Society of Robots - Robot Forum

Electronics => Electronics => Topic started by: madsci1016 on January 08, 2010, 04:12:32 PM

Title: Using a different USB to Uart chip to flash the Axon II
Post by: madsci1016 on January 08, 2010, 04:12:32 PM

Hey guys, i have a question before i go about ripping up an Axon II.

I really want to remove the USB chip and plug from my Axon II when i get it so can use Uart1 on my robot. I have a laboratory at work that could do it cleanly.

Will the FBOOT bootloader work with say a FDTI chip (a Arduino programmer) to flash over UART1? The idea being i can flash the Axon II in the same manner as a Arduino pro mini, where the usb -> Uart chip stays with the programmer.

 I really want to avoid using a software uart.

Title: Re: Using a different USB to Uart chip to flash the Axon II
Post by: SmAsH on January 08, 2010, 11:14:38 PM

Uhh, i remember someone wrote code for the axon to work with arduino mega programmer, maybe this could work?
I don't think the axons fboot would work with the fdti chip though...

Title: Re: Using a different USB to Uart chip to flash the Axon II
Post by: madsci1016 on January 09, 2010, 10:16:53 AM

Well, i tried it with the fdti ship connected to just USB, and FBOOT didn't complain and i saw the TX light go crazy. (and the spinning thing on the command line was full speed again!!!! which it was not doing for the USB chip on the Axon. )

Title: Re: Using a different USB to Uart chip to flash the Axon II
Post by: SmAsH on January 09, 2010, 03:24:27 PM

So, did it work?

Title: Re: Using a different USB to Uart chip to flash the Axon II
Post by: madsci1016 on January 09, 2010, 04:28:06 PM

Well, I would have to remove the USB chip from the axon and somehow solder on a pin header connector To test it. I just wanted to see if someone could tell me for sure if it would work or not...  Admin?

Title: Re: Using a different USB to Uart chip to flash the Axon II
Post by: Ro-Bot-X on January 09, 2010, 05:56:27 PM

Use a programmer to load the Arduino Mega bootloader and use UART0 further with a FTDI Basic board. You can find the bootloader in this thread:
http://www.societyofrobots.com/robotforum/index.php?topic=8060.msg62620#msg62620 (http://www.societyofrobots.com/robotforum/index.php?topic=8060.msg62620#msg62620)

Title: Re: Using a different USB to Uart chip to flash the Axon II
Post by: Admin on January 10, 2010, 01:09:18 AM

Yeap, it'll work. You may find soldering onto the tiny traces a pain, though . . .