Scribbler 2 newb, looking for non-GUI programming info...

2007CBR600RR

Hey gang!

Just ordered a Scribbler 2, along with the IPRE Fluke Add on Board, and a copy of the book "Learning programming with robotics" by Kumar. I know that Georgia Tech uses the Scribbler 1 with the other items listed as their CS 101 class.

I'm a professional Java programmer and picked this up just to play around with, but was hoping somebody could give me the quick 411 on what's involved to use the IPRE Fluke with the Scribbler 2, and how to go about programming the Scribbler 2 in a real language (like C, some flavor of BASIC, Python, etc.), not the GUI. It seems that the IPRE is supposed to be compatible, but I really don't know anything about what it does, or how you use it.

Any help is appreciated! Just getting started and looking for info before my kit arrives.

Whit

The IPRE Fluke provides bluetooth communication with a PC. Software running on the PC allows programs written in Python on the PC to send instruction to the Scribbler or S2 via the bluetooth communication. The Scribbler just becomes a slave to the PC. I have played with this using the Scribbler, but not the S2. It is very interesting and allows programmers to have instant real world feedback to what their code is doing.

As far as learning a "real" programming language for the S2 - the GUI can show you the program you have written in Spin (the language of the Propeller Chip). You can also program the S2 directly in Spin. This along with the helps in the GUI and studying the S2 object and the default program (demo program) can help you learn Spin. It is C like and should be easy for someone with your experience to learn. I think you will be impressed.

2007CBR600RR

Whit wrote: »

The IPRE Fluke provides bluetooth communication with a PC. Software running on the PC allows programs written in Python on the PC to send instruction to the Scribbler or S2 via the bluetooth communication. The Scribbler just becomes a slave to the PC. I have played with this using the Scribbler, but not the S2. It is very interesting and allows programmers to have instant real world feedback to what their code is doing.

As far as learning a "real" programming language for the S2 - the GUI can show you the program you have written in Spin (the language of the Propeller Chip). You can also program the S2 directly in Spin. This along with the helps in the GUI and studying the S2 object and the default program (demo program) can help you learn Spin. It is C like and should be easy for someone with your experience to learn. I think you will be impressed.

Ahhhh ok, so that's what the references I was seeing about the scribbler server meant... The ipre just exposes a "server" interface to the scribbler and you write code on your computer to interact with the IPRE via Bluetooth and it in tern relays the commands to the scribbler or fetch and returns the sensor values.... Interesting. That gives you a lot more CPU power and memory to do stuff...

I'm sure I'm going to have a lot more questions once I get the kit... I'm taking a grad level robotics lab at Drexel University this quarter, but we are doing everything in simulation using Player/Stage so I was hoping this scribbler 2 and IPRE board would allow me to experiment more with actual hardware bots on the cheap. I also have access to a number of iRobot Create units as well at the office and it sounds like there are plans to make the IPRE work with those also.

Publison

Erco must be making room for more plywood thingies, (get this plastic stuff out of here!):

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B001G47BWO/ref=dp_olp_new?ie=UTF8&condition=new

I want to see you make a IPRE out of ply wood:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B001LEMA66/ref=dp_olp_used?ie=UTF8&qid=1301679883&sr=1-1&condition=used

2007CBR600RR

Fluke board arrived today new in box with manual shrink wrapped. Just waiting on the scribbler which should arrive on Wednesday. Too bad things are nuts at work this week so I doubt I'll have time to even play with it until the weekend at the earliest...

Whit

2007CBR600RR wrote: »

Too bad things are nuts at work this week so I doubt I'll have time to even play with it until the weekend at the earliest...

Happens everytime I order something!

Have fun when you do get to play and let us know how it goes...

2007CBR600RR

Got it, but having issues getting it configured so my Macbook will keep the connection to the Fluke board over bluetooth...

2007CBR600RR

Ok, I'm still having issues, but have had SOME successes as well...

Part of the problem is, the directions are NOT well written for somebody who's on OSX Snow Leopard (which is every machine I have in the house and at work...)

I did manage to get Macports installed, pulled down the 2.9.1 version of myro...

inside python2.4 I was able to get it to use the new version of myro.

I did the pairing with bluetooth, set up the serial port it created to be named scribbler and checked the "use passcode" checkbox

running python2.4 I was able to do the upgrade_fluke command to install the 2.9.1.hex file from the myro.

I then rebooted both the robot and restarted python and did the:

upgrade("scribbler")

This went out and looks like it installed the 1.0.2 firmware onto the scribbler2.

Now when I turn it on, I get a different tone, and the center light on the back lights up flashing green.

However, when I try to do: "initialize()" or init("/dev/tty.scribbler") I get prompted for the BT passcode, I enter it (1234) and I see this:

Waiting on port... /dev/tty.scribbler
Waiting on port... /dev/tty.scribbler
Waiting on port... /dev/tty.scribbler
Waiting on port... /dev/tty.scribbler
Serial element not found. If this continues, remove/replace serial device...

And it shows the connection having dropped and restarted and once again I get prompted for the passcode... and it just keeps looping like this over and over until I kill python.

Ideas??? I'm stumped.

Whit

Sorry, but no ideas! The little of bit of playing I've done with this was with the Scribbler and a PC. There is s IPRE help and a blog where you might find some Mac folks.