Society of Robots - Robot Forum

Electronics => Electronics => Topic started by: ed1380 on May 02, 2007, 04:49:59 PM

Title: $50 robot problems
Post by: ed1380 on May 02, 2007, 04:49:59 PM
So Admin was kind enough to program it for me, now while modding one of the servos I broke a khaki colored surface mount with no markings on top. if it stays disconected the servo runs, but if i short across the surface mount(I think it's a resistor) the servo stops

The photo sensors are weird too so I can't really trouble shoot it.
 servo's wil go forward and then when you cover up the sensor it'll flinch and then continue, it won't reverse
Title: Re: $50 robot problems
Post by: ed1380 on May 02, 2007, 05:04:26 PM
WTF it works now, but one of the motors is weaker  :'(

the stronger one is the one with the broken SM. I guess I should break the other one ;)


but I won't be able to control the speed
Title: Re: $50 robot problems
Post by: Admin on May 02, 2007, 05:20:09 PM
I find that robots often only work when no one but the builder is looking ;)
(serious, tho . . .)
Title: Re: $50 robot problems
Post by: Somchaya on May 02, 2007, 05:44:30 PM
I find that robots often only work when no one but the builder is looking ;)
(serious, tho . . .)

Yes! I agree! When I was working on Whisk, it would run fine, and the moment I whipped out my camera, it would fail miserably.. And, it would fail when people were watching too.. haha..
Title: Re: $50 robot problems
Post by: ed1380 on May 02, 2007, 05:51:48 PM
well I heatshrinked the power supply wires and that servo won't work again. the one with the brocken surface mount (please read question concerning it in post #1) gotta take it apart again
AARGHH  >:(

and the voltage regulator does get hot. I put some AS5 and a heatsink on it.



turns out if i tighten the cap to the servo's curcuitry it stops.



Final conclusion: It'll only drive forward. if I shine a light of to the side it'll turn, but other wise will just go forward, no reverse if it's dark
Title: Re: $50 robot problems
Post by: Admin on May 03, 2007, 12:53:41 PM
Quote
Final conclusion: It'll only drive forward. if I shine a light of to the side it'll turn, but other wise will just go forward, no reverse if it's dark
yea this is how I programmed it. you can always change the code ya know :P
Title: Re: $50 robot problems
Post by: ed1380 on May 03, 2007, 01:35:25 PM
O. In the video it was avoiding the darkness outside of the solar "box" so I thought it would turn around

I can change the code, but that don't mean it'll program, cause the $15 cable is crap.  IMO that's too much for just a cable
Title: Re: $50 robot problems
Post by: Admin on May 03, 2007, 02:08:05 PM
Quote
the $15  cable is crap.  IMO that's too much for just a cable
yea i didnt think the cable would cause all these problems . . . this is why in the tutorial i recommend the more expensive one . . . when i get time ill try to debug it and update the tutorial (if possible) . . .

and its not just a cable, it has magic stuff inside it too . . . :P
Title: Re: $50 robot problems
Post by: JonHylands on May 03, 2007, 02:17:24 PM
For the record, I have successfully programmed an ATmega128 with that cable, but only from a PC that actually had a real serial port. My USB -> Serial converter didn't work with that cable.

I have the USB programmer as well, and its a lot nicer (albeit 3x the price).

- Jon
Title: Re: $50 robot problems
Post by: ed1380 on May 03, 2007, 03:06:42 PM
yeah real serial ports on 2 diferent pc's with 2 diferent OS's
Title: Re: $50 robot problems
Post by: dunk on May 03, 2007, 06:34:47 PM
i'm currently using a parallel port cable with no problems.
i haven't invested in a "propper" programmer as i've never problems with the parallel cable.
your milage may vary of course.

i'm using a vary similar process to the Linux instructions here:
http://www.instructables.com/id/E5H5UDWB5UEUKIKV8V/?ALLSTEPS (http://www.instructables.com/id/E5H5UDWB5UEUKIKV8V/?ALLSTEPS)
but i have no reason to suspect it won't be the same with the windows version.

might be worth someone else checking it out to see if it works for them too.
it maybe an alternative to the serial cable that's causing so many people problems...

dunk.
Title: Re: $50 robot problems
Post by: ed1380 on May 03, 2007, 06:53:07 PM
great link dunk. thanks.
and my pc [spoiler]has a parrallel port[/spoiler]
Title: Re: $50 robot problems
Post by: ed1380 on May 13, 2007, 08:30:59 PM
i'm currently using a parallel port cable with no problems.
i haven't invested in a "propper" programmer as i've never problems with the parallel cable.
your milage may vary of course.

i'm using a vary similar process to the Linux instructions here:
http://www.instructables.com/id/E5H5UDWB5UEUKIKV8V/?ALLSTEPS (http://www.instructables.com/id/E5H5UDWB5UEUKIKV8V/?ALLSTEPS)
but i have no reason to suspect it won't be the same with the windows version.

might be worth someone else checking it out to see if it works for them too.
it maybe an alternative to the serial cable that's causing so many people problems...

dunk.
will it work with an atmega8?

will I just have to look at the atmega8 pin assignment and the parallel port. the mosi, miso, reset, etc.
Title: Re: $50 robot problems
Post by: dunk on May 14, 2007, 02:21:21 AM
Quote
will it work with an atmega8?

will I just have to look at the atmega8 pin assignment and the parallel port. the mosi, miso, reset, etc.
yes and yes.
it's what i used for this project:
http://www.societyofrobots.com/member_tutorials/node/25 (http://www.societyofrobots.com/member_tutorials/node/25)
so you'll be able to use the circuit diagram there to find out the programing pins.

dunk.
Title: Re: $50 robot problems
Post by: ed1380 on May 14, 2007, 04:50:31 AM
well one i find a paralel port plug and learn C I'll give it a try.

should I learn basic and then learn C or go straight for C
Title: Re: $50 robot problems
Post by: Admin on May 14, 2007, 02:49:23 PM
Quote
should I learn basic and then learn C or go straight for C
go for C, cause in the end you will anyway, and basic is too different from C to consider it a 'training' language . . .