Society of Robots - Robot Forum

Electronics => Electronics => Topic started by: vidam on December 15, 2007, 06:41:13 PM

Title: FT232RL Baud, RoboRealm, and Sabertooth 2x10
Post by: vidam on December 15, 2007, 06:41:13 PM

RoboRealm is set for 38400 baud on com 5. Using the Sabertooth_DE module and the settings I mentioned I try to connect to the FT232RL USB to Serial breakout board which is connected to the Sabertooth 2x10. The connections on the FT232RL are from GND to GND on the Sabertooth and from FT232RL TX to S1 terminal on the Sabertooth. The Sabertooth is set for Packetized Serial, address 128. I'm not able to move motors from RoboRealm. I checked voltage levels and that isn't a problem. Any ideas?

Thanks,

Melanie

Title: Re: FT232RL Baud, RoboRealm, and Sabertooth 2x10
Post by: vidam on December 16, 2007, 01:03:52 PM

I followed the directions on Dimension Engineering and RoboRealm's website almost to the T:
http://www.dimensionengineering.com/appnotes/Roborealm/Roborealm.htm
and
http://www.roborealm.com/help/DE_Sabertooth.php
The major difference between the setup and what is done here is the following:
I'm not using the same cable TTL to USB device that they recommend on the site.
I'm using the FT232RL USB to Serial by Sparkfun.
They recommend:
http://www.superdroidrobots.com/shop/item.asp?itemid=795&catid=58
but
I'm am using:
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=718

Is this the issue now that I must order the cable from superdroidrobots.com?

-Melanie

Title: Re: FT232RL Baud, RoboRealm, and Sabertooth 2x10
Post by: Steve Joblin on December 16, 2007, 01:43:35 PM

I've been playing around a bunch with RoboRealm, but I am using a different configuration than you, so unfortunately, I can't be of much help.
( mine will be:  PC running RoboRealm --> XBee ...... XBee --> PICAXE Microcontroller--> L293D Motor Driver )
Steven at RoboRealm is pretty good about helping folks out... If you don't get any replies here or at your posting on the RoboRealm forum, I would try sending an e-mail.

Have you tried breaking down the problem into small parts?  First confirm that your communications work, then confirm your motor controller.  Do you have a spare microcontroller?  One idea is to first create a roborealm program that will send a serial value to a microcontroller, then echo back the value to the PC.  That will help ensure that you communications are good.  Then do a test with just a microcontroller and the Sabertooth and confirm that your motor controller works.

Title: Re: FT232RL Baud, RoboRealm, and Sabertooth 2x10
Post by: vidam on December 16, 2007, 03:50:40 PM

Thanks for your response!

STeven did reply to my post on http://www.roborealm.com/forum/index.php?forum_id=1966.

-Melanie

Title: Re: FT232RL Baud, RoboRealm, and Sabertooth 2x10
Post by: vidam on December 17, 2007, 05:25:23 AM

Here is my latest update on the issues and steps taken to fix the problems we encountered:

http://robotics.meetup.com/73/boards/view/viewthread?thread=3946815&lastpage=yes#13662265

-Melanie