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MSRS Support for the Boe-Bot? — Parallax Forums

MSRS Support for the Boe-Bot?

Trevor TaylorTrevor Taylor Posts: 13
edited 2007-11-29 23:43 in Robotics
I have a Boe-Bot working with MSRS V1.5, but I wonder what support Parallax is providing?

The MSRS Boe-Bot home page still has a link to V1.2 of the Bluetooth documentation as well as V1.4. However even the V1.4 is still for MSRS V1.0 and is from March this year.

Are there plans to release further versions of the software for MSRS? The current implementation is incomplete in some areas, which I am working on, but it is hard going.

Trevor
·

Comments

  • Steve JoblinSteve Joblin Posts: 784
    edited 2007-10-27 14:18
    Like everything else Parallax gets into, they provide unparalleled customer support... I wanted to play around with it and found that Parallax will quickly respond... there area tons of problems and issues with MSRS (like everything else Microsoft gets into), so you should be posting this question on the MSRS site!
  • quickster47quickster47 Posts: 35
    edited 2007-10-27 18:13
    Trevor,

    You have to realize the problem you are having is not with the BoeBot but rather with Microsoft. As in so many things Microsoft does, and Windoze is the primo example, they never fix anything or finish anything. Their products are always in a state of disrepair and in their case, there are always at least 100 more bugs.

    Carl
  • Trevor TaylorTrevor Taylor Posts: 13
    edited 2007-10-28 08:57
    I think there might be some misunderstanding about what MSRS is -- it's a framework for robotics. Microsoft does not intend to write software for every robot on the market.

    They chose a few examples for the initial release of MSRS based on popularity. The fact that the Boe-Bot is one of them shows how popular Parallax is. According to the original press release Parallax and Microsoft developed the original version of the BoeBot software together. That's why there is a kit specifically for MSRS.

    However, I thought the idea was for manufacturers to provide ongoing support of their own products under MSRS. Does anyone from Parallax care to comment?

    Trevor
  • quickster47quickster47 Posts: 35
    edited 2007-10-28 12:00
    Trevor,

    Exactly why are you using MSRS in the first place?

    Carl
  • FranklinFranklin Posts: 4,747
    edited 2007-10-29 01:00
    Trevor, what support do you need? Perhaps someone could help.

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    - Stephen
  • Trevor TaylorTrevor Taylor Posts: 13
    edited 2007-11-09 23:18
    I just wondered if Parallax intended to update the software for MSRS. I have the Boe-Bot working with V1.5, but it would be good to know if there will be any future releases.

    Judging by the reaction from other forum members though, I doubt that anyone else cares.

    Trevor
  • FranklinFranklin Posts: 4,747
    edited 2007-11-10 00:09
    What is it in 1.5 that you think needs improvement? Why fix something that isn't broken?

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    - Stephen
  • WhitWhit Posts: 4,191
    edited 2007-11-10 13:25
    Andy Lindsay seems to know as much about this as anyone. I have read his answers to questions about MSRS in the past. Perhaps you could PM him with your specific questions. Just a thought...

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    Whit+


    "We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths." - Walt Disney
  • Trevor TaylorTrevor Taylor Posts: 13
    edited 2007-11-26 12:14
    Please - no more flames about Microsoft. It's a long story how I became involved with MSRS.

    Given the lack of response, I bit the bullet and I have updated the Boe-Bot services myself.

    I have added functions to output to the pins directly so that I can turn LEDs on and off, and also to play a sound. I put RotateDegrees and DriveDistance handlers into the service, but they are not very reliable due to the fact that they rely on timers. However, it makes it a little easier to program the Boe-Bot.

    If anyone is interested, please contact me and I can send you the updated services. One day I will probably post them somewhere on the net.

    Trevor
    ·
  • Bob and HerbertBob and Herbert Posts: 25
    edited 2007-11-26 18:05
    Trevor,

    I have asked a similar question in a private email to Parallax; basically asking for a MSRS forum. The response from Parallax was we can keep MSRS related questions in the current forums for now.· If needed, they would create a new forum.· I guess it's kind of wait and see.

    I would be interested in the extra services you added to MSRS.· Could you post them here or do you want to send them to me privately?·

    Have you had any experience with the Boe-Bot and Roborealm?· I am having some difficulty and although they are really good in suggesting solutions, I am not closer to a solution yet.· You know, misery loves company.

    Bob
  • Steve JoblinSteve Joblin Posts: 784
    edited 2007-11-26 22:17
    You don't need MSRS for RoboRealm... there is a great thread on "how to BOEbot and RoboRealm" here: http://forums.parallax.com/forums/default.aspx?f=10&m=186647
  • Bob and HerbertBob and Herbert Posts: 25
    edited 2007-11-27 15:16
    Yes, I do know that.· I was only asking Trevor if he had any experience.· I am currently trying to work with Boe-Bot and roborealm and have had several issues.· Currently I've been emailing with Steve @ roborealm and he had given me several ideas to try.· The problem I have now is this:· Boe-Bot communicates with the PC via blue tooth (EB500) that works well.· When I try loading in the "why track color" tutorial from Roborealm, I can't seem to find a neutral position for the drive servos.· I've adjusted the vbscript program for a range of control from 0 to 200 giving 100 as neutral.·And with the variables overlayed on the picture, when the servos are supposedly given a signal of "100", neutral, they still are moving.· ·(Note: when I use the slider controls, 100 IS neutral and the servos do not turn).· Steve suggested that some parallax servos actually need 110 to be neutral but I haven't actually tried this yet.·

    For those folks who have not tried roborealm, you probably don't know what I am talking about.· Roborealm is a free download of computer vision and analysis software.· You can find out more about it at www.roborealm.com.

