RoboticsConnection User Forum / RoboticsConnection Hardware Support / Robot Kit Support / Beginner's question: what do I need to put together a basic system / Latest Posts

RE: Beginner's question: what do I need to put together a basic system

ovidiu_i86 — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 05:23:02 GMT

I forgot to specify that I am using the eBox 4300 to command the robot.

RE: Beginner's question: what do I need to put together a basic system

ovidiu_i86 — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 15:16:15 GMT

Hi,

There is a way to get the distance traveled by robot.
Which are the measurement units for motor speeds? The motor speeds are between 0 and 100 of what?

Thanks.

RE: Beginner's question: what do I need to put together a basic system

jsummerour — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:51:33 GMT

Hi Dizzy,

I apologize for the long reply...I *just* realized that when we changed hosting providers, the email stopped working for the forums. I'm trying to resolve it now.

Don outlines some very useful info below...One solution for a camera is a wireless usb camera. There are starting to be more and more on the market now. You basically have a wireless camera on the robot, that streams video back to a usb receiver. You basically plug the USB receiver into your PC, and grab frames via a usb driver. There are also quite a few wireless IP cameras, that allow you to get frames via your wireless network. You'll just have to pick and choose the one that best meets your needs.

[quote](p.s., i know you recently launched your new site. for some reason, if i browse to ur site from behind a secure network, an authenication dialogue prompt pops up asking for my login and pwd - this happens even on your home landing page). [/quote]

I'll look into this...Are you viewing the site thru http: or https:?

Best Regards,

RE: Beginner's question: what do I need to put together a basic system

Don Lewis — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:59:37 GMT

Hello Dizzy,
Welcome to the RoboticsConnection forum.

[quote][b]dizzy (2/2/2010)[/b][hr]Hi,

>I am piggy backing on this thread because i have a similar question. First, i have to say i
>have been googlingkits for some time now and keep coming back here as the products
>here seem to fit what i have in mind.

>I am fairly strong in programming and hope to use C#, but need guidance on parts
>needed. I would like to build a vehicle based on the traxster chasis, but would like it to
>have the following functionality:

I didn't touch C# until I got my Serializer. And that is after some 27 years
of coding off and on for myself. Easy to adapt to with all the excellent samples
Jason and RC have made available.

>-i'd prefer that it be autonomous in that the applications i write reside and run on the
>robot itself rather than being controlled by a PC or remote control.

Excellent choice, autonomous. Actually requires some thought processes of us ;)
There are a multitude of possible robot brains available. Full netbooks are now out
preforming the embedded choices for the most part. I came close to purchasing RC's
Embedded Traxter kit solution. Wingers has a notebook on his bot. For now I am
using XBee and a laptop doing remote brain work. Great power saving solution.
I do have a embedded brain in the works.

>-i would like it to be able to avoid obstacles (guessing i need sensors, but what are the
>best sensors for this type of function? sonar, infrared, motion detection, etc.)

Sensors, deep subject. I am using a combination of Sonar (EZ3) and Sharp IR's,
GP2D12, GP2D120 and GP2Y0AYK. The EZ3 gicces me a good long distance wide field
sense while the Sharp IR's vary in distance and are of a very narrow field. Also neither
type, sonar or IR, are good for all things. They have different reactions to surfaces.
In a area of many flat surfaces sonar can bounce around and cause false readings.
With some darker objects IR may not reflect. THe Sharp IR and MaxBotics Sonar are
very good for all occasions. I am also working, ever so slowly, on a webcam vision
system for my bot. I hope to have visual navigation and object recognition working
with the existing IR and sonar.

>-i would like a decent camera and the ability for the robot to send images via wifi to my
>home PC over my wifi network

I dont have any recommendations here. Jason of RC did mention a wifi camera, not too
long ago, here in the forums.

>Thanks much.

I'm looking forward to your projects,

RE: Beginner's question: what do I need to put together a basic system

dizzy — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:21:18 GMT

Hi,

I am piggy backing on this thread because i have a similar question. First, i have to say i have been googling kits for some time now and keep coming back here as the products here seem to fit what i have in mind.

I am fairly strong in programming and hope to use C#, but need guidance on parts needed. I would like to build a vehicle based on the traxster chasis, but would like it to have the following functionality:

-i'd prefer that it be autonomous in that the applications i write reside and run on the robot itself rather than being controlled by a PC or remote control.

-i would like it to be able to avoid obstacles (guessing i need sensors, but what are the best sensors for this type of function? sonar, infrared, motion detection, etc.)

-i would like a decent camera and the ability for the robot to send images via wifi to my home PC over my wifi network

Thanks much.

