Society of Robots - Robot Forum

Electronics => Electronics => Topic started by: shuggans on January 11, 2013, 08:50:00 PM

Title: First Robotics Project - please assist!
Post by: shuggans on January 11, 2013, 08:50:00 PM: Hello All - I have a motor driver board from here: http://ezoneda.en.alibaba.com/product/585578140-213323747/_original_chip_L298N_font_b_motor_b_font_driven_plate_stepping_font_b_motor_b_font_robot_car_font_b_dc_b_font_font_b_motor_b_font_.html (http://ezoneda.en.alibaba.com/product/585578140-213323747/_original_chip_L298N_font_b_motor_b_font_driven_plate_stepping_font_b_motor_b_font_robot_car_font_b_dc_b_font_font_b_motor_b_font_.html) (the green one pictured).

I also have this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/150786681292?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/150786681292?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649)

The problem is: I am a software guy (vb.net) and have no clue how to connect these guys together. Can someone provide some guidance for me? I would greatly appreciate it!

Thanks
-shuggans
Title: Re: First Robotics Project - please assist!
Post by: Tommy on January 12, 2013, 08:15:04 AM: Quote
how to connect these guys together
shuggans, at first glance it seems your missing something.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/150786681292?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/150786681292?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649)
the above device seems to be used to enable rs232 between PC and a Microcontroller.

http://ezoneda.en.alibaba.com/product/585578140-213323747/_original_chip_L298N_font_b_motor_b_font_driven_plate_stepping_font_b_motor_b_font_robot_car_font_b_dc_b_font_font_b_motor_b_font_.html (http://ezoneda.en.alibaba.com/product/585578140-213323747/_original_chip_L298N_font_b_motor_b_font_driven_plate_stepping_font_b_motor_b_font_robot_car_font_b_dc_b_font_font_b_motor_b_font_.html)
the above device seems to be used to drive larger stepping motor from Micro I/O lines.

do you have a microcontroller you plan to use?

because to feel comfortable with software, google "phidgetstepper"

Tommy
Title: Re: First Robotics Project - please assist!
Post by: shuggans on January 12, 2013, 02:23:10 PM: I bought this motor driver as a cheapo to learn on until I purchase this driver board from dimension engineering:

http://www.dimensionengineering.com/products/sabertooth2x60 (http://www.dimensionengineering.com/products/sabertooth2x60)

Can I use my current MAX232 board to go directly into that sabertooth board? Or will I still need a micro controller in between?
Title: Re: First Robotics Project - please assist!
Post by: jwatte on January 12, 2013, 03:16:41 PM: You need a microcontroller. The MAX232 board does UART communications. The Sabretooth does step/direction signal communications. The uC needs to translate. A simple Arduino board, or a Atmega microcontroller (or any other microcontroller, PIC, MSP430, whatever) can typically do this.
Title: Re: First Robotics Project - please assist!
Post by: Tommy on January 12, 2013, 03:46:35 PM: Quote
Can I use my current MAX232 board to go directly into that sabertooth board? Or will I still need a micro controller in between?
shuggans, you should be able to use the Max232 to control the sabertooth using serial interface.

Tommy