Nothing's happening

Community General Discussions
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1

Hi,

My soon-to-be-robot Turpis is giving me a pretty hard time. For images and more info on Turpis see node 760. I'm using Fritsl's code for it, so I at least know I've got good code. I was happy to see that the code was downloaded properly, but I'm not getting any movement. After reinserting the batteries multiple times it is apparent that I'm doing something wrong, but I don't know what.

Help appreciated :),

Brennon

2

So you did upload the code

So you did upload the code to the microcontroller?

 

I suggest you take it slowly and do one thing after another. Its better not to use others complex code on beginning, you just might get confused and frustrated and eventually you will quit. First try some simple things with the microcontroller, like led flashing via output, test the inputs with switches, etc… When this works correctly than go on slowly… Read about the main components in electronics, like what they do and what they are used for. Be patient and go one step after another.

Bntw, before connecting the DC motors directly to the output pins, consider a H bridge and geared motors.

3

Thanks Kody

Thanks Kody,
I am new to all this, and I don’t have any geared motors on hand, as much as I need them. I’ve been programing with the BASIC Stamp, but its too expensive to be practical yet. To learn, I should probably get one of their starter sets. Any to recommend? In the meantime it would be great to get this thing up and running. Any ideas?
Thanks for all your help,
Brennon

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us… -Marianne Williamson

4

Oh, sorry if it wasn’t

Oh, sorry if it wasn’t clear, I did download the code. :slight_smile:
Thanks again,
Brennon

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us… -Marianne Williamson

5

maybe you got your ports

maybe you got your ports wrong,you are using basic stamp 1or 2

you should check out the schematics

6

Test

Do you have a multimeter? Disconnect the motors and see if the output connections have any signal at them.

Apart from that, definitely start small. The LED flashing thing is where EVERYONE starts.

Frits’ code may or may not be “good” (I don’t do theology) but I’m sure you could isolate a little part of it that does nothing other than switch one motor on.

Sadly, I don’t do PicAxe or PicBASIC. I suppose I should. I’m hardcore assembler.

7

Nope, I’m sorry. I don’t

Nope, I’m sorry. I don’t have a multimeter. Is there a reason why nothing’s happening?
I’m going out of town is half an hour. :slight_smile:
Brennon

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us… -Marianne Williamson

8

Well, the reason nothing’s

Well, the reason nothing’s happening might be that there is no power to the motor. If you had a meter, you could look at the output.

What wires are connected where? What do you hope will happen? What’s the current / voltage rating of your motors? Are they geared? Why are you so certain that your code is downloaded?

9

Like I said, all the details

Like I said, all the details and images are on node 760. I trust my computer enough that when it tells me my code has downloaded, I believe it. Upon it turning on, the motors (regrettably not geared though I made sure they have a very high rpm) should be activated until the bumper switches are hit. Then, it should back up, turn, and keep going. You can see the code on node 87. I’m leaving the country (I’m writing this in the airport) so I don’t know if I’ll have internet access.
Thanks for all your help :),
Brennon

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us… -Marianne Williamson

10

Oh, and it might also be

Oh, and it might also be worth mentioning that both chips were extremely hot when I touched them. However, I was extremely careful to use the correct voltage (I even used the same battery pack that was in the picture in the datasheet for the axe023) as to not fry it.
Thanks again,
Brennon
P.S. I like BASIC Stamp, but its pricy. :slight_smile:

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us… -Marianne Williamson

11

get a digital multimeter,

get a digital multimeter, its not expensive and it will help you much.

btw what is the point of all this if you dont know what you are doing? is it just to impress your friends? sorry but i dont see a point

12

Harsh
That’s a bit harsh. Hands up everyone who knew everyhing they were doing the first time they did something?

13

I for one do not know what I

I for one do not know what I am doing! I just found out that plenty of glue does it for me!

- And yes, I only do it to impress my friends, and you guys! If not, i’d just make a smart program that would calculate something really hard to calculate, that noone understood the input nor output from.

Robots are made to impress - ourself, your parents, and the (usually) nice people at LMR :smiley:

Flame on you, Kody!

14

Ok sorry maybe it was hard,

Ok sorry maybe it was hard, i had no bad attentions.

He doesnt have to know all stuff to make something, i dont know either, but he should go step by step and explore things that he’s dealing with. How can you help him with some advanced stuff (how can he understand) if he doesnt know the basics which are a prerequirement to understand this advanced things, and as I could see people tried to help on few threads.
Of course we are doing this to impress others, but i think we do it also to learn new things, and thats why i dont see a point trying to make something and in the end not knowing the basic principles how those things work and why it is the way it is, like what happens when you set a pin high, etc…
Maybe I am totally wrong, but thats just my opinion.

15

"but he should go step by

"but he should go step by step and explore things that he’s dealing with."

Yes - I totally agree! Totally. ANd has been on “he’s” back for that as well :slight_smile:

But still - it was fun to flame you, Kody - never happend before in here to my knowledge :smiley: “I was the first to be flamed on LMR, Kody” :smiley:

16

np, thats part of life

np, thats part of life :slight_smile:

again, it was wrong formulated from my side. The "no point" thing referrs just to this project, because in my opinion he should go with simpler things first. BaseOverApex said it very nice when mentioning the "running before we can walk" scenario.

Cheers, no hard feelings

17

For the record, I am not

For the record, I am not doing this to impress anyone. However, I am afraid that if I quit on my first robot I might be at risk of quitting robotics entirely. Like I said, I’ve been starting VERY small with the BASIC Stamp, and I’d love to do the same with picaxe, anyone know of a good beginner’s kit with instructions of projects starting small, a module, etc.? I’m looking for what I have with the BASIC Stamp only for picaxe.
Robotics may be a life-long hobby, and I’m trying to learn by doing, I want to know I can make a simple robot. Of course, starting small is extremely important, I just don’t want to quit on Turpis yet. Call me crazy, but I hate quitting anything.
I’m out of the country right now (I’m typing this in the hotel lobby), but when I get back I’ll be sure to get a digital multimeter.
I would also like to mention that I have made some progress. In fact, when I get this glitch sorted out I’ll be done. I wouldn’t call this bot “advanced”.
I’m ashamed to admit that making a robot from scratch was much harder than anticipated, I’m trying to work harder to finish it. I’m sorry if I came off as a nut case. :slight_smile:

Thanks,

Brennon

P.S. My friends are hard to impress, they want something that will predict the future and turn into anything. :smiley: Only joking. :slight_smile:

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us… -Marianne Williamson