, it still doesn't do what i want. I tried the sample code and it turns on the first led (warming up) then turns it off and switches on another one. So far that one either stays on or doesn't come on at·all. It doesn't seem to be triggered by the pir sensor for now. The again, I spent the last 8 hours fiddling arround with it so I'm probably just not seeing things anymore.

    Hoping to dive into some more ping examples soon (a roaming bot with ping is one of the goals).

    http://letsmakerobots.com/node/16613

    Best regards,

    Louis
Sign In or Register to comment.