Activitybot 360 will only go backwards and spin in circles. Help!
Shelby1985
Posts: 8
in Robotics
I purchased a ActivityBot 360 for my 9 year old son and I to learn how to code. We are using BlockyProp to write code. We used the provided code that is on the Parallax website and it just spins around backwards. I found a calibration code, but still spins in circles.
Thanks,
Jeremy
Comments
Because one wheel is on the left and the other is on the right if both turn in the same direction, they will end up moving in circles.
So, one wheel needs to have a positive speed while the other wheel needs a negative speed.
Mike
Look at how both wheels spin. You probably will see one spin clockwise and the other counterclockwise. I don't know Blockprop but if you give one wheel the negative value of the other wheel's number then rerun the code you should see both wheels spin the same direction as Mike mentioned. If the bot is going backwards then switch the values on both wheels .
"Spins backwards"...? Are both motors turning or just one?
just one.
Sounds like one servo motor isn't connected/programmed/working. Swap the servo connectors L/R on the Activity board and report back.
The left servo spins very fast, and the right servo only spins when you put your hand in front of the ping sensor, but very slow. Also both servos spin backwards.
Thanks,
Jeremy
Any progress Jeremy? Did you try swapping servos? Lets sort this out.
we tried another project the found on the LEARN.PARALLAX.COM website. The IR Roaming code. the robot still wants to still go backwards. I did notice that one of the servos would rock-back-and-forth when you put you hand in front of the IR sensor, but the other would just spin out if control.
Thanks,
Jeremy
Okay, I ran the calibration code and it still goes backwards and just spins!
The calibration code figures out what value of PWM to give to each motor so that when you drive it straight forward it goes straight.
It will not fix the direction the motors go in.
Maybe you need to take a picture of your setup to see what's going on. This is a very simple setup.
Mike
Shelby1985,
Are you sure that you have the ActivityBot 360 and not the Original ActivityBot?
https://learn.parallax.com/tutorials/robot/activitybot/activitybot/mechanical-assembly/check-your-hardware
The 360 has 4 wire servos (built-in encoder), while the original had 3 wire servos and used external encoders for positioning.
Also, have you made sure both servos are installed oriented in the same direction? If you're not sure, post a photo top-down.
yes, it the activity bot 350
yes, the motors are both the proper direction
I used the instructions on the website that has video and pictures.
I feel that the board is bad.
I meant 360
Shelby1985,
Rarely are Parallax boards faulty.
Have you tried new batteries?
Double-check that all the wires and connectors are fully inserted.
If that doesn't work then attach some pictures.
Hi @Shelby1985
Did you manage to solve your spin-in-circles issue ?
If not, I wanted to offer you send an email to support@parallax.com with a photo of your robot (top-down view) whilst it's connected to your computer via USB and powered on (power switch in position 2 with two green LEDs visible at the power switch). That way we could arrange a call to make sure this is resolved for you. Alternatively post the photo here if you prefer.
We'd really like to be sure you are able to use your robot as intended!