Society of Robots - Robot Forum

Software => Software => Topic started by: jhaller on September 25, 2009, 09:43:16 AM

Title: Axon dead, not working after 3 days
Post by: jhaller on September 25, 2009, 09:43:16 AM
3 days I downloaded code (see below). Which causes the LED to pulse on and off slowly. Worked great. I was then pulled off to help on a another project. So I let the Axon sit on my desk pulsing the little green LED. I came in this morning just now (3 days later) and the LED is no longer pulsing. I tried reseting. Then reprogramming. then unplugging the USB and the 6V supply and waiting for about 30 seconds then replugging and reporgramming, no sign of life at all. The Red Power LED is on. And yes I commented out the line in axon.c that says the button has to be pressed before the code calling control() will be run. It looks like premature failure.

The Axon is dead. Time of Death 8:39AM 24.Sep.2009

What's up?

Code: [Select]
//initialize some variables
int i=0;

//Normal Operation
void control(void)
{
PWM_Init_timer1_LED(8); //Set this PWM channel to 8bits
PWM_timer1_On_LED(); //Turn on the PWM timer

while(1)
{
while(i<255) //255 is LED off
{
PWM_timer1_Set_LED(i);
delay_ms(10);
i++;
}
while(i>175) //0 is LED on, I don't got to zero, else LED lingers on to long!
{
PWM_timer1_Set_LED(i);
delay_ms(10);
i--;
}
}
}
Title: Re: Axon dead, not working after 3 days
Post by: Admin on September 25, 2009, 11:49:55 AM
3 days? Anyone else access to your lab?

Quote
Then reprogramming. then unplugging the USB and the 6V supply and waiting for about 30 seconds then replugging and reporgramming, no sign of life at all.
6V supply? A bench supply or a battery?

Does it give an error during programming?

Use a multi-meter and measure various pins and see if anything is out of the ordinary. Also measure the voltage across the maybe dead LED. Does anything look slightly burnt, especially around that LED and voltage reg?
Title: Re: Axon dead, not working after 3 days
Post by: jhaller on September 25, 2009, 01:43:28 PM
Batteries dead....Darn it. Sorry. It was enough voltage to light the red LED on the board (So I didn't suspect the batteries), but not enough to fire up the uC.

If you'll exucse me I am going to go hide in a corner now, me, myself, and my shame.
Title: Re: Axon dead, not working after 3 days
Post by: Admin on September 25, 2009, 01:53:12 PM
lol

The #1 mistake every robot builder makes is an uncharged battery. If my robot isn't working, I immediately measure the battery before checking anything else.

But you said 'supply' so I didn't want to call you out too fast :P