(p.s., i know you recently launched your new site. for some reason, if i browse to ur site from behind a secure network, an authenication dialogue prompt pops up asking for my login and pwd - this happens even on your home landing page).

RE: Beginner's question: what do I need to put together a basic system

jsummerour — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 18:50:29 GMT

Okay guys, I updated the Serializer v3.0 User Guide to be clearer on the servo power jumper position. :) It was actually wrong, so I fixed it, and added more clarification.

Best Regards!

RE: Beginner's question: what do I need to put together a basic system

jsummerour — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 18:34:54 GMT

Cool, glad you got it working!!! I'll make that documentation clearer! :cool:

Best Regards,

RE: Beginner's question: what do I need to put together a basic system

beni1255 — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 12:36:22 GMT

Well you are right hexn in my board i had the same thing

I just cheaked with scope and I saw that it shuld be in the 2 right pins for refulator

and in the two left pins for non regulatur

RE: Beginner's question: what do I need to put together a basic system

hexn — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 12:13:04 GMT

Hi Jason, I got the servo thing figured out. The following paragraph on page 15 of "Serializer_3.0_UserGuide" got me confused :)

Servo Power Supply Jumper

Power is supplied to Servo/GPIO lines 4,5,6,7,8, and9 via the main regulator to drive servos on those lines by default. You can use the separate servo power input terminal to instead provide external unregulated power to Servo/GPIO lines 4,5,6,7,8, and 9 to drive the servos. You do this by moving the Servo Power Select Jumper from the right two pins to the left two pins (see jumper diagram below).

If the board orientation is as shown on figure 16, then my 3.0 board acted just the opposit --- putting the jumper on the LEFT 2 pins enables the main regulator power. The board come with the jumper on the RIGHT 2 pins as default, that must be for using external power. I don't know if it's just my board or the documentation is wrong :D. But in anycase, I'm glad it's working.

Regards

RE: Beginner's question: what do I need to put together a basic system

jsummerour — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 07:45:20 GMT

With regards to keeping the bot driving straight, here are a few comments:

1.) With the new Serializer v3.0, we have tons more room for more functionality. One of the things we've been discussing is adding code to ensure the motors drive synchronously together, using the encoder inputs. This is something that we might try to add this spring (too much to do before then).

2.) Since no two motors are ever the same, play with the speeds (using pwm) to try to find the pwm value for each motor, where they seem to operate at the same speed. One might be 100, while the other is only 96. Use that in your applications. Also, using the PID functionality will definitely keep the bot driving straighter than using PWM, as it attempts to keep the motors at a sustained speed (even though the logic isn't linked between left/right motors). You can also tweak the PID motor speed values like above to further improve straight driving.

3.) As the tracks/motors break in, you might have to tweak this, as they will have less friction. :)

Best Regards!

RE: Beginner's question: what do I need to put together a basic system

jsummerour — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 07:20:50 GMT

Yeah, I'm perplexed too. Just a quick question (and I've done this numerous time), do you have the Servo plugged in backwards? The yellow wire should be connected to the 'Sig' pin for that I/O line. That would certainly cause it not to work.

Best Regards,

RE: Beginner's question: what do I need to put together a basic system

hexn — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 02:41:54 GMT

Finally got my kit assembled. Here's my first problem report, lol

Serialier is up, bluetooth connection works fine, I'm using hyper terminal under WinXP. Tried a few motor command and all works fine.

I connected a Hitec 311 standard servo to the serializer, first on pin 9 of GPIO row, issued a "servo 2:35" command, no response. Tried other pins, still the same. I checked my servo power jumper, it's on the right 2 pins, default position. Servo is a brand new one, I'm a bit clueless here, please help!

Thanks much

RE: Beginner's question: what do I need to put together a basic system

hexn — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:51:09 GMT

Hi Jason, tried power up the Serializer(without the chassis) and connected it via bluetooth, worked like champ :D

Is there any mechanism to sync 2 drive motors? Say, if I give a command "mogo 1:75 2:75", theoretically 2 motors would run at the same speed and the vehicle will run a straight line. But in reality, there are a lot of factors that would impact the motor speed, for example, the frictions of the axles can't be exactly the same, and the tension of the tracks could be different as well. Maybe the answer is obvious but I am new to this and couldn't figure it out.

Thanks for your help.

RE: Beginner's question: what do I need to put together a basic system

hexn — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:37:00 GMT

Hi Jack, thanks much for the input! Yeah, I'm a 802.11 fan myself, will definately check out Axis. Just wondering if you are planning to use the camera like this:

Camera image ==802.11==> router / Computer (image processing, generate camera commands) ==RS232==> serializer ==(? protocal)==> camera servo

Thanks

RE: Beginner's question: what do I need to put together a basic system

jsummerour — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 20:57:57 GMT

802.11 is cool too! :cool:

Thanks for the post! I'll check out those cameras...might be a nice accessory for our kits.

Please keep us posted on your progress! :D

I have started putting together a Serializer .NET Lib/Linux how-to using Ubuntu, Mono, and Mono-Develop. I'll try to get it finished in a few weeks, and post it. It makes it REALLY easy to interface the Serializer w/ Linux apps.

Best Regards!

RE: Beginner's question: what do I need to put together a basic system

jack090 — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 18:02:53 GMT

Hello, just got my kit last week and setup. (Very nice kit quality). I was also interested in the cameras, but decided to get an IP based wireless camera. There's a lot of support with the AXIS camera brand (costs a little more than others but overall very reasonable) and they have a nice SDK. My interests are more for controlling the robot manually, rather than being unmanned. If your looking at that route, I suggest getting an Axis. I'm currently trying to see if it's possible to interface via the wireless IP camera (using its Linux kernel) to connect usb/rs232 to the serializer. No offense to Xbee, but I'd rather go 802.11 (less cables). If you have any ideas or suggestions please feel free to contribute (although that might need a sub forum LOL).

RE: Beginner's question: what do I need to put together a basic system

jsummerour — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 07:31:03 GMT

Hi Hexn,

I got your call yesterday, but didn't get a chance to respond. :w00t: Those standoffs are going out today, so you should have them by the end of the week.

1. The PBIO is actually very useful. You can use the LED outputs for debugging, or to show state information (e.g. the robot is in a specific mode -e.g. searching). You can use the Push button inputs to tell your application to perform some action (e.g. start/stop searching).

2. We no longer sell the CMUcam2+ cameras, as there are lots of great vision apps available (Roborealm and OpenCV) that can perform the vision processing using much cheaper web cams. This requires a wireless camera that transmits video back to a receiver, that plugs into your PC (which also controls the Serializer/Robot). Roborealm has a Traxster module that you can use as well to get you up and going quickly.

Best Regards!

RE: Beginner's question: what do I need to put together a basic system

hexn — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 19:15:32 GMT

Hi Jason, got my Traxster kit shipment from your company today, very nice!! The only thing missing from the package I think is the 4 1" stand offs that suppose to come with the additional sensor platform I ordered.

I'll try to put the kit together next week, I do realize it's a "blind" robot that I have, planning to add some sensors to it after I become more comfortable with the platform. Still have a couple of questions:

1. What does PBIO board do and why do we need it? I searched the forum and read the description on your product page, still not clear.

2. Regarding camera, it looks like you have something working with CMUcam, but then the turret is discontinued, and I remember reading from somewhere that you are working on something with AVRcam, just curious, are you leaning toward AVRcam now?

Sounds like if I put CMUcam and Traxster together, I got myself a autonamous vehicle, coz CMUcam supposely can do some onboard image processing such as tracking colors and shapes, and it has 2 servo output, potentially I can use that to control 2 traxster motors, is that right?

In anycase, thanks for all your help and I'm sure I'll have some serious fun with the kit. :)

RE: Beginner's question: what do I need to put together a basic system

jsummerour — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 20:11:49 GMT

Oh, good deal! Glad they still had a few! :)

If you navigate to our home page (or any page for that matter), you will see a blue box on the left hand side that says 'Example Apps', and under that a link to 'Example Applications'. There are plenty of examples & solutions there that you can download to get you started w/ the Serializer.

Also, on the Serializer page, under Docs/Downloads, click on the Serializer .NET Documentation, and there's an example for every type of object the Serializer .NET Lib API provides, under the objects topic, and titled 'Example Source Code'.

You plug the encoders into the Serializer (see Traxster assembly guide), and you can use the PIDMotorController object to command it to drive a specified distance, and a specified speed. It will travel that exact distance, and maintain that exact speed. It's all done for you... :)

The best bluetooth dongle we've ever used (and have always had them connect to the Serializer BT module) is the Linksys USBBT100. I don't care for Linksys at all, but this was one product they developed that I did like. :)

If you're interested in Microsoft Robotics Studio, we do also have the Serializer Services for them. The latest download can be found in a few posts in the Serializer Services for MRDS section here on the forums.

Best Regards!

RE: Beginner's question: what do I need to put together a basic system

hexn — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:17:17 GMT

Hi Jason,

Just received the bluetooth module from trossen today and the Traxster kit should be here on Monday, can't wait :)

I've downloaded C# express and installed the Serializer .NET liberary. Just wondering where do you keep all the sample codes? Is it available on the website? Please let me know. Just want to get something that I can play with right out of the box :D Thx much!

Regards,

Henry

RE: Beginner's question: what do I need to put together a basic system

jsummerour — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 13:46:36 GMT

Yes, you can use a single battery to power the Serializer/Motors...Here's a link to the batteries we use.

http://www.batteryspace.com/nimhbatterycombotwo96v2200mahnimhbatterypackswallcharger.aspx

We even added a heat sink on the voltage regulator to keep it cool when using batteries > 7.2V.

Best Regards!

RE: Beginner's question: what do I need to put together a basic system

hexn — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 13:31:33 GMT

Just realized that I forgot to order the most critical element: Power.

can I power the motor AND the serializer using a single 9.6v/2200mAh 8 cell pack? or do I need a seperate pack for serializer, please advise. Thx.

RE: Beginner's question: what do I need to put together a basic system

jsummerour — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 11:42:08 GMT

You'll have fun! :) Yes, we're now shipping Serializer v3.0. :) Thank you for your business!

Best Regards!

RE: Beginner's question: what do I need to put together a basic system

hexn — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 09:34:10 GMT

Thanks Jason. Just placed the order on your website this morning :). I don't know what I'm getting myself into, lol

The serializer board you are shipping now is the latest V3.0, right?

Cheers

RE: Beginner's question: what do I need to put together a basic system

jsummerour — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 08:10:20 GMT

Yes, if Trossen still has some BT modules in stock, they will work. :) When you pair the module with your Bluetooth radio, you'll need to use the passphrase '0000' (one time) to connect to it.

Best Regards!

RE: Beginner's question: what do I need to put together a basic system

hexn — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 14:32:18 GMT

Hi Jason,

Thanks for your prompt reply. I chose bluetooth over XBee for simplicity, also with bluetooth, potentially I can program my PDA or iPhone to control the chasis. This is the bluetooth connector I was talking about:

http://www.trossenrobotics.com/store/p/5199-Bluetooth-Communication-Connector.aspxM

You said you have discontinued the bluetooth module, but if I get this connect, will it still work? Please let me know, thank you.

RE: Beginner's question: what do I need to put together a basic system

jsummerour — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 07:37:08 GMT

Hi Hexn,

Glad to help out..lDon't worry about asking these questions. :)

We have actually discontinued use of the Bluetooth modules, and rely solely on XBee modules. The XBee modules have less configuration issues (meaning you don't have to worry about which bluetooth stack your computer uses and is supported), and in the end, the hardware is just as cheap. Additionally, the Xbee modules allow (very soon) you to connect to multiple Serializers/Robots using one PC/Application using the XBee Broadcast PAN functionality.

We are launching a product Jan 1st that will be the first to leverage the XBee Broadcast PAN functionality, and the Serialzier will soon follow. We will release a new firmware version at that point, and all Serializer v3.0s can be updated to leverage this functionality.

Anyway, instead of the BT module, you'll need one Xbee USB Carrier Module, one Xbee module w/ Whip Antenna (for the USB Carrier board), one XBee module w/ U.FL connector, and the U.FL antenna you listed. Basically the XBee USB Carrier plugs into your PC, and looks like a Serial Port. The XBee module w/ whip antenna plugs into the USB Carrier module, and communicates w/ the other XBee module w/ U.FL connector/Antenna plugged into the Serializer.

Everything else on your list looks a-okay to me. :)

Let me know if you have any more questions! :)

Best Regards!

Beginner's question: what do I need to put together a basic system

hexn — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 23:30:44 GMT

Dear Host,

I'm really new to this robot thing, I have some software engineering background and my goal is to put together a basic functioning system (by basic functioning system I mean I would be able to use my laptop to control the Traxster II via bluetooth and make it move around), Here's a shopping list I come up with:

Traxster II chasis
Serailizer board
Bluetooth connector (the only bluetooth interface I found on your website is the $150 one, but I found something called "Bluetooth Connector" on Trossen website, which cost only $60, should work with the serializer board, right? please confirm.)
UHF antena

and I already have the following:

Laptop running Windows Vista, with bluetooth capability
MSDN subscription (so I can download .NET and other MicroSoft Robot stuff. If you can tell me exactly what software package do I need, that'll be great)

Did I miss anything? Also, what does the encoder do? Does the serializer replace the encoder or work with the encoder?

Sorry about all these really basic questions, I'm looking forward to hearing from you. Thanks much!