    Bob
  • T0mT0m Posts: 124
    edited 2007-11-27 16:21
    Hi Bob,
    I have some experience with roborealm. Can you send me some more info.
    Tom

    P.S. I cannot find a "why track color" tutorial at Roborealm's site. Can you send a link.

    Thanks

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    Robot vision is the the future, and Vision will take us there.


    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbf0zaxWjvI

    Post Edited (T0m) : 11/27/2007 6:13:49 PM GMT
  • Bob and HerbertBob and Herbert Posts: 25
    edited 2007-11-27 18:51
    Sure here it is....



    http://www.roborealm.com/tutorial/color_object_tracking_2/slide010.php
  • Trevor TaylorTrevor Taylor Posts: 13
    edited 2007-11-28 13:24
    Hi Bob,

    Unfortunately I don't have any experience with RoboRealm. It's not for want of trying, but every time I start to get set up I get too busy. I have a Surveyor SRV-1 which has an on-board camera. My Boe-Bot does not currently have a camera, although I do have a small wireless spycam that I plan to attach to it.

    As for the Boe-Bot services for MSRS, just drop me an e-mail if you want a copy. I would rather not post them here until I can get some feedback. If you are interested, please let me know.

    Good luck with RoboRealm. It looks like a great product. I wish I had more time!

    Thanks,
    Trevor
    ·
  • UnsoundcodeUnsoundcode Posts: 1,532
    edited 2007-11-28 16:56
    Hi Bob, with reference to Roborealm, did you assign the left motor and right motor variables to the servo controller, it seems that if you can manually set the neutral point with the slider you should be able to set it via the VB script.

    Jeff T.
  • Bob and HerbertBob and Herbert Posts: 25
    edited 2007-11-28 17:00
    Yes, I did assign those variables.· Actually, yesterday I set it up again and it looked like it almost worked. I have to change the direction of the left servo; seems to be running in the opposite direction than wanted.· Have you had problems with roborealm like this?· It seems as though it works better if you shut down the program and start anew, loading the same robo file.·

    I have been using MSRS v1.0 for learning and using some of the examples.· Seemed to work fine so far, but I would like to learn more about it.· I guess I need more hand holding.·

    Bob
  • UnsoundcodeUnsoundcode Posts: 1,532
    edited 2007-11-28 17:07
    It would be interesting to see if you can get the motors to reamain stationary. I might try this short script in a new RR project using only the controller and VB script and assign the variable to my servo channels, gradually increasing or decreasing the value 100 until my motors were stationary.

    my_test_variable = GetVariable("my_test_variable")
    SetVariable "my_test_variable", 100

    Jeff T.
  • Bob and HerbertBob and Herbert Posts: 25
    edited 2007-11-28 20:55
    that's a good idea.... I will try that tonight.

    thanks for the script

    BTW... do you know of a good basic level tutorial or book that discusses VBscript writing?
  • T0mT0m Posts: 124
    edited 2007-11-29 04:02
    Also remember to check roborealm image size. It should be set to smallest 160x120 this is not the default size so it must be changed manually. You can find it in options > video format. The posts about roborealm and boe bot Steve refered to are all done with this setting.
    Tom

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    Robot vision is the the future, and Vision will take us there.


    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbf0zaxWjvI

    Post Edited (T0m) : 11/29/2007 4:08:30 AM GMT
  • Steve JoblinSteve Joblin Posts: 784
    edited 2007-11-29 14:55
    T0m: Finally got some time to play a bit with my BOEbot and RoboRealm... I got it to work! Strange thing was that I am using 160x120, but I needed to change the "factor" (the "40" in the VB Script) to "70" to get the values to produce 750 when the object is at the proper distance and in the center. Other than that, it worked great!! My next step is to try to modify the VB script to send the correct serial commands to my other robot that uses Pololu's Dual Serial Motor Controller and motors (instead of servos).

    Bob and Herbert: I can e-mail you the .robo file that I am using that has all the settings. Also, I too was looking for a good tutorial about VBscripting... there are lots of good tutorials... just google "how to write vbscript"
  • Bob and HerbertBob and Herbert Posts: 25
    edited 2007-11-29 16:58
    Steve,

    I would really appreciate the .robo file.· You should know that Steve at roborealm has been in discussion with me about the resolution of the cameras used.· He added a screen resolution scaling factor in the "Why Tract Color" tutorial download.· He told me to download it again.· After some adjustments on my side, as you have done, it apparently works.· In fact, last night was the first test of the bot actually tracking and moving to follow a red colored object (red bottle cap attached to the end of a pencil).·

    I am now trying to work on the tilt and then pan.· I will be using the boe-bot controler within roborealm as I do now.· I do not have IR sensors so that is not activated.· the pan and tilt servos at using pins 14 and 15. Up to now the tilt servo seems to just keep tilting up.· rolleyes.gif

    Please feel free·to send the file to my email address.· Look forward to it and look at the new download in roborealm.·



    Bob
  • T0mT0m Posts: 124
    edited 2007-11-29 23:43
    Good to hear Steve. Glad its working for you.
    Tom

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    Robot vision is the the future, and Vision will take us there.


    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbf0zaxWjvI